Napa County Proximity Housing: Up to 16.5% Down Payment Assistance for People Who Work in Napa

Napa County’s Proximity Housing program offers a homebuyer assistance loan of up to 16.5% of the purchase price to people who work in Napa County and earn up to 120% of the county median income. The County picks applicants based on need and commute miles saved. On our approved list, it works with conventional first mortgages.

Who qualifies?

Per the County:

•             You or someone in your household works in Napa County.

•             Your total household income doesn’t exceed 120% of Napa County’s median income for your household size.

•             You get pre-approved with a lender of your choice, then submit an application packet to the County.

The point of the program is to help people who work in Napa County live closer to where they work. That’s why it’s tied to commute distance.

How much is the assistance?

Up to 16.5% of the purchase price. On a $500,000 home, that’s up to $82,500. Your actual amount depends on the program and your situation.

What’s the catch?

It’s a shared-appreciation loan. According to the County’s guidelines, the County’s share of the appreciation is tied to the percentage of your loan. In the County’s own example, a loan of 16.5% of the base price means a 16.5% share of appreciation. So there’s no monthly payment while you own the home, but when you sell or refinance, you repay the loan and share the appreciation with the County.

Read the current guidelines before you commit, and run the numbers on what you’d owe after several years of appreciation.

How is this different from the City of Napa program?

They’re separate programs. The City of Napa offers a silent second (deferred payment) loan for first-time buyers, or people who haven’t owned in the past three years, buying within city limits. The maximum is $150,000 or 30% of the purchase price, whichever is less, and it has its own income limits.

How do we help?

•             We do the pre-approval you need before you apply.

•             We coordinate the first mortgage with the County’s application.

•             We check how the assistance loan affects your combined loan-to-value, so the structure works for both.

The County selects applicants, so timing and preparation matter. Having your pre-approval and documents ready puts you in a better position when you apply.

Working in Napa County and want to buy? See California down payment assistance options

Sources: County of Napa, Proximity Housing Homebuyer’s Assistance Program page and program guidelines; City of Napa Housing Division.

Mike Belfor, Branch Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator, American Pacific Mortgage, NMLS 264700 (Company NMLS 1850). Equal Housing Opportunity. Program availability and terms change. Updated September 18, 2026.