How it works
Long Beach DPAP is one of the best-funded city-level DPAs in Southern California. The City of Long Beach has made homeownership a civic priority, expanding DPAP funding in each of the past several budget cycles to offset the Bay Area-style price pressure the Long Beach market has experienced.
Structurally standard — silent deferred second, 30-year term — but Long Beach layers cleanly with CalHFA and with the LA County MCC, making it one of the easier programs to stack in Southern California.
Best-fit borrower: Long Beach resident earning $80K-$130K buying their first home under $750K in Long Beach proper. Strong overlap with healthcare workers (Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's), Port of Long Beach staff, CSULB employees, and LBUSD teachers.
Who it's for
Long Beach first-time buyers under 80%-120% of Long Beach AMI purchasing their primary residence.
Eligibility at a glance
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- FTB definition
- Has not owned in the past 3 years.
- Minimum FICO
- 640
- Income limit
- Household income at or below 120% of Long Beach AMI — roughly $135K for a family of 4 in 2026.
- Homebuyer education
- Required.
- Minimum borrower contribution
- 3% of purchase price from the borrower's own funds.
Repayment terms
Silent deferred second. No payment, no interest during owner-occupancy. Due at sale, refinance, or end of 30-year term.
Term
30 years
Interest
0% (deferred)
Due at
Sale, refinance, or 30-year maturity
Property rules
- Eligible property types
- Single-family residence, Condo, Townhome
- Maximum purchase price
- Check current Long Beach CDD price limits.
- Owner-occupancy required
- 30 years
Layering & first mortgage options
Works with these first mortgages: FHA, Conventional, VA
Stacks with CalHFA programs — Long Beach DPAP + MyHome + ZIP is a common Long Beach stack.
Stacks with
How to apply
Process: Borrower applies to City of Long Beach with lender support. Long Beach reviews income, property, and buyer education.
Funding cycle: Annual — funded by city HOME allocation. Program sometimes pauses when funds exhaust.
Typical timeline: 45-60 days.
Things that trip borrowers up
- 3% minimum borrower contribution is higher than most city programs — budget accordingly.
- Check current funding status — the program pauses 1-2 times per year between allocations.
Frequently asked questions
- Does DPAP work in Signal Hill or other nearby cities?
- No. DPAP only funds purchases within City of Long Beach limits. Signal Hill, Lakewood, and other adjacent cities would use LA County HOP if they're participating cities.