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Parlier adopts amended first-time homebuyer guidelines for $2 million CalHome award; ADU rules to return
Summary
City council approved revised first-time homebuyer program guidelines tied to a $3 million CalHome award (city portion: $2 million for down-payment assistance, $1 million for ADUs), setting program income limits and a maximum assistance cap and directing staff to submit documents to the state for review.
The Parlier City Council adopted amended local guidelines for a CalHome award that will provide down-payment and ADU assistance to low- and moderate-income households.
Antonio, community development director, told the council the city was awarded $3,000,000 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development in November 2023: $2,000,000 earmarked for a first-time homebuyer down-payment program and $1,000,000 for ADU/JADU construction and rehabilitation. The contract was executed in May and funds must be extended by May 28, 2027.
Staff presented draft program rules. Qualified applicants must have household income at or below 80% of area median income (HCD guidance): for a household of four that threshold is approximately $70,300. The program will offer deferred-payment gap loans and down-payment assistance; staff proposed caps and eligibility criteria drawn from HCD templates.
Council members and an external mortgage adviser discussed income-qualification ratios and maximum assistance levels. Council ultimately directed a clarification to the guidelines: set a minimum award level and accept a maximum award up to $75,000 in order to serve more households while preserving the program’s goals (staff noted $50,000 would serve approximately 40 families under the $2,000,000 allocation). The council adopted the first-time homebuyer guidelines as revised and asked staff to finalize the guidelines, submit them to HCD for review and post the adopted draft on the city website; the ADU/JADU guidelines will return to a future meeting.
Council asked that staff circulate updated guidelines to Council after revisions and to ensure the program materials are posted for public review.
