City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in South San Francisco, California.
The program asks for
- First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
- The home is occupied as a primary residence
- On credit: Minimum 620 FICO score required for all borrowers
- A completed homebuyer education course
- Residency: Must occupy as primary residence
- Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen
- Must purchase in South San Francisco; income ≤120% San Mateo County AMI; deferred loan
- A home inside South San Francisco city limits
It doesn’t cover
- Manufactured homes
- Purchases above the $1.2M price cap
- Households above 120% of area median income
- Homes outside South San Francisco
These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.
Income limit
120% of San Mateo County’s area median income
HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.
Where it applies
South San Francisco’s homesSouth San Francisco’s homes, and the ones this program accepts
- 58.5% single-familysingle-family
- 9.6% townhousetownhouse
- 5.9% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 24.4% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 1.5% mobile & othermobile home & other
A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
$1.2M
South San Francisco median home value
69.8%
built before 1980
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in South San Francisco
How to apply
How to applyThree steps, in this order
Take a homebuyer education course
Required by the program before funds are reserved.
Contact the administering agency to reserve funds
Funds are reserved through Contact provider directly; subject to funding availability, and are subject to availability.
Work with a lender who handles the program
Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Questions about this program
What is City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance?
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in South San Francisco, California. Deferred payment down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers in South San Francisco. 0% interest silent second mortgage. Up to $100,000 in assistance. no monthly payments on DPA. Funding comes from HOME/PLHA.
Do you have to pay it back?
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Sale, transfer, or refinance. The assistance is recorded in Second position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.
Who qualifies?
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time homebuyer" usually means not having owned a home in the last three years, but the program sets its own definition. On credit, the program states: Minimum 620 FICO score required for all borrowers. A homebuyer education course is required. Residency requirement: Must occupy as primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or other eligible non-citizen. Must purchase in South San Francisco; income ≤120% San Mateo County AMI; deferred loan.
What are the income limits?
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance limits household income to 120% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Low to moderate income: household income ≤120% AMI. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.
What kind of home can it be used for?
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance caps the purchase price at $1.2M. Eligible property types include Single-family (1-4 unit), FHA-approved condominium, townhome/PUD. New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.
Where does it apply?
City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance serves homebuyers purchasing in South San Francisco, California.
How do you apply?
Applications for City of South San Francisco Down Payment Assistance go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Contact provider directly; subject to funding availability. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.
Also for South San Francisco homebuyersOther programs open to South San Francisco homebuyers
- San Mateo County EDPAP (Employee Down Payment Assistance Program)Up to $100,000
- California Dream For AllUp to $150,000
- Bank of America Down Payment Grant - CaliforniaUp to $10,000
Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.
All 118 programs for South San FranciscoProgram terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.