9/24/25 UPDATE: This program is now closed. No new applications will be accepted due to restrictions from the funding source.

Application Process and Selection

Applications are accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. The application form requires information concerning annual household income, employment, and credit history. 

Applications are deemed complete and placed in the queue for processing only if all information is complete, the application is signed and dated, and a primary lender's pre-qualification letter is attached to the application. As a condition of submitting an application for the Program, the applicant provides permission for the Program Administrator to contact the applicant's primary lender to verify any and all documents submitted as part of the Program application.

Completed applications will be placed on a wait list in order received. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant with staff feedback provided, staff time permitting, and will not be stamped until complete. 

Preferences for Applications received, within any given month, shall be provided as follows:

  1. Low and Extremely Low Income Applicants

  2. Current Residents of Yuba County

  3. Individuals employed by businesses in Yuba County

  4. Eligible Individuals interested in establishing residency within Yuba County.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the applicant will be invited to a briefing with the Program Administration team regarding the Program. 

The potential homebuyer is given 60 days to find a qualified home and begin securing a primary loan for the housing unit. If during the 60-day period the potential homebuyer is unable to purchase a home, an extension may be given upon approval. However, if it appears the potential homebuyer cannot participate in the Program, the reservation of funds expires and the next person on the wait list is given an opportunity to participate in the Program.

Criteria for Assistance

To be eligible to participate in the Program, borrowers and property must meet the following criteria:

  • Total household income must be at or below 80-percent of the area medium income.

  • Owner-Occupant – Must continue to live in the home after purchase. When home

    is no longer owner-occupied, loan will be due and payable.

  • Housing units must meet local buildings codes and be free from health and safety

  • defects at time of purchase.

  • The purchase price limit for the Program shall be the most recent median sales price applicable to the home i.e. for new or previously owned single-family residences; condominiums; manufactured homes on a single-family lot and placed on a permanent foundation system.

Program Details

Sponsor will not provide more than fifty percent (50%), or up to a maximum amount of $80,000, (based upon 20% of purchase price) of the down payment required by the primary lender (CDBG requirement). The subsidy will write down the cost of the primary lender’s loan, so that the payments of PITI are within approximately 30 to 35% of the household’s gross income. The Program Administrator will determine the level of subsidy and affordability during underwriting of the Program’s loan to make sure it conforms to the requirements of the Program.

Homebuyer funds may be applied in the following order:

  1. Down payment of up to fifty percent (50%) of the purchase price. 

  2. To the extent possible, after satisfying (1) above, appraisal fee; cost of credit report; loan origination fee; discount points customary, homebuyer closing costs (including home inspection and/or lead base paint inspection); homebuyer’s customary portions of the escrow fees; title insurance, and the establishment of impounds accounts for property taxes and insurance. Should Program funds not cover the total closing-costs, applicant will be responsible for any remain funds due. 

  3. After (1) and (2) above are satisfied, any balance of Program funds may be applied to either the purchase price or to reduce the interest rate of the primary loan.

The County has determined that all loans will contain a simple interest rate of three percent (3%) per annum, beginning
on the day that the Deed of Trust is recorded. This interest rate can be reduced during the course of participation in the Program, based on the interest rate reduction schedule in Attachment D, but includes the following core requirements:

      • Borrower maintains continuous residence at the property

      • No outstanding State/local non-compliance code violations on property

      • Property taxes are paid current

      • Homeowners’ insurance and/or flood insurance are paid current

      • All property insurance policies name County of Yuba as loss payee

Impound/Escrow Account: All households will be required to have impound/escrow accounts for the payment of taxes and
insurance to ensure they remain current.

Homebuyer Education: All first time homebuyers are required to attend a Sponsor-approved homebuyer education class prior to close of escrow, for example HomeView Homebuyer, which is available free of charge:
https://www.fanniemae.com/education

Definition of Eligible Homebuyer: An individual or individual and their spouse who meet income eligibility and is/are not currently on title to real property. Persons may be on title of a manufactured home unit, who are planning to sell the unit as part of buying a home located on real property.  Documentation of homebuyer status will be required for all homebuyers.

Additional details and modifications to this definition can be found in the Program Guidelines, 2.3 Definition of an Eligible Homebuyer, which include exceptions for displaced homemakers, single parents who owned a home or resided in one with their spouse, and individuals who own a dwelling that does not meet Program standards.

Housing Unit Eligibility: 

  • Housing unit located within Yuba County, including the Cities of Marysville and Wheatland.

  • Housing units located within a 100-year flood zone will be required to provide proof of flood insurance with an endorsement naming the County of Yuba as loss payee in order to close escrow.

  • Housing unit must be one of the following: new or previously owned single-family residences; condominiums; manufactured homes on a single-family lot and placed on a permanent foundation system.

  • Eligible homes will be those that are currently owner-occupied or have been vacant for three months prior to the acceptance of a contract to purchase.  A unit is ineligible if its purchase would result in the displacement of a tenant. 

