Down Payment Assistance for Market-Rate Units

First Time Home-buyer Loan Program

The First Time Home-buyer (FTHB) Loan Program provides down payment assistance to households at or below moderate income that are purchasing a market-rate or co-op home in Emeryville, in the form of a low-interest, deferred-payment loan.

Key program details include the following:

  • The loan interest rate is 75% of the first mortgage interest rate, or 5%, whichever is less.
  • The borrower must make at least a 3% down payment and occupy the unit as a primary residence during the duration of the loan term.
The maximum loan amount from the City is the least of the following:

  • 150% of buyers down payment
  • 20% sale price in contract
  • 20% of maximum price from the then-current housing affordability table on the City website 
  • The buyer’s income must be at or below 120% of the area median income, based on household size. To view the current income limits, which the City updates annually, see this table.
  • The loan is due upon sale or transfer, when the unit ceases to be owner-occupied, or in 30 years, whichever comes first.

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