Application Assistance for Homebuyers

Get free application assistance for City affordable rentals and ownership opportunities at weekly drop in clinics offered by five local housing counseling agencies! 

DROP IN HOURS

 

Mission Economic Development Agency

Wednesdays from 1PM-5PM

2301 Mission Street #301, SF 94110

Application Services: City affordable rental units, BMR & DALP ownership

Language Capacity: English, Spanish

 

SF LGBT Center

1st and 3rd Thursdays from 3PM-6PM

1800 Market Street, SF 94102

Application Services: City affordable rental units, BMR & DALP ownership

Language Capacity: English

Note: The SF LGBT Center will not be holding a Clinic on September 7th.

 

BALANCE

2nd and 4th Thursdays from 1PM-5PM

595 Market Street, 9th Floor, SF 94105

Application Services: City affordable rental units, BMR & DALP ownership

Language Capacity: English, Cantonese, Tagalog

 

San Francisco Housing Development Corporation

Fridays from 10AM-4PM

4439 3rd Street, SF 94124

Application Services: City affordable rental units, BMR & DALP ownership

Language Capacity: English, Spanish

 

HOW TO PREPARE

 

STEP 1: IDENTIFY A UNIT

Homebuyers can view the list of available BMR homes for sale at www.sfmohcd.org/current-homeownership-listings. View loan assistance programs for first time homebuyers at www.sfmohcd.org/loan-assistance-first-time-homebuyers.

Note: BMR ownership and loan assistance programs require you to have a First Time Homebuyer Certificate, which consists of 6 hours of first time homebuyer workshops and 2 hours of individual counseling.  If you have not completed this, see the schedule of workshops at www.homeownershipsf.org/workshops. Please attend an application clinic at the same agency where you received your First Time Homebuyer Education.

STEP 2: INCOME INFORMATION

Come prepared to discuss your total gross (pre-tax) household income from wages, benefits and other income sources for all household members who you intend to live with. Your housing counselor can help you calculate your income for your housing application. You may find it helpful to bring income documents with you to the clinic.

STEP 3: PROOF FOR PREFERENCE

When you apply for affordable housing opportunities in San Francisco, you are entered into a lottery along with all other applicants. Lotteries have preference programs, and if you qualify for a certain preference, you can move up in line and get a higher ranking in the lottery. Your housing counselor can help you determine if you qualify for any preference offered in the lottery. If you do qualify, you may be required to include documentation with your application.

The Live or Work Preference gives a special consideration for eligible applicants. It requires that at least one household member must live in San Francisco or work in San Francisco at least 75% of their working hours for the live/work preference. To prove eligibility, one of the listed documents below must be submitted along with any housing application.

Proof Accepted for the Live in San Francisco Preference:

  • Telephone bill (land line only)
  • Cable or internet bill
  • Gas bill
  • Electric bill
  • Garbage bill
  • Water bill
  • Paystub (listing home address)
  • Public benefits record
  • School record
  • Letter documenting homelessness

 

Proof Accepted for the Work in San Francisco Preference:

  • Paystub (showing employer address in San Francisco)
  • Letter from employer verifying employment in San Francisco with at least 75% of working hours in the City.

**You are not required to bring documents, but they are highly encouraged. Applicants without documentation will NOT be turned away**