Homebuyers & Homeowners Resources

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. Usually, the BMR price is lower than the prices of other units in the same development that are being sold on the open market.  BMR owners must occupy the unit as primary residence. When these units are placed on the market for sale by their owners, the City works with the seller to determine a maximum sale price, ensure the unit is in good condition, verify eligibility, and facilitate certain aspects of the transfer.

Current Available Units

For details on any BMR units currently for sale, please visit Hello Housing BMR Resales.

Selling Your BMR Unit

If you are interested in selling your BMR unit, please visit Hello Housing BMR Program Services so you can comply with the following BMR Resale requirements:

1. Submit a Notice of Intent to Sell to Hello Housing
2. Hello Housing will calculate the BMR maximum resale value to your home based on the requirements in your Resale Restriction Agreement. Additional information may be required.
3. Retain a real estate agent and execute a listing agreement.
4. Send listing agreement to Hello Housing for City approval.
5. Upon receipt of City approval, your real estate agent may place your BMR Unit on the MLS.

BMR Resource Documents

BMR Ownership Program Guidelines(PDF, 46KB)

BMR Income Limits and Maximum Resale Table(PDF, 147KB)

BMR Marketing Guidelines(PDF, 204KB)

BMR Ownership Program Contact Information

Hello Housing, is a non-profit organization and assists the city in administering Emeryville's BMR Ownership Program. You may contact Hello Housing, by phone at (415) 863-3036 or by email at emeryville@hellohousing.org or visit Hello Housing. 

First Home Emeryville Down Payment Assistance Program

“First Home Emeryville” is the City of Emeryville’s down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers in purchasing a home within the city limits of Emeryville. The program provides eligible homebuyers with a loan for up to $200,000 depending on the household's income and other qualifying factors. To learn more about the program requirements and how to apply, please visit Emeryville Down Payment Assistance.

AC Boost 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 homebuyers 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.

Homebuyer Education Workshops

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(PDF, 441KB) in the Bay Area can be found here.

Renew Alameda County

Renew Alameda County has low, 1% interest loans up to $150,000 with no monthly payments available to qualifying homeowners throughout Alameda County to complete home improvement projects ranging from correcting health and safety hazards to accessibility upgrades and structural rehabilitation. To learn more or apply, visit RenewAC.org or call Habitat for Humanity's Home Repair Hotline at (510) 803.3388.

Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is a non-profit organization that will make free home repairs and safety modifications homeowners who are income-qualified seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities living in Emeryville. An emphasis is put on health and safety measures, including path of travel for those with mobility issues. To learn more about their program or apply, visit www.rtebn.org or call (510) 644.8979.

Alameda County Healthy Homes Department

Lead Hazard Repair Grants: Up to $10,000 per unit to address lead hazards for properties built before 1978 (priority for pre-1960).

Minor Home Repair Grants: Grants to address needed repairs that affect your health and the safety of your home. Get help with addressing small plumbing, carpentry, electrical, railings, grab bars, toilets, water heaters, furnaces, doors, locks, and more.

To learn more or apply, visit www.achhd.org or call (510) 567.8280.

Avoiding Foreclosure

If you are having difficulty making your mortgage payments or are facing the possibility of foreclosure, it is important to do something promptly or you may lose your home.

Click here(PDF, 35KB) for some tips from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Additional Resources

• Help for homeowners facing the loss of their home
• How to avoid foreclosure
• Questions and answers on home foreclosure and debt cancellation

Predatory Lending

Predatory lending is the practice of charging excessive fees, high interest rates, and other abusive techniques that mortgage lenders use to deceive and take advantage of borrowers. This loan process involves aggressively finding customers who need loans but who do not have access to the traditional loan process.

To avoid predatory loans, be wary of lenders who approach you and pre-approved loans in the mail. Before you sign a loan, be sure you know whether the interest rate will change, whether there is a balloon payment (a large payment due at the end of the loan term) or negative amortization (where the amount owned increases over time), and whether there is a refinancing or early payment penalty. Be sure to also talk with more than one lender and compare loan options.

If you believe you have been a victim of predatory lending practices, there are a number of federal agencies that may be able to help. A list of these agencies is located online. For phone advice and counseling, contact Housing and Economic Rights Advocates on the web or at (510) 271-8443. HERA also offers legal representation to low- or moderate-income households.

Reporting Scams

Some people may contact you to try to convince you to sell your home to them or that they can "rescue" you from foreclosure. Be wary of these offers as they may not have your best interests in mind. If you sold your property or paid someone to "rescue" you from a foreclosure, you might be a victim of a crime. If you believe this to be the case, contact the Alameda County District Attorney at (510) 777-2234 or visit the Office of the Alameda County website to request a Consumer Fraud Complaint Form.

Loan Servicing

Do you have an existing homebuyer assistance loan or homeowner rehab loan with the City of Emeryville or the Emeryville Redevelopment Authority that you are looking to pay off, refinance or subordinate?

Contact Hello Housing by phone at (415) 863-3036 or by email at emeryville@hellohousing.org to obtain a pay off or request the refinancing or subordination requirements. 

Homeowner Loan Compliance

All Homeowner Loans issued by the city of Emeryville or Emeryville Redevelopment Authority have requirements that participants must follow throughout the term of their loan.  Hello Housing, as administrator of the City's Homebuyer Programs, will monitor the City's Homeowner Loan portfolio annually to ensure program participants are adhering to program requirements, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Owner-occupancy as a primary residence

• Maintaining the required property insurance

Participants will be required to provide written evidence of their compliance with these requirements, as explained in detail in the monitoring letters they receive from Hello Housing. Failure to comply with the annual monitoring request, may result in a notice of default of the city loan and require immediate repayment of the loan.  

Contact Hello Housing by phone at (415) 863-3036 or by email at emeryville@hellohousing.org for any questions regarding what is required to comply annual monitoring requests.