The City of Rancho Santa Margarita presently supports a variety of housing activities in partnership with the County of Orange and local community-based non-profit organizations.  Please click on the links under City Options to obtain information regarding programs and services.  You may also contact the City's Housing Programs Coordinator, Mike Linares, at 949.635.1800 ext. 6702.  A list of frequently asked questions has been included below:

Does the City of Rancho Santa Margarita have a first-time home buyer program?

Presently the City of Rancho Santa Margarita does not offer any form of first time home buyer assistance; however home buyers can contact mortgage lenders to inquire if they offer first time homebuyer assistance.  For more information on first-time home buyer programs, click here.

Are there any financial assistance programs to help me buy a home in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita?

Most lending institutions have some type of program that is geared toward helping first-time home buyers.  Typically these programs will require lower down payment requirements.  These loans types of loans are typically insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) so some additional underwriting criteria may be applicable.  Contact a bank or a mortgage broker to get additional information.  Keep in mind that due to recent changes in federal regulations, underwriting and financing options may be limited.

Unlike larger Orange County communities, the City does not have or receive special funding that is specifically targeted to help lower income households buy a home.  There are some nonprofit organizations that do offer some form of home buyer assistance geared specifically for lower income households.  For a list of these agencies, click here.

What type of affordable housing programs are available in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita?

In partnership with the Orange County Housing and Community Services Department, a comprehensive list of affordable rental housing complexes throughout Orange County has been created; this list includes housing complexes in Rancho Santa Margarita.  Click here to access the County of Orange Affordable Housing List.

Rental assistance is also available to qualified Rancho Santa Margarita renter households through the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA).  Individuals that would like more information should contact OCHA directly by visiting their website at http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Info%20OC/Departments%20&%20Agencies/OC%20Community%20Services/Housing%20&%20Community%20Development. 

What type of housing programs are available for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages?

1. The Unemployment Mortgage Assistance Program provides mortgage payment assistance to eligible homeowners who have experienced an involuntary job loss and are receiving California EDD unemployment benefits.  Benefit assistance through UMA can be up to $3,000 per month and can last up to nine months.  The maximum assistance per household is $27,000.
2. The Mortgage Reinstatement Assistance Program provides assistance to eligible homeowners who, because of a financial hardship, have fallen behind on their payments and need help to reinstate their past due first mortgage loan.  Benefit assistance through MRAP can be a one time payment of up to $20,000 to cover principal, interest, taxes and insurance, as well as any homeowner's association dues.
3. The Principal Reduction Program provides assistance to eligible homeowners who have experienced an economic hardship coupled with a severe decline in the home's value.  Homeowners who qualify for the PRP could be eligible for up to $50,000 in assistance from Keep Your Home California. The PRP requires a dollar-for-dollar match from the participating servicer, so the total amount of reduced principal could be up to $100,000.
4. The Transition Assistance Program provides one-time funds to help eligible homeowners relocate into a new housing situation after executing a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure program.  The TAP can provide up to $5,000 in transition assistance per household