SERVICE

First Responders Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (FRDALP)

FRDALP helps eligible first responders buy a home in San Francisco through a down payment assistance loan.

What to know

2025 DALP Application dates

Apply between: March 4, 2025 and June 2, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific Time

What to do

Downpayment loans for San Francisco First Responders

FRDALP provides down payment assistance of up to $500,000 to help first responders buy a market-rate property in San Francisco.

This loan is intended to be used for the down payment on a property that will become a primary residence. The owner can re-sell the property at market prices at any time. 

FRDALP is a silent second loan that requires no monthly payments. When the property is sold or transferred, the owner pays MOHCD back the principal amount of the loan, plus an equitable share of appreciation of the property.

See how much DALP funding is available.

Check if you can apply as a first responder

You are employed as a first responder

You can apply as a First Responder if you are an active uniformed, sworn member of any of San Francisco’s:

  • Police Department (SFPD)
  • Fire Department (SFFD)
  • Sheriff’s Department (SFSD)

Your income is under a certain amount

The amount you can borrow depends on how much you need.

Your household must make under a certain amount. The maximum amount depends on the number of people in your household:

  • For 1 person, $209,800
  • For 2 people, $239,800
  • For 3 people, $269,700
  • For 4 people, $299,700
  • For 5 people, $323,700
  • For 6 people, $347,700
  • For 7 people, $371,600
  • For 8 people, $395,600
  • For 9 people, $419,600

You are a first-time homebuyer in San Francisco

You have not owned any residential property in San Francisco within the last 3 years.

What documents you need

You must submit:

  1. Proof of your employment, like a copy of a recent paycheck, or a letter from your employer showing your job title
  2. Verification of homebuyer education, dated within the past year
  3. Loan pre-approval letter, dated within the past 120 days

Your pre-approval letter must contain:

  • The sales price of a market-rate property
  • The maximum first loan amount
  • The DALP loan amount.

A pre-approval letter for a below-market-rate (BMR) property will not be accepted.

How to apply

There is only 1 application for the Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (DALP).

All applications from the general public and first responders go into the same lottery. On the application, we will ask if you are a first responder.

Do not submit another application as a member of the general public. If you do, all your applications may be removed from the lottery.

Get help

Address

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development1 South Van Ness Ave
5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94116

Phone

MOHCD Front desk415-701-5500

Email

For questions about DALP

sfhousinginfo@sfgov.org