Down Payment Resource Directory

The economy may be shaky, but homeownership is still a solid investment. Buying in California can sometimes feel out of reach—but did you know there are more than 400 down payment assistance programs designed to make it easier?

These programs can help cover not only your down payment but also closing costs and other expenses.

To cut through the complexity, the California Association of REALTORS® provides homebuyers with an easy-to-use online search tool that lets you filter and compare programs to find the ones you qualify for.

Explore your options at finddownpayment.car.org. Then, call your REALTOR® to help you match those programs with the right property and financing strategy for your goals.

Government Shutdown: Rental Housing Providers

With the federal government now in a shutdown, many rental housing providers are asking what this means for federally funded housing programs and for tenants who may be affected. While the situation is dynamic, here is the key information rental housing providers need to know for the time being. 

The California Apartment Association has issued an FAQ on key points impacting California housing providers.

Read the CAA’s full FAQ: https://caanet.org/qa-what-the-federal-government-shutdown-means-for-rental-housing-providers/?utm_campaign=linkinbio&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio

FinCEN Postpones Residential Real Estate Reporting Date

In mid-September, in response to a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) rule requiring collection and reporting of data on certain “all cash” transactions, C.A.R. released a new form titled “Federal Reporting Requirement Purchase Addendum” (C.A.R. form FRR-PA).  The FRR-PA was bundled with the Residential Purchase Agreement (C.A.R. form RPA) and other applicable agreements so that escrow and title companies would have contractual authority to gather and report information for escrows that were scheduled to, or might, close on or after the rule’s scheduled effective date, December 1, 2025.  Implementation of the rule is now delayed until March 1, 2026. 

C.A.R. had intended to update the RPA to include the necessary contractual instructions with the December 2025 forms release and then discontinue the FRR-PA at that time.  Those plans have changed.  The FRR-PA has been updated to reflect the new implementation date, and a revised FRR-PA, with a revision date of 10/25, will be available on zipForm. A change to the RPA addressing the FinCEN rule will not be made in December.  Instead, the FRR-PA will continue in place until the next C.A.R. forms release in June.

For more information, please see the C.A.R. “FinCEN Real Estate Reporting Requirement” Quick Guide.

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