SERVICE
Apply for a downpayment loan to buy a market rate home
With the Downpayment Assistance Loan Program (DALP), you can get a loan up to $500,000 to buy a home.
What to know
Cost
Applying is free. But at closing, your household pays a $668 fee as part of your closing costs.
Income
You need to make under a certain amount for your household size. The highest limit for a one-person household is $209,800 a year.
Application dates
Apply between: March 4, 2025 at 8:00 am and June 2, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific Time.
Join our mailing list to get an email when applications open.
What to do
1. Check if you can apply
Your income is under a certain amount
The amount you can borrow depends on how much you need.
Your household must make under a certain amount. The maximum amount depends on the number of people in your household:
- For 1 person, $209,800
- For 2 people, $239,800
- For 3 people, $269,700
- For 4 people, $299,700
- For 5 people, $323,700
- For 6 people, $347,700
- For 7 people, $371,600
- For 8 people, $395,600
- For 9 people, $419,600
You are a first-time homebuyer
You have not owned any residential property anywhere in the last 3 years.
2. Prepare to apply
Before you apply, you must:
- Complete homebuyer education
- Get a mortgage loan pre-approval letter from an approved lender
What documents you need
- Verification of homebuyer education, dated within the past year
- Loan pre-approval letter, dated within the past 120 days
Your pre-approval letter must contain:
- The sales price of a market-rate property
- The maximum first loan amount
- The DALP loan amount.
A pre-approval letter for a below-market-rate (BMR) property will not be accepted.
San Francisco Educators and First Responders
SFUSD, Police, Fire, and Sheriff employees have some different requirements. Check to see if you can apply as a:
3. Apply for the Lottery
Apply online before the deadline.
Important dates
Applications open: March 4, 2025, 8:00 am
Applications close: June 2, 2025, 5:00 pm
Lottery: June 25, 2025, 11:00 am
Times shown are Pacific Time.
Applications open soon
Check back after March 4, 2025 at 8:00 am Pacific Time for the link to apply.
After you apply
After the lottery
- Check your results online
- We reach out in the order of the lottery results until all loan funding has been reserved
Pay back the loan when you sell your home
The DALP is a silent second loan that requires no monthly payments. You can sell your home at market rate prices. When you sell, you pay back the principal amount, plus an equitable share of appreciation. See detailed loan terms.
Get help
Phone
Home SF
info@homesanfrancisco.orgAdditional info
Get email alerts for other housing opportunities
Partner agencies
What to know
Cost
Applying is free. But at closing, your household pays a $668 fee as part of your closing costs.
Income
You need to make under a certain amount for your household size. The highest limit for a one-person household is $209,800 a year.
Application dates
Apply between: March 4, 2025 at 8:00 am and June 2, 2025 at 5:00 pm Pacific Time.
Join our mailing list to get an email when applications open.
What to do
1. Check if you can apply
Your income is under a certain amount
The amount you can borrow depends on how much you need.
Your household must make under a certain amount. The maximum amount depends on the number of people in your household:
- For 1 person, $209,800
- For 2 people, $239,800
- For 3 people, $269,700
- For 4 people, $299,700
- For 5 people, $323,700
- For 6 people, $347,700
- For 7 people, $371,600
- For 8 people, $395,600
- For 9 people, $419,600
You are a first-time homebuyer
You have not owned any residential property anywhere in the last 3 years.
2. Prepare to apply
Before you apply, you must:
- Complete homebuyer education
- Get a mortgage loan pre-approval letter from an approved lender
What documents you need
- Verification of homebuyer education, dated within the past year
- Loan pre-approval letter, dated within the past 120 days
Your pre-approval letter must contain:
- The sales price of a market-rate property
- The maximum first loan amount
- The DALP loan amount.
A pre-approval letter for a below-market-rate (BMR) property will not be accepted.
San Francisco Educators and First Responders
SFUSD, Police, Fire, and Sheriff employees have some different requirements. Check to see if you can apply as a:
3. Apply for the Lottery
Apply online before the deadline.
Important dates
Applications open: March 4, 2025, 8:00 am
Applications close: June 2, 2025, 5:00 pm
Lottery: June 25, 2025, 11:00 am
Times shown are Pacific Time.
Applications open soon
Check back after March 4, 2025 at 8:00 am Pacific Time for the link to apply.
After you apply
After the lottery
- Check your results online
- We reach out in the order of the lottery results until all loan funding has been reserved
Pay back the loan when you sell your home
The DALP is a silent second loan that requires no monthly payments. You can sell your home at market rate prices. When you sell, you pay back the principal amount, plus an equitable share of appreciation. See detailed loan terms.
Get help
Phone
Home SF
info@homesanfrancisco.orgAdditional info
Get email alerts for other housing opportunities