San Diego County is rolling out a financial lifesaver for first-time homebuyers drowning in the exorbitant housing market. Eligibility for the assistance hinges on income, with singles making $77,200 or less and families of four earning $110,250 or below fitting the bill for this program, as detailed on County News Center.

The deal sweetens with low-interest loans that postpone the pain of payment; these can cushion the blow of a down payment by 22 percent of the home's sales price and cover closing costs to $10,000. David Estrella, the county's head honcho of Housing and Community Development, signaled a beacon of hope for prospective buyers grappling with San Diego's steep entry barrier to homeownership, he proclaimed, "Buying a home in San Diego is a huge challenge to many families," and "We want them to know they’re not alone and encourage them to apply for this life-changing program," in a report by the official county website.

Home seekers aren't limited to the stale cookie-cutter estate; the fund extends to new builds and existing digs, including condos, townhomes, and even manufactured homes anchored to a permanent foundation. However, properties can't tally over $676,000.

It has been specified that residences eligible for a particular program should be situated either within the unincorporated region of San Diego County or within the city limits of Carlsbad, Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, or Vista. Behind the scenes, the San Diego Housing Commission is the brains of the operation, ironing out the administrative wrinkles to ensure the program runs without a hitch, more details about the initiative are a mere click away on the Housing and Community Development Services website.