  • Housing unit size shall be sufficient to meet the needs of the homebuyers household, without overcrowding. Generally, this means not more than two persons per bedroom or living room. 

  • If the housing unit was constructed prior to 1978 then the lead-based paint requirements will apply.

  • A clear pest inspection report will be required for each housing unit.  Smoke detectors will be installed if there are none in place.  

Payment of Loan: Borrowers may begin making voluntary payments at any time. Although payments are not required during the loan term, loan will continue to accrue interest from date of the recording of the Deed of Trust, therefore Borrowers are encouraged to make payments when possible. The Program loan term shall be a maximum of 30 years and shall not extend beyond the maturity of the loan; an exception would be if primary lender is a USDA loan, with a loan term up to 42 years, than program loan term will be extended to match that of the superior financing. 

Program Documents

Frequently Asked Questions: This document answers some frequently asked questions, and will be revised during the run of the Program. 

Attachment A - Income Qualification: This document explains the Program Administrator's review of documents for determining if a Program applicant meets the income requirements of the Program.

Attachment B - Annual Income Inclusions and Exclusions: This document provides additional detail on income qualification.

Attachment C - Income Limits: This document provides the annual income limits for participation in the Program. The table range is due to the effect of adjustments for family size of family members and their dependents as defined by California law. The percentage values on pages 1 and 2 of the document correspond to the following low income thresholds, values listed in AMI (Area Median Income), per
https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/income-limits:

      • Extremely low income: 15-30% of AMI

      • Very low income: 30-50% of AMI

      • Lower income: 50-80% of AMI

Attachment D - Loan Servicing Program Policies and Procedures: This document explains the process by which the Program Administrator will administer the program, from the process of originating the loan to process of reconveyance to remove the lien upon full repayment of Program funds.

Attachment E - Sellers Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: This document must be filled out for any housing unit that was built prior to 1978 as a condition of participation in the Program.

Attachment F - Disclosure to Seller of Voluntary Offer: This document must be filled out by the Program participant and the Seller for any property as a condition of receipt of participation in the Program.

Attachment G - Instructions to Homebuyer: This document provides instructions to Program applicants for the process by which applicants can participate in the Program.

Attachment H - Lead Based Paint: This document must be filled out for any housing unit that was built prior to 1978 as a condition of participation in the Program.

Attachment I  - Lead Compliance Checklist: The Program Administrator will use this checklist to ensure that any housing unit built prior to 1978 complies with the Program Guidelines.

Program Guidelines: All information included on this website was originated from these Program Guidelines. Prospective applicants are instructed to review them prior to submitting an application.

Program Application: This document is to be submitted along with supporting documentation at the application submission portal linked below. Website will be updated to include the Program Application on 2/21/25, when the Program begins accepting applications.

Lender Agreement: This document is to be provided to the Program Administrator for any Lender interested in participation with the Program in the processing of Program applications for potential Program applicants, throughout the entirety of the process of submitting a Program Application to the funding of the Program loan. All Lenders who provide a Lender Prequalification to a Program applicant must complete the Lender Agreement and return it to the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator will confirm receipt of completed Lender Agreements using the contact information listed on the completed Lender Agreement. Receipt of a confirmation email from the Program Administrator to the Lender will constitute approval of their Lender Agreement and the Lender's participation in the Program.

Draft Loan Documents: These documents are informative to the Primary Lender and Program applicants. They should be considered draft documents, and are not comprehensive unless and until executed by the County and a successfully awarded Program applicant:

Application Submission Instructions

Applicants are instructed to review this website and all Program Documents.
Applicant submissions are to follow the format of
LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_DOCUMENT, examples:

  • Doe_Jane_FTHB_Application;

  • Doe_Jane_Prequalification_Letter;

  • Doe_Jane_Tax_Return2024;

  • Doe_Jane_PayStubs_Oct-Dec_2024

Documents that do not follow the naming convention above will not be accepted. Once the Program Application and its supporting documentation is completed, submit all documents to this portal: https://yubacounty.egnyte.com/ul/f0mMRUA32d 

Please note: Any documents submitted prior to 2/21/2025 will not be accepted.

Program Contacts

Prospective applicants, primary loan lenders, and interested parties are welcome to reach out to the following Program Administration contact:

  • Schedule: Mon-Fri

Personal Information Policy

It is the policy of the County of Yuba that all documents submitted under this program that contain personal information are only reviewed by staff with responsibility for administration of the Program.

Fair Housing

FairHousingYuba County is a Fair Housing Lender and complies with all state and federal lending regulations to assure nondiscriminatory treatment, outreach and access to its programs. No person shall, on the grounds of age, ancestry, color, creed, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital or familial status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation be excluded, denied benefits or subjected to discrimination under the Program.  The Sponsor will ensure that all persons, including those qualified individuals with handicaps, have access to the Program.

Language Accommodation Policy

Please reach out to County staff if an accommodation is needed for any documentation in a language other than English. Staff will make every effort to ensure that accommodation facilitates equal access to participation in the Program.