Alameda County, CA First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Alameda County buyers can apply to 2 local down payment programs, with help up to $210,000 through AC Boost, on top of California's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Alameda County
These are run by Alameda County, City of Oakland, separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Boost Alameda County (Alameda County Housing and Community Development (HCD), funded by Measure A1, program managed by nonprofit Hello Housing) · source | deferred, shared-appreciation second mortgage | Up to $210,000 for households at or below 100% AMI; up to $160,000 for households between 100% and 120% AMI | At or below 120% of AMI to qualify (larger $210,000 loan tier requires at or below 100% of AMI); | No | Anywhere in Alameda County; |
| Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) Limited funds City of Oakland (City of Oakland Department of Housing and Community Development) · source | deferred second mortgage, 3% simple interest | Up to 30% of purchase price, not to exceed $75,000, for households at or below 80% AMI; smaller amounts at higher income tiers, capped at 20% of price or $75,000 whichever is less | At or below 120% of Area Median Income (household income of all members 18+) | Yes | Inside City of Oakland limits |
- AC Boost. Interest-free, no monthly payment; repaid (principal plus a proportional share of home-value appreciation) when the home is sold, refinanced with cash out, no longer owner-occupied, or at the 30-year loan term.
- Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP). Status: open, limited funding (loan officers should confirm availability before applying) 30-year loan, due on sale/transfer/refinance/rental conversion or at loan maturity. Buyer must not have owned a home in the prior 3 years and must contribute at least 3% of the purchase price from personal funds.
Income limits in Alameda County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area (Alameda County + Contra Costa County) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $162,800 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $135,750 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
California statewide programs you can also use in Alameda County
California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) (homebuyer programs page) runs 3 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in California, with down payment help up to 3.5% of the loan (about $29,890 on a median-priced home) through MyHome Assistance Program. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyHome Assistance Program source | Deferred second loan | Up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value (with a CalHFA FHA/Government first mortgage) or 3% (with a CalHFA Conventional first mortgage), for down payment and/or closing costs | Yes | n/a | Must meet CalHFA income limits for the program and county of purchase; |
| CalHFA Zero Interest Program (ZIP) source | Deferred second loan | 2.00% or 3.00% of the CalPLUS first mortgage loan amount, for closing costs only | Yes | n/a | Must meet CalHFA income limits for the CalPLUS FHA or CalPLUS Conventional program |
| California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan Program source | Program | Up to 20% of the home purchase price for down payment or closing costs, not to exceed $150,000 | Yes | n/a | Combined household income must meet CalHFA Income Limits for the county of purchase; |
Alameda County closing costs that differ from the rest of California
Transfer tax: Alameda County documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of value (equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000), payable countywide. The City of Oakland levies a separate, additional Real Property Transfer Tax on a tiered scale from $10 to $25 per $1,000 depending on sale price (most residential sales in the $300,001-$2,000,000 bracket pay $15 or $17.50 per $1,000); the Oakland tax is reduced by 0.5 percentage points for qualifying low/moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Other Alameda County cities (Berkeley, Alameda, Emeryville, San Leandro, etc.) also levy their own separate city transfer taxes that are not covered here. Source
check acgov.org/auditor/clerk before publishing a dollar figure. Oakland's transfer-tax ordinance (Oakland Municipal Code ch. 4.20) sets the tiered city rate; confirm current bracket amounts at oaklandca.gov/My-Household/Property-Tax/Real-Estate-Transfer-Tax before publishing.
See California closing costs, title insurance and who pays →
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Alameda County, CA?
AC Boost (Alameda County, up to $210,000); Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) (City of Oakland, up to $75,000). California statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Alameda County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $135,750 for a four-person household in Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area (Alameda County + Contra Costa County) (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Alameda County?
Alameda County documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 of value (equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000), payable countywide. The City of Oakland levies a separate, additional Real Property Transfer Tax on a tiered scale from $10 to $25 per $1,000 depending on sale price (most residential sales in the $300,001-$2,000,000 bracket pay $15 or $17.50 per $1,000); the Oakland tax is reduced by 0.5 percentage points for qualifying low/moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Other Alameda County cities (Berkeley, Alameda, Emeryville, San Leandro, etc.) also levy their own separate city transfer taxes that are not covered here.
What is the median home price in Alameda County?
About $1,090,100, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Alameda County, California - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year). Down payment help of up to $210,000 covers roughly 19% of that price.
Official sources
- Alameda County: AC Boost
- City of Oakland: Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP)
- HUD income limits
- Alameda County transfer tax
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Alameda County, California - Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 (ACS 5-Year)
- AC Boost - Check Eligibility
- City of Oakland - Real Estate Transfer Tax
Alameda County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Other California counties
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties