Down Payment Assistance Alameda & Contra Costa | $0 Down

City & county DPA programs in Alameda County, Contra Costa County & California. AC Boost up to $210K, Concord $60K, Richmond $25K grants. Check eligibility now.

Down Payment Assistance Alameda & Contra Costa | $0 Down

City & county DPA programs in Alameda County, Contra Costa County & California. AC Boost up to $210K, Concord $60K, Richmond $25K grants. Check eligibility now.

Buy a Home With $0 Down — Up to $210,000 in Assistance Available

See What You Qualify For

The Down Payment Myth Is Costing You $200,000+

Alameda County Boost (AC Boost)

Shared Appreciation Down Payment Loan

City of Oakland — CalHome & MAP
City of Fremont — BMP Homes
City of Berkeley
City of Hayward
Union City
City of Livermore
City of Alameda

Contra Costa Assistance & Grants

RCF Connects DPA

CHDC / CalHome

City of Concord

City of Richmond

Additional City-Specific Programs in Contra Costa

City of Antioch
City of San Pablo
City of Brentwood

State of California Programs

California Dream For All

CalHFA MyHome

CalHFA ZIP

CalHFA First Mortgage Programs

How It Works — 3 Simple Steps

Why Work With Empire Home Loans

Buyers Who Thought They Were Years Away From Owning

Don't Leave Free Money on the Table

Get Your Personalized Program Report

Common Questions About Down Payment Help

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Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and California state programs can cover your entire down payment and closing costs. See exactly which programs you qualify for.

Get a personalized program match. No credit pull required.

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Most Bay Area renters believe they need 20% down to buy a home. In reality, there are over a dozen different programs across Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and California that will fund your purchase — and most buyers never hear about them.

Oakland's CalHome Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance for low-income first-time buyers. The Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program (MAP) adds loans to cover down payments for moderate-income buyers purchasing in Oakland.

Fremont's Below Market Price (BMP) Home program helps income-eligible first-time buyers purchase city-partnered affordable homes. While direct DPA loans ended with redevelopment agency dissolution, BMP homes plus AC Boost/CalHFA can create a $0-down path.

First-generation homebuyers can access additional shared-appreciation loans up to $150,000 through city-partnered housing programs.

Hayward refers buyers to AC Boost and CalHFA MyHome. The city actively promotes county and state DPA resources to help residents transition from renting to owning within Alameda County.

Union City maintains first-time homebuyer resources and counseling referrals to help residents navigate AC Boost, CalHFA, and other Alameda County assistance options.

Livermore offers CalHome DPA loans providing down-payment and closing cost assistance for low- to moderate-income households purchasing within the city.

The City of Alameda actively promotes AC Boost to residents and maintains first-time homebuyer program partnerships to help buyers access county-wide assistance.

In Alameda County with active homebuyer assistance or DPA referral programs. If your city isn't listed, county-wide AC Boost still applies.

Eligible first-time homebuyers in Contra Costa County can receive grants up to $10,000 to assist with down payments or closing costs. This is not a loan — it does not have to be repaid.

Community Housing Development Corporation administers State CalHome funds for mortgage assistance to qualified low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers in Contra Costa County.

The City of Concord offers down payment assistance loans up to