How it works
San Diego County DCCA is the county-level DPA for first-time buyers in unincorporated San Diego County and participating municipalities. The program's 17% assistance cap is one of the highest percentage-of-purchase DPAs in California — meaningful on a market where entry-level pricing still hovers around $600K-$700K in the unincorporated eastern county.
The most important thing to know about DCCA is that the City of San Diego is NOT covered. City of San Diego residents use the San Diego Housing Commission's separate programs. DCCA covers roughly everything outside the City of San Diego border: National City edges, Chula Vista's unincorporated portions, El Cajon, Santee, Spring Valley, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Lakeside, Ramona, Fallbrook, Valley Center, and the coastal north county cities that participate.
Who it's for
First-time buyers in unincorporated San Diego County or participating cities (not the City of San Diego itself, which has SDHC).
Eligibility at a glance
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- FTB definition
- Has not owned in past 3 years.
- Minimum FICO
- 640
- Income limit
- At or below 80% of San Diego County AMI — approximately $95K-$120K for a family of 4 in 2026.
- Homebuyer education
- Required.
- Minimum borrower contribution
- 1% of purchase price.
Repayment terms
Silent deferred second with 3% simple interest accruing. Due at sale, refinance, or transfer of title.
Term
30 years
Interest
3.00%
Due at
Sale, refinance, or transfer
Property rules
- Eligible property types
- Single-family residence, Condo, Townhome
- Maximum purchase price
- County annual sales-price limit — typically $700K-$800K.
- Owner-occupancy required
- 30 years
Layering & first mortgage options
How to apply
Process: Apply through county HCDS with lender support.
Funding cycle: Annual federal block grant allocation.
Typical timeline: 45-60 days.
Things that trip borrowers up
- Not all San Diego County cities participate — check the participating-city list before writing an offer.
- City of San Diego residents should use SDHC programs, not DCCA.