The City of Emeryville has two programs to assist with affordable home-ownership for income-eligible households:

• Below Market Rate Ownership Program: Below Market Rate (BMR) units are homes whose values are legally restricted to keep their prices affordable for households at or below certain designated income levels. When these units are placed on the market for sale by their owners, the City works with the buyer and seller to determine a maximum sale price, ensure the unit is in good condition, verify eligibility, and facilitate certain aspects of the transfer. placed on the market for sale by their owners. Learn more, or click to view BMR units currently on the market. 
• First Time Home-buyers Down Payment Assistance Loans: This program provides low-interest, deferred-payment loans to help first-time home-buyers cover the down payment on market-rate or co-op homes for sale in Emeryville. Loans are available to households at or below moderate income. Learn more.

For information on affordable rental housing in Emeryville, click here.

​Home-buyer Education Workshop

Taking a course on the home-buying process is one recommended way to prepare for home ownership. If your application is approved for either the purchase of a BMR unit or for a down payment assistance loan, completing a home-buyer education workshop is a requirement. The City does not offer these workshops directly, but there are many local organizations that do. To meet the home-buyer program requirement, the City will accept any HUD-approved, 8-hour course completed up to six-months prior to the close of escrow. A list of HUD counseling agencies in the Bay Area can be found here. 

  

Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program

Alameda County’s Housing and Community Development Department runs the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program, which provides income-eligible, first-time home-buyers with an opportunity to reduce the amount of federal income tax they owe each year they own and live in their home. This tax credit can help buyers qualify for a larger mortgage with no effect on their monthly expenses. Learn more.

Alameda County Down Payment Assistance Program

Alameda County is currently offering a Down Payment Assistance Program called AC Boost. AC Boost provides financial assistance to middle-income working households to purchase a home in Alameda County. The program offers loans of up to $150,000 to first-time home-buyers who live in, work in, or have been displaced from Alameda County. Limited preference is given to first responders and educators (including public school employees and childcare providers). More information on the application process can be found online at ACBoost.org or by calling (510) 500-8840.

​Contact

Hello Housing, a non-profit organization, assists the City in administering Emeryville's Homebuyer Programs. For additional information or questions, regarding the homebuyer programs, resale of a BMR unit, or to refinance or pay-off a FTHB Loan, please contact Hello Housing, by phone at (415) 863-3036 or by email at emeryville@hellohousing.org or visit www.hellohousing.org/stewardship/emeryville/.