How To Get Started

• Step 1. Confirm Your Eligibility

  1.	The applicants must be first-time homebuyers: no ownership interest in real estate at anytime in the past three years.
  2.	Homebuyers must occupy the home as their principal residence.
  3.	The loan is secured by a second Trust Deed and Promissory Note.
  4.	Applicants must invest a minimum of 1% of the down payment, not including closing costs of their OWN funds.
  5.	All applicants must complete an 8-hour homebuyer education seminar from an approved HUD counseling agency.
  6.	Property cannot be occupied by tenants, unless it is a Tenant-Purchaser.

   

• Step 2. Verify Income Eligibility

  L.A. County Median Income Guidelines - Effective April 1, 2021

  80% COUNTY MEDIAN INCOME

  *Income not to exceed maximum amount per family size.

  No. of Persons in Household		Income Limits
  1		$66,250
  2		$75,700
  3		$85,150
  4		$94,600
  5		$102,200
  6		$109,750
  7		$117,350
  8		$124,900

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Step 3. Find a Home Within an Eligible Area

  1.	The maximum purchase price allowed for existing or new homes is $520,000 for Single-Family Homes, Condominiums and Townhomes.
  2.	All properties built before 1978 are required to have a Visual Lead-Based Paint Inspection and must pass the inspection before loan approval.
  3.	Click here to make sure the property is in the Unincorporated area of Los Angeles County or in one of the HOP Participating Cities.
  4.	Homes purchased under the HOP program must meet state and local codes. All health and safety issues on the home inspection report must be repaired prior to close of escrow.
  5.	The eligible areas are Los Angeles County unincorporated areas and participating cities listed below:

   

  Participating Cities
  City of Agoura Hills City of Arcadia City of Avalon City of Azusa City of Bell City of Bell Gardens City of Beverly Hills City of Calabasas City of Claremont City of Commerce City of Covina City of Cudahy City of Culver City City of Diamond Bar City of Duarte City of El Segundo City of Hawaiian Gardens City of Hermosa Beach City of Hidden Hills City of Irwindale City of La Canada Flintridge City of La Habra Heights City of La Mirada City of La Puente City of La Verne City of Lawndale		City of Lomita City of Malibu City of Manhattan Beach City of Maywood City of Monrovia City of Rancho Palos Verdes City of Rolling Hills Estates City of San Dimas City of San Fernando City of San Gabriel City of San Marino City of Santa Fe Springs City of Sierra Madre City of Signal Hill City of South El Monte City of South Pasadena City of Temple City City of Walnut City of West Hollywood City of Westlake Village

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Step 4. Homebuyer Education Seminars

  All HOP applicants must complete an 8-hour first-time homebuyer education seminar and obtain a Certificate of Completion from a HUD approved facilitator.  The LACDA must receive a copy of the certificate before the close of escrow.  
  
  -   For a list of HUD-approved facilitators, please click here. 

  -   You may also visit HUD's web site at www.hud.gov.  

• Step 5. Contact a Participating Lender

  Please contact one of the participating lenders to start the process of getting pre-qualified. 

  HOP Participating Lenders
   
  
  

• Need Additional Help?

  Contact the following if you have further questions:

  Tamar Gantt, HOP Administrator
  Email: Tamar.Gantt@lacda.org

  Am Vuong, Home Ownership Programs Supervisor
  Email: Am.Vuong@lacda.org