Buy a home with City help

How to buy a home with City help

First time homebuyers can buy a home at a below market rate price and get a loan for a down payment.

Learn about buying

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You can also get City help to find and stay in an affordable rental. Includes low income and below market rate housing. Learn about renting.

Services

Buy a home at a below market rate price

First time homebuyers can buy a home in San Francisco at below market rate (BMR) prices.

Buy a home at a fair market price

Apply to buy a home at a price set by the open market. No bidding needed.

Apply for a downpayment loan

Get a loan up to $500,000 to buy a home at a below market rate (BMR) or fair market price.

Apply to buy without a lottery

Apply to buy at a below market rate price without entering a lottery. We review applications in the order they come in.

View listings

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Resources

For people looking to buy a home

Decide if buying a home with City help is right for you

The first step is to attend an orientation session about affordable homeownership programs.

Sign up to complete homebuyer education

To buy a home with City help, you have to attend an orientation, a workshop, and meet a housing counselor.

Get priority in the housing lottery

Lottery preference programs give you a better chance at getting housing.

How the affordable housing lottery works

A lottery determines your place in line to get housing. Find out how it works.

After a BMR homebuyer lottery

Learn what happens after a Below Market Rate homeownership lottery is run.

Eligibility for MOHCD housing programs

MOHCD housing programs have income and household size requirements. Some units are for specific populations.

Get emails about new housing opportunities

Find out when new affordable housing listings are posted on DAHLIA.

For current homeowners

Annual monitoring for homeowners

If you bought a home with City help, each year you must confirm that you are living there.

Get services if you bought a home with City help

Help for City program homeowners to refinance, improve, or resell their home.

Get an emergency loan

Get a loan to pay for past due mortgage, property taxes, HOA fees, or needed repairs.

Foreclosure resources

What to do if you are a San Francisco homeowner at risk of falling behind on house payments

Get help

Find a housing counselor

Counselors can help with your application and housing search.