California moves to allow illegals immigrants to 'buy' homes with no payment, zero-down loans

California lawmakers proposed legislation that would expand the zero-down, no-payment home "loan" program it has to illegal immigrants.

“Assembly Bill 1840 is an insult to California citizens who are being left behind and priced out of homeownership,” California state Sen. Brian Dahle said in a statement. “I'm all for helping first-time homebuyers, but give priority to those who are here in our state legally." 

According to the LA Times, state assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) introduced AB-1840 as a bill in the state assembly to expand eligibility for a state loan program that launched last year called the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan program.  

This program allows first-time home buyers to get a loan up to 20 percent of the price of a house and the loan does not accrue interest or require monthly payments. Instead, what occurs is that the buyer may then refinance the mortgage or sell the house and then pay back the original loan plus 20 percent of the home's equity increase. It was originally for those Americans living in California who could not afford a home but did not extend to illegal immigrants.  

Arambula told the outlet, "It’s that ambiguity for undocumented individuals, despite the fact that they’ve qualified under existing criteria, such as having a qualified mortgage." 

“Underscores the pressing need for us to introduce legislation," he added.  

If the bill is passed, it would allow illegal immigrants who would have similar eligibility to apply for the program and be a "first-time home buyer." 

According to Forbes, the housing market in California has become one of the highest-priced housing markets in the country amidst the last few years of inflation under the Biden administration. Data gathered by rental and housing website Redfin places California as the number one state people moved out of during 2023.