Accepting Applications: 2021 WISH and IDEA Homeownership Programs

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting member applications for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco's 2021 WISH and IDEA first-time homebuyer downpayment assistance programs. The deadline for members to submit an application to participate in this year’s WISH and IDEA programs is February 16, 2021.

Apply to participate in the 2021 WISH and IDEA homeownership programs. 

Our WISH and IDEA matching grant programs are designed to offer the Bank's member financial institutions an opportunity to support affordable, sustainable homeownership for first-time homebuyers while achieving their own community investment goals.

Both grant programs offer eligible low- to moderate-income households 4-to-1 matching grants of up to $22,000 that can be applied to downpayment and closing costs for the purchase of a home.

  • WISH grants help working families and individuals move from renting to owning and can complement or supplement many local, state, and federal homeownership programs and initiatives.
  • IDEA grants help homebuyers who have been saving for the purchase of their first home through an Individual Development Account or by participating in their local housing authority's Family Self-Sufficiency homeownership program or in a lease-to-own program administered by a government entity or nonprofit organization.

Because these first-time homebuyer grants are delivered directly to homebuyers by participating Bank members, only the Bank's member financial institutions may apply to participate in our annual WISH and IDEA programs. Our participating members can request grant funds on a first-come, first-served basis to assist homebuyers who are expected to close or be in escrow on a home purchase by March 31, 2022.

Members approved to participate in this year’s program will be notified of the total amount of grant funding available for 2021 on or around March 31, 2021. At that time, a list of participating members will be available on the Bank’s website so that potential homebuyers and housing agencies or nonprofits that work with first-time homebuyers can contact a participating member about partnering with them to access our WISH or IDEA programs.

Applications and related program materials for members, such as information about homebuyer eligibility, can also be found on the WISH and IDEA page of our website. For additional information, please email Community Investment or call (415) 616-2542.