loanDepot Exclusive Solar DPA
A Brighter Way to Start Your Next Chapter
Help with your down payment. Solar you own. A home loan plan that looks at the whole picture. Exclusively through loanDepot, with Arcasa as our solar partner. Amy and our team will help you explore whether this program can make your move more manageable.
What Is loanDepot's Exclusive Solar DPA Program?
loanDepot offers this exclusive loan program, combining an eligible mortgage with down payment assistance and an approved solar installation. Arcasa is the solar company that coordinates the solar project; loanDepot provides the mortgage financing. The solar project cost is financed into your first mortgage, while assistance helps with eligible costs at closing. You own the solar system rather than lease it.
For qualifying buyers, the loanDepot program offers up to 5% assistance toward a down payment and/or closing costs. The available amount depends on the property, approved solar package, loan structure, and assistance provider. Amy and our team will confirm the actual dollar amount for your scenario.
The assistance may be a grant or a forgivable second mortgage, depending on the option used. The solar system is not free: its financed cost increases your mortgage balance and affects your payment and interest costs. We will compare both pieces before you decide.
How the Program Works, Step by Step
- Start with your home loan. We review your income, credit, savings, existing debts, and comfortable price range. Your financing must meet the applicable mortgage and lender requirements.
- Review the home for solar. Arcasa evaluates the property and proposed installation. The roof, available space, property type, and project requirements all matter.
- Compare the complete numbers. We review the solar cost, assistance amount, cash needed at closing, new mortgage payment, and estimated electricity savings together.
- Complete the loan and project agreements. Before closing, review the assistance terms, solar scope, installation responsibilities, escrow arrangements, and written warranty coverage.
- Move forward with installation. The program is designed for installation after closing. Arcasa coordinates the project, subject to the agreed schedule, permits, and completion requirements. If your assistance is a forgivable second loan, completion and the program conditions govern forgiveness.
What Can the Assistance Pay For?
Eligible assistance can reduce the amount you need for the down payment and closing costs. It is applied through the closing transaction, not handed to you as a spending check after you move in.
This may help you preserve some of your own savings for moving, repairs, or an emergency fund. It does not mean every buyer will close with no money out of pocket. We will account for deposits, inspections, prepaid expenses, and any remaining costs so you know what to expect.
A larger assistance option can require a larger solar system and a higher project cost. We will compare the available packages rather than assume the largest assistance amount is automatically the best choice.
Who May Be a Good Fit?
- First-time and repeat buyers: Arcasa does not require you to be buying your first home.
- Buyers who want to keep savings available: Having money saved does not automatically rule out this option.
- Buyers interested in owned solar: A qualifying solar installation is required to access this assistance.
- Buyers comparing assistance programs: Arcasa does not add an income cap or a required homebuyer education course of its own, although the underlying mortgage and any other program may have requirements.
You still need qualifying income, acceptable credit, and a property that works for the loan and solar project. No income cap does not mean no income verification. Amy and our team can review your situation before you spend time planning around a benefit that may not fit.
FHA and Conventional Options
Both FHA and conventional options are available through loanDepot, with high-balance scenarios subject to review. Requirements differ by loan type. Explore our FHA guide and conventional loan guide, then let us compare the eligible combinations for your home.
Arcasa does not set a separate universal credit-score requirement for this loanDepot offering. The applicable loanDepot, agency, insurer, and underwriting requirements still apply. We will confirm the score and other qualifications for your exact loan.
Does Your Property Work?
Potentially eligible homes include single-family homes, townhomes, manufactured homes, and qualifying multi-unit properties, subject to the mortgage and solar review. For the FHA solar option, condominiums are excluded. Some detached or site-condominium arrangements may be considered under conventional financing; shared roofs and association restrictions need an early review.
Send us the property address before assuming eligibility. If the home already has solar, we will review the existing system, ownership or financing arrangements, and whether an approved new project or expansion is possible.
Look at Your Whole House Spending Plan
Lower cash needed at closing is only part of the decision. Financing solar increases what you borrow, and projected utility savings do not erase that loan balance. A larger mortgage can also affect the equity available if you sell or refinance sooner than expected.
