Los Angeles buyer guide
What Is the Income Limit for Down Payment Assistance in Los Angeles County in 2026?
The short answer
Justin Borges of The Borges Real Estate Team at eXp Realty (DRE #01940318, (213) 262-5092) helps Los Angeles buyers compare down payment assistance income limits, and there is no single countywide ceiling. Each program sets its own rules and household-size table. LACDA's HOP tables took effect August 24, 2026; NHS's Greenline table has no printed year or income basis, so confirm the applicable table with NHS or your lender.
A household income above one program's ceiling may fall below another's, so start with the household size and the program's own definition of income. If your search includes the City of Inglewood and other Los Angeles County locations, the property's jurisdiction also matters.
Start with the buying process
For your first purchase, I explain the buying process in my free first-time buyer webinar; it is separate from the HUD certificate class and NHS HOPE.
What income limits do the programs publish?
Los Angeles County buyers will find separate published figures for Greenline and the Los Angeles County Development Authority's Home Ownership Program, or HOP. The NHS Greenline table does not state a year or income basis; the HOP figures are effective August 24, 2026. (NHS of LA County, Greenline Home Program, checked November 12, 2026) (LACDA, Home Ownership Program, checked November 12, 2026)
LACDA describes HOP as a second mortgage loan at 0% interest with deferred repayment and shared equity, not a grant (LACDA, checked November 12, 2026). Terms change; confirm with LACDA or your lender.
| Program | Published income information | Date or basis |
|---|---|---|
| Greenline, NHS table | Household limits from $105,900 for one person to $187,650 for seven | No year or basis printed |
| HOP80 | $93,300 for one person; $133,250 for four | Effective August 24, 2026 |
| HOP150 | $113,475 for one person; $162,150 for four | Effective August 24, 2026 |
| Inglewood initiative | Income limits may apply; no table found on the NHS program page | No table date or basis published there |
I suggest starting with the published table, then bringing the household information to your lender before comparing homes. The NHS Inglewood page says applicants must live or work in the Inglewood area and that income limits may apply. The page does not publish an income table for the initiative. (NHS of LA County, Inglewood Homeownership Initiative, checked November 12, 2026)
If your household falls between two published ceilings, I can list the program figures side by side for your comparison. Text (213) 262-5092
What is the Greenline household income table?
NHS publishes the following Greenline household limits, checked November 12, 2026. The page does not identify the table's year, effective date, or area median income basis. (NHS of LA County, Greenline Home Program, checked November 12, 2026)
| Household size | NHS published limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $105,900 |
| 2 | $121,050 |
| 3 | $136,200 |
| 4 | $151,300 |
| 5 | $163,450 |
| 6 | $175,550 |
| 7 | $187,650 |
Los Angeles County's Greenline page links a different image titled 2024 Income Limits. That image has separate low and moderate columns, so it should not be silently substituted for the NHS table or labeled as a current Greenline ceiling. (County of Los Angeles, 2024 Income Limits, checked November 12, 2026)
If you are comparing the Greenline table while looking for a home, I can pull current Los Angeles house listings that match your search criteria. Browse current Los Angeles listings
California's revised 2026 state income limits list a Los Angeles County median of $108,100 for a four-person household. (California HCD, 2026 State Income Limits, checked November 12, 2026) The NHS table does not identify its figures as a percentage of that median. (NHS of LA County, Greenline Home Program, checked November 12, 2026)
The NHS Greenline table lists $151,300 for a four-person household, with no table year or income basis printed.
How do HOP80 and HOP150 limits compare?
LACDA publishes separate HOP80 and HOP150 ceilings by household size. Use LACDA's own figures for HOP, including its one-person HOP150 figure, rather than substituting a similarly named county planning category. The figures below took effect August 24, 2026. (LACDA, Home Ownership Program, checked November 12, 2026)
If the HOP80 and HOP150 rows differ for your household, I can mark both figures on a copy of the LACDA table. Text (213) 262-5092
| Household size | HOP80 | HOP150 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $93,300 | $113,475 |
| 2 | $106,600 | $129,750 |
| 3 | $119,950 | $145,950 |
| 4 | $133,250 | $162,150 |
| 5 | $143,900 | $175,125 |
| 6 | $154,600 | $188,100 |
| 7 | $165,250 | $201,075 |
| 8 | $175,900 | $214,050 |
For a four-person household, the HOP80 ceiling is $133,250 and the HOP150 ceiling is $162,150, effective August 24, 2026.
Compare your household's rows
If your income falls between the HOP ceilings, I can mark the effective date on the LACDA table for your lender conversation.
Does the HOP table apply to a home in Inglewood?
The City of Inglewood is not on LACDA's list of HOP participating cities. LACDA says a HOP property must be in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County or a participating city. A mailing address that says Inglewood is a separate jurisdiction question and should not be assumed to establish where the property is located. (LACDA, Home Ownership Program, checked November 12, 2026)
The NHS Inglewood Homeownership Initiative is a separate program from HOP. Its published page says income limits may apply but does not provide an income table. A figure from HOP or Greenline cannot fill that gap.
A search can include both the City of Inglewood and nearby unincorporated locations. HOP covers properties in unincorporated Los Angeles County or a participating city; the City of Inglewood is not on the participating-city list.
That distinction matters when you compare the HOP table with a particular listing: the location rule refers to the property. LACDA lists participating cities and includes unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County in the HOP location rule.
For a home near Inglewood, I can pull current Los Angeles house listings as you check the HOP location rules. Browse current Los Angeles listings
How should you read a household income limit?
For Los Angeles County programs, start with the household size the particular program uses, then find the corresponding row in that program's own table. Keep the program name with that row when you write it down for your conversation. A household's headcount for a program is not something a listing or a general article can determine. Write down who will live in the home and bring that information to the lender or counselor for review, along with the program name and the household-size row you used, so the discussion starts with the same published table rather than a figure from another program.
Next, distinguish the income a program counts from the income a buyer happens to see on one pay statement. Programs set their own rules; the available sources here do not establish a universal method for wages, other income, or household members. The lender or counselor must explain which income and documents the relevant program uses.
For example, a four-person household can find $151,300 in the NHS Greenline table, $133,250 in HOP80 and $162,150 in HOP150. Those are three separate published rows, not interchangeable versions of one countywide limit. Note which program and household size belong to each figure before comparing them.
If your pay or household makeup is hard to place in a table, I can help you prepare the income questions your lender needs to answer. Text (213) 262-5092
Finally, preserve the source and date. The NHS Greenline page has no printed table year, while LACDA identifies an effective date for HOP. An old screenshot may omit the heading or date needed to interpret it; LACDA identifies August 24, 2026 as the HOP tables' effective date. (NHS of LA County, Greenline Home Program, checked November 12, 2026) (LACDA, Home Ownership Program, checked November 12, 2026)
What if your income is above one limit?
Being above a published ceiling for one program does not by itself answer the question for a different program. Compare the row for the household size each program uses, then check the location and other requirements separately. LACDA's HOP80 and HOP150 tables illustrate why two program names can produce different numbers for the same stated household size.
If the HOP80 ceiling is below your income, I can show you current Los Angeles house listings to consider as you compare programs. Browse current Los Angeles listings
The income calculation, property location and remaining requirements are part of the program review. (LACDA, Home Ownership Program, checked November 12, 2026)
For other paths, consult the program pages for Greenline and the NHS down payment assistance overview. LIPA and CalHFA have their own rules; the HOP and Greenline tables are not substitutes.
What should you bring to the income conversation?
For a Los Angeles County assistance program, prepare a short household list and note the income sources you want the lender or counselor to evaluate. Include the program name, the row you found and the date or missing date on the source. That gives the reviewer a specific question to answer without assuming that your own calculation matches the program's calculation.
With your household-size row in hand, I can walk you through the purchase process in my free first-time buyer webinar. Join the free first-time buyer webinar
I suggest discussing the income table with your lender before you make an offer. Keep the home search question separate: identify the city or unincorporated location of any property you are considering. For Inglewood, write down that the NHS page says income limits may apply but provides no table. (NHS of LA County, Inglewood Homeownership Initiative, checked November 12, 2026) For HOP, retain the LACDA table effective August 24, 2026. (LACDA, Home Ownership Program, checked November 12, 2026)
For the income conversation, bring the household-size row and its source: the LACDA HOP tables took effect August 24, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one countywide income ceiling for every program?
No. The NHS Greenline table and LACDA HOP80 and HOP150 tables are separate sources, each with its own household-size figures.
If the NHS Greenline table has you wondering about its date, I can send you its source page for your counselor conversation. Text (213) 262-5092
Is the NHS Greenline table labeled as a 2026 table?
The NHS Greenline page lists household figures but does not print a year, effective date or income basis for that table. The county's Greenline page links a separate image labeled 2024. Do not assume those sources are interchangeable.
Does a higher HOP150 ceiling mean I am approved?
No. Income is one part of a program review. LACDA publishes distinct HOP80 and HOP150 tables, and location and other requirements also apply.
Can I use a HOP income row for the Inglewood initiative?
No published source in this comparison says to use a HOP row as the Inglewood initiative's income limit. NHS says income limits may apply to its initiative but does not publish a table on that page. HOP is a separate LACDA program.
Does a mailing address settle whether HOP covers a property?
A mailing address alone should not be treated as a jurisdiction determination. LACDA requires a property in an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County or a HOP participating city, and the City of Inglewood is not on its list. An Inglewood mailing name on an unincorporated address is a separate question.
When a mailing address raises a jurisdiction question, I explain the home search in my free first-time buyer webinar. Join the free first-time buyer webinar
Should I count every income source the same way?
Do not assume a universal calculation across assistance programs. The program and lender need to explain whose income counts, which sources count and what documentation they require. Bring a list of household members and income sources to the conversation, along with the name of the table you reviewed.
Put your income questions in order
For a home you are comparing with a published ceiling, I can review the listing details you want to bring to your lender.
Sources
- Greenline Home Program, nhslacounty.org. Checked November 12, 2026.
- Home Ownership Program, lacda.org. Checked November 12, 2026.
- Inglewood Homeownership Initiative, nhslacounty.org. Checked November 12, 2026.
- 2024 Income Limits, County of Los Angeles (dcba.lacounty.gov). Checked November 12, 2026.
- 2026 State Income Limits, hcd.ca.gov. Checked November 12, 2026.
- LA County DCBA: Greenline Home Program, County of Los Angeles (dcba.lacounty.gov). Checked November 12, 2026.
- NHS LA County: Down Payment Assistance Programs, nhslacounty.org. Checked November 12, 2026.
About the author
Justin Borges
REALTOR® | CA DRE #01940318
Justin writes LA Metro Home Finder’s guides to 30+ communities across the San Gabriel Valley, Northeast LA, and greater Los Angeles, and has closed $200M+ in career sales.
Justin has held an active California DRE salesperson license since October 2013. View Justin’s author profile.
This guide is educational and is not legal, tax, title, lending, or insurance advice. Contract forms, statutes, and lender rules change. Confirm the terms that apply to your sale with your escrow officer, title officer, lender, or a California real estate attorney.
