How it works
GSFA Assist-to-Own is a Platinum-based DPA enhancement reserved exclusively for W-2 employees of GSFA member counties. The structure: 3.5% as a 0%-interest deferred silent second + up to 2% as a non-repayable gift = 5.5% combined assistance.
The major catch for a Southern California broker: the largest SoCal counties — Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura — are NOT GSFA members. So a county employee in those jurisdictions does NOT qualify for Assist-to-Own (they should use Platinum or Golden Opportunities instead).
GSFA member counties (39 total): Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba.
The employee can purchase property anywhere in California — they're not restricted to their employer county.
Who it's for
W-2 employees of GSFA member counties (Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Solano, Yolo, Placer, Sonoma, Tulare, and 31 others).
Not a fit: Employees of NON-member counties — including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Ventura, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, Sonoma, Stanislaus. Most major SoCal county employees do NOT qualify.
Eligibility at a glance
- First-time buyer?
- No
- Minimum FICO
- 640
- Maximum DTI
- 50%
- Income limit
- Per Platinum rules.
- Homebuyer education
- Per Platinum.
- Priority categories
- W-2 employees of GSFA member counties
Repayment terms
Silent second portion: 0% interest, deferred, due at sale/refinance/payoff. Gift portion: never repaid.
Term
30 years
Interest
0% (deferred)
Due at
Sale, refinance, or payoff (silent second only)
Property rules
- Eligible property types
- Single-family residence, PUD, Condo
- Maximum purchase price
- Employee can purchase ANYWHERE in California — not restricted to their employer county.
- Owner-occupancy required
- 30 years
Layering & first mortgage options
Works with these first mortgages: FHA, VA, USDA, Freddie HFA Preferred Conventional
Replaces Platinum/Golden Opportunities for member-county employees. Pick one GSFA product per file.
Stacks with
Cannot combine with
How to apply
Process: Through GSFA Participating Lender. Verify W-2 employment with the member county at time of application.
Funding cycle: Continuous.
Typical timeline: 30-35 days.
Things that trip borrowers up
- MUST verify current W-2 employment with the specific member county. Contractor/1099 doesn't count.
- Most major California county employees (LA, OC, SD, Riverside, San Bernardino, Alameda, Sacramento, SF, Santa Clara) do NOT qualify because their counties are non-members.
- Employee can buy anywhere in CA — but employment must be at the member county.