- Upfront: How much assistance is available, and what cash will you still bring?
- Monthly: What is the full mortgage payment, including taxes, insurance, and any mortgage insurance or HOA dues?
- Electricity: What savings are projected for this home, and what utility charges may remain?
- Longer term: How do the financed cost, interest, maintenance coverage, and your expected time in the home compare?
Solar output and savings vary with the system, shade, household usage, utility rates, and local billing rules. You generally remain connected to your utility. We will not assume your bill disappears or that estimated savings are guaranteed.
If solar is not a fit, you still have other paths to consider. Compare down payment assistance options and CalHFA MyHome and Dream For All. If you are just getting started, visit the First-Time Home Buyer Hub.
Installation, Ownership, and Warranty Questions
The solar system becomes part of your home. There is no separate solar lease payment, and the solar cost is financed through the mortgage rather than a separate solar financing contract. Your mortgage remains a lien on the home; an assistance second lien may also exist until its forgiveness requirements are satisfied.
Arcasa uses approved installers and may be able to review a builder's existing installer. Ask for the written scope, completion schedule, equipment specifications, and warranty documents before committing. Coverage for roof penetrations, equipment, labor, and diagnostics must be confirmed in the actual agreement, including how installation affects an existing roof warranty.
Roof work, batteries, electrical upgrades, and other improvements may be considered as part of an eligible project. Availability, pricing, and financing limits require a property-specific review. A battery is not automatically included.
Your Solar DPA Questions, Answered
Do I have to install solar to receive the assistance?
Yes. This program ties the assistance to an approved solar installation. If you do not want solar, we can review other down payment assistance options with you.
Do I have to repay the assistance?
The assistance can be structured as a grant or a forgivable second mortgage. A grant has its own conditions; a forgivable second is not the same as an unconditional gift at closing. Forgiveness is tied to completed solar installation and program requirements. We will explain your specific agreement, any lien, and what happens if installation is not completed. The solar cost financed into your first mortgage remains repayable.
Can I receive up to 5% without putting any of my own money down?
Some eligible scenarios may cover the required down payment, but the amount and permitted uses depend on your loan and solar package. There may still be closing costs or earlier expenses to pay. We will give you a clear estimate of the funds you need rather than assume zero cash to close.
Is the solar system free or leased?
Neither. You own the system, and the eligible project cost is financed into your mortgage. That increases your loan balance and affects the payment and interest you pay over time. We will compare that cost with the assistance and estimated utility savings.
Do I need to be a first-time buyer or meet an income cap?
Arcasa does not impose a first-time buyer requirement or its own income cap. You must still meet the income, credit, debt, property, and occupancy requirements of the underlying loan and any other assistance used.
When is the solar installed, and will it delay closing?
The program is designed for installation after closing, with project funds handled through the required arrangements. That can separate installation from moving day, but neither closing nor installation timing is guaranteed. Permits, property conditions, scheduling, and loan requirements can affect the timeline.
Can this work with a new-build home or a refinance?
Both are scenarios worth reviewing. Arcasa may coordinate with a builder or vet the builder's installer. Refinance options also exist, but eligible costs and benefits differ from a purchase; a refinance does not have a purchase down payment. We will compare the new loan, project costs, and any permitted assistance with your current situation. Explore our refinance guide.
How do I find out whether this makes sense for my home?
Start with a conversation about your goals and property. Amy and our team can coordinate the mortgage and solar review, then compare the assistance, project cost, and full payment. Schedule a conversation or review the steps toward mortgage pre-approval.
Program availability, assistance structure, and terms depend on the lender, provider, property, and current guidelines. All loans require qualification and approval. For a general introduction, visit Arcasa's homebuyer overview; your approved loan and project documents determine your terms.
Let's See What a Brighter Home Loan Plan Could Look Like
You bring your home goals. Amy and our team will help you understand the options, compare the numbers, and decide whether solar and assistance belong in your next chapter.
Serving homebuyers and homeowners in Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Citrus Heights, Antelope, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Sacramento, and across California, Tennessee, and Texas.