Conejo Valley street with green hills and a headline reading First-Time Buyer Help, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

First-Time Buyer Programs in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

November 12, 2026

Is there first-time buyer help for homes in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park? Yes. CalHFA's statewide programs work anywhere in California, including the Conejo Valley, and My Way Home's HomeNow program lists Thousand Oaks and unincorporated Ventura County among the areas it serves. The City of Thousand Oaks also runs ownership programs for income-restricted homes. Each has its own limits, rules and funding, and funding can run out, so confirm current details with the program.

We're Steve Hise and Tricia Garcia, and we help buyers across Simi Valley and the Conejo Valley. Here's what applies in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park, from program pages we read on November 11, 2026.

1. The quick map: what applies in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

Program	Run by	Who it's for	Status when we checked
MyHome Assistance	CalHFA (state)	First-time buyers using a CalHFA first mortgage	Listed as a current program
CalPLUS with ZIP / CalPLUS Access	CalHFA (state)	Buyers using a CalPLUS first mortgage	Listed as current programs
Dream For All	CalHFA (state)	First-time, first-generation buyers	Opens in rounds; no open registration listed
HomeNow	My Way Home (nonprofit)	First-time buyers up to 150% of AMI	Listed, Thousand Oaks included
Ownership Programs	City of Thousand Oaks	Lower- and moderate-income buyers of income-restricted homes	No units available at this time

Free First-Time Buyer Game Plan. What "ready" really means, where down payment help comes from, a monthly cost worksheet, and every step from first call to keys.

Get the free guide →

2. CalHFA programs work anywhere in California

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) doesn't lend directly; you apply through a CalHFA-approved loan officer. Its help is a deferred-payment second loan, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first mortgage.

MyHome: up to 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value (whichever is less) with a CalHFA FHA loan, or up to 3% with a CalHFA conventional loan, for down payment and/or closing costs. You must be a first-time homebuyer and live in the home.
CalPLUS with ZIP: a CalPLUS FHA or conventional first mortgage paired with CalHFA's Zero Interest Program (ZIP) for closing costs. CalHFA says CalPLUS first mortgages carry a slightly higher rate than its standard ones, so compare the full cost.
CalPLUS Access: a CalPLUS first mortgage paired with MyAccess for closing costs or down payment.

Income limit: CalHFA's 2026 limit for Ventura County is $268,000 for its first mortgage and subordinate programs (effective June 30, 2026).

"First-time" is broader than it sounds. CalHFA defines a first-time homebuyer as someone who hasn't owned and occupied a home in the last three years, and hasn't lived in a home owned by a spouse in that time.

The property: a one-unit home you'll live in, including approved condos and PUDs. A home with an ADU or guest house may be eligible.

3. Dream For All: worth watching, not counting on

CalHFA's Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan offers up to 20% for down payment or closing costs, not to exceed $150,000, paired with a Dream For All conventional first mortgage. When you sell, transfer or pay off the first mortgage, you repay the original amount plus a share of the home's appreciation.

It isn't first come, first served. Buyers register for a voucher and a randomized drawing picks who receives one. All borrowers must be first-time buyers, at least one must meet CalHFA's first-generation homebuyer definition, and at least one must be a current California resident. The 2026 Dream For All income limit for Ventura County is $214,000.

My Way Home's page says the last registration ran February 24 to March 16, 2026, and CalHFA posted on May 20, 2026 that vouchers from that round had been released. For applicants not selected, CalHFA points to MyHome and CalPLUS with ZIP.

4. HomeNow: the county-area program that includes Thousand Oaks

Simi Valley isn't on HomeNow's list, but Thousand Oaks is. My Way Home, the nonprofit formerly called VCCDC, offers HomeNow to first-time buyers purchasing in Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks or unincorporated areas of Ventura County.

Amount: up to $34,500.
Type: a 15-year deferred loan that accrues simple interest.
Income: up to 150% of AMI, the area income figure housing programs use. My Way Home's example is a household of four earning less than $203,400.

Not sure if an address is inside Thousand Oaks city limits? Ask the city. HomeNow covers both the city and unincorporated county areas.

5. Other My Way Home programs to ask about

CalHome: up to $40,000 as a 30-year deferred loan for households up to 80% of AMI, funded by the state's HCD.
WISH: a 4-to-1 matching grant of up to $32,000 for households up to 80% of AMI, forgiven over 5 years.
Middle Income Program: listed as "currently exhausted" when we checked.

My Way Home says its programs can be combined, and that amounts are maximums subject to funding. Its free homebuyer workshop is a good place to start.

6. City of Thousand Oaks ownership programs

If you've read about the City of Simi Valley's program (see our Simi Valley down payment program post), Thousand Oaks works differently. Its Ownership Programs page doesn't list a citywide down payment loan. The city's help is built around income-restricted homes:

For Sale Affordable Housing Program: homes built after 2000 sold below market price to lower-income households, offered through a lottery. The city's page said "No units available at this time."
Resale-controlled and maximum-sale-price units: income-restricted homes with limits on resale price and equity growth.
Owner occupancy: homes that get city assistance come with owner-occupancy restrictions.

Read any recorded restrictions before you remove contingencies. The city's page and the County of Ventura's housing page both mention Mortgage Credit Certificates, a federal tax credit; ask a lender whether one is offered now. City housing: (805) 449-2393.

7. How to line it up before you make an offer

Talk to a lender who offers CalHFA and My Way Home programs. Ask what each does to your payment and cash to close. Our first-home monthly cost guide lists the costs to ask about.
Take homebuyer education early. CalHFA requires it. Online, it accepts only eHome's eight-hour course with one-on-one counseling ($100), or use a HUD-approved counseling agency.
Check the address, not the ZIP code. Whether a home is inside city limits changes which local programs apply.
Build in time. Assistance adds paperwork, so tell us early.

Comparing towns? Our Ventura County down payment assistance overview and first-time buyer page cover more of the county.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use CalHFA in Thousand Oaks or Newbury Park?
Yes. CalHFA programs are statewide. You apply through a CalHFA-approved loan officer, and the 2026 Ventura County income limit is $268,000 for most CalHFA programs.

Does HomeNow work in Thousand Oaks?
Yes. My Way Home lists Thousand Oaks and unincorporated Ventura County among HomeNow's areas. It offers up to $34,500 to first-time buyers earning up to 150% of AMI. Simi Valley isn't on its list.

Can I use the Simi Valley down payment program in Thousand Oaks?
That program is run by the City of Simi Valley, so ask the city about its rules. For a Thousand Oaks or Newbury Park home, start with CalHFA, My Way Home and the City of Thousand Oaks.

Is Dream For All open right now?
Not when we checked. It opens in registration rounds with a random drawing. Check CalHFA's Dream For All page for the next round.

Do I have to pay the assistance back?
Usually, yes. Most of these are deferred loans repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first mortgage. Dream For All also takes a share of appreciation. WISH is a grant forgiven over five years.

Buying your first home in the Conejo Valley?

Tell us where you're looking and we'll help you line up the right programs. Schedule a call, or call or text 805-424-6226.

Sources

All checked November 11, 2026.

Steve Hise and Tricia Garcia, Real Estate Toolbox at eXp Realty, 1720 E Los Angeles Ave, Suite F, Simi Valley, CA 93065
Steve Hise CA DRE #01702055 | Tricia Garcia CA DRE #02032007

This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Program rules, income limits and funding change often and money can run out; eligibility is decided by each program and lender. Confirm current details with CalHFA, My Way Home or the City of Thousand Oaks before you rely on them.

Steve Hise

Steve Hise, Community & Local Real Estate Specialist Steve Hise is a Simi Valley, Ventura County, and Los Angeles County real estate specialist with the Real Estate Toolbox Team. He focuses on community insight, neighborhood expertise, and residential buying and selling. Steve helps buyers and sellers understand local market trends and what makes each neighborhood unique so they can make confident real estate decisions.