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Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP)

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) is a shared-appreciation loan for homebuyers in San Francisco, California.

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The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — the program sets its own definition
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Required - MOHCD homebuyer education
  • Sourced via Homebuyer Wallet (CA250077). Borrower minimum 3% of sales price contribution. Maximum income 120% AMI. 30-year term. Need-based — only what's required for affordability after maximum 1st-mortgage financing. Must purchase a BMR unit.
  • A home inside San Francisco city limits

It doesn’t cover

  • Households above 120% of area median income
  • Homes outside 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 Francisco 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.

$200,800
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)
Income limits in California

Where it applies

San Francisco’s homes

  • 18% single-family
  • 12.4% townhouse
  • 20.1% 2–4 units
  • 49.2% 5+ units
  • 0.2% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$1.4M

San Francisco median home value

76.5%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in San Francisco

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Required - MOHCD homebuyer education.

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through first-come-first-served via approved lender, and are subject to availability.

  3. 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 Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP)?

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) is a shared-appreciation loan for homebuyers in San Francisco, California. Silent-second deferred loan tied to BMR units. Repayment = principal + equitable share of appreciation. Need-based; maximum 20% of sales price. Silent-second loan up to 20% of sales price for BMR unit purchase. No interest, no monthly payments. Owner repays principal + equitable share of appreciation upon sale, rent, or title transfer. Funding comes from MOHCD.

Do you have to pay it back?

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) is a shared-appreciation loan and is repaid under the terms set by the administering agency. Repayment is triggered by sale, rent, or title transfer. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) 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. A homebuyer education course is required, through Required - MOHCD homebuyer education. Sourced via Homebuyer Wallet (CA250077). Borrower minimum 3% of sales price contribution. Maximum income 120% AMI. 30-year term. Need-based — only what's required for affordability after maximum 1st-mortgage financing. Must purchase a BMR unit.

What are the income limits?

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) limits household income to 120% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. Maximum 120% of San Francisco AMI. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. 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?

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) can be used for Single-family, Condo, Townhouse.

Where does it apply?

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) serves homebuyers purchasing in San Francisco, California.

How do you apply?

Applications for Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Below Market Rate Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (BMR DALP) go through the administering agency. Funds are reserved through first-come-first-served via approved lender. 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 San Francisco homebuyers

Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.

All 128 programs for San Francisco

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.