On Friday, February 7th, the West End Real Estate Professionals (WEREP) meeting in Rancho Cucamonga featured an impactful presentation from Leanne Walker of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)—and it was packed with timely insight for agents serving today’s first-time buyers. 🎯
Meet the Speaker: Leanne Walker, CalHFA
Leanne Walker has been with CalHFA since February 2003, serving in multiple roles across the organization. She currently works as a Training and Outreach Specialist in the Single Family Lending Unit, where she educates industry professionals on CalHFA programs and how to best position borrowers for success.
Kicking things off, the opening speaker introduced Leanne and set the stage for a concise, high-value overview—something Leanne humorously noted after speaking the day prior in Seymour and promising to keep this session tight and practical. (Mission accomplished. 👏)
CalHFA at a Glance: 50 Years of Impact
Founded in 1975, CalHFA recently celebrated 50 years of service. In that time, the agency has helped more than 230,000 Californians achieve homeownership. Its core mission remains clear:
Make homeownership more accessible—especially for first-time buyers.
The #1 Challenge for First-Time Buyers? Down Payment 💸
Leanne emphasized what agents see every day in the field:
the biggest obstacle for first-time homebuyers is the down payment.
This is where CalHFA shines.
Through a network of 100+ approved lenders, CalHFA offers down payment assistance programs designed to bridge the affordability gap and help qualified buyers get into homes sooner—without exhausting their savings.
🔑 Key Reminder for Agents:
Borrowers must work with a CalHFA-approved lender to access these programs—making lender relationships and education critical.
What’s Coming Next: “Dream For All”
While this session focused on CalHFAs overall mission and structure, Leanne shared that she would be diving deeper into CalHFA’s “Dream For All” program later in her presentation—one of the most talked-about initiatives in California housing today.
(Translation: if you work with first-time buyers and you’re not fluent in this program yet… it’s time. ⏰)
Why This Matters for Inland Empire Agents
Educational moments like this—hosted through WEREP and supported by industry partners like Fidelity National Title, Ryan Orr, and Team Title Guy—are exactly how agents differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
First-time buyers are still out there.
They’re just looking for clarity, confidence, and the right strategy.
And programs like CalHFA help turn “maybe someday” into “we’re under contract.” 🏡✨
For more information on CalHFA programs, approved lenders, and upcoming initiatives, visit: https://www.calhfa.ca.gov
