AC Boost - Alameda County Down Payment Assistance
Shared-appreciation loan · New construction · Income limit 150% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jun 2026
Down payment assistance · California
Buying a home in Alameda County, CA
6 county-wide programs, 8 cities with their own, plus 43 statewide and 62 nationwide.Alameda has 6 programs that cover the whole county and 8 cities with a program of their own. On top of those, 43 statewide and 62 nationwide programs are open here. Start with your city or ZIP to see which apply to the home you want.
Free · No credit pull · No SSN
Anywhere in AlamedaAnywhere in Alameda County
6 programs for every Alameda address6 programs that cover every Alameda address
These are run for the whole county, so a home in Oakland, Hayward or Berkeley can use them.
GSFA Platinum Grant - Alameda County Specific
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limit 160% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jun 2026
Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley - Homeownership Program
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limit 80% of AMI
Habitat-built single-family home
See details Jun 2026
Habitat for Humanity Tri-Valley
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limit 60% of AMI
Habitat-built single-family home
See details Jul 2026
Housing Trust Silicon Valley - Home Access Program (Alameda/Contra Costa)
Deferred second loan · New construction · Income limit 80% of AMI
Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD
See details Jul 2026
Northern California Land Trust (NCLT) - Bay Area CLT Homeownership
Shared-appreciation loan · New construction · Income limit 80% of AMI
CLT resale-restricted single-family or condominium
See details Jul 2026
AMI is HUD’s area median income for Alameda, adjusted for household size. Each program publishes its own dollar limits.
Only inside city limits
8 cities with their own program8 Alameda cities with their own program
For a home inside that city, on top of the county-wide 6.A city program is for a home inside that city. Buying there? It sits on top of the 6 county-wide programs above.
BerkeleyCity page City of Berkeley First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment AssistanceDublinCity page City of Dublin First Time Homebuyer Loan Program (FTHLP)EmeryvilleCity page City of Emeryville First Home Emeryville Down Payment Assistance ProgramHaywardCity page City of Hayward First-Time Homebuyer ProgramLivermoreCity page City of Livermore First-Time Homebuyer AssistanceOaklandCity page City of Oakland First-Time Homebuyer ProgramOakland Community Land Trust (OakCLT) - Homeownership ProgramPleasantonCity page City of Pleasanton First-Time Homebuyer ProgramSan LeandroCity page City of San Leandro Down Payment Assistance
The Alameda marketThe Alameda housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat kinds of homes are here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Alameda
- 51% single-familysingle-family
- 8.8% townhousetownhouse
- 10.1% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 28.8% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 1.4% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. 4 of the 6 county-wide programs and all 9 city programs list condos as eligible. Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley - Homeownership Program lists habitat-built single-family home. Habitat for Humanity Tri-Valley lists habitat-built single-family home.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Alameda’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
65.3%
of Alameda homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
$162,800
HUD area median income, 4 people (FY2026)HUD area median income, Alameda County, 4-person household (FY2026)
$129,367
Median household income (ACS 2024 5-year)Median household income in Alameda (Census ACS 2024 5-year)
54.4%
of occupied homes are owner-occupied (California: 55.9%)
The two income figures measure different things. HUD’s area median income is the one programs use. 55 of the 120 programs here set their income limit as a share of Alameda County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Alameda County
Free help in AlamedaFree help in Alameda
9 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in the county9 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies with an office in Alameda County
14 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.14 of the 15 local programs here ask for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
Find my counselor
Free account → 90-second match → your counselors · Sign in
Counted from HUD’s list of approved agencies: active offices whose ZIP code is in Alameda County.
17 cities and placesA to Z
All cities in Alameda CountyAll 17 cities and places in Alameda County
has a program of its own
Alameda questions
Can I use a county program anywhere in Alameda?
The 6 county-wide programs cover homes anywhere in the county. City programs, like Berkeley’s and Dublin’s, are only for homes inside that city’s limits. Each agency sets its own rules, so confirm on the program’s official site.
Can I combine a county program with a city program?
Sometimes. Combining ("stacking") programs is set by each administering agency, and some do not allow a second program on the same home. Each program’s page links to the agency that can say.
What is the area median income in Alameda County?
HUD publishes it once a year; the 2026 four-person figure is shown above. Programs set their limits as a share of it, adjusted for household size, and the published limits page lists each one.
Do Alameda programs accept condos?
4 of the 6 county-wide programs and all 9 city programs list condos as eligible. Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley - Homeownership Program lists habitat-built single-family home. Habitat for Humanity Tri-Valley lists habitat-built single-family home. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
Where can I take a homebuyer class in Alameda?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 9 agencies have an office in Alameda County. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
Keep exploring
Sources
Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (June–August 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024), tables B01003, B25077, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B19013. Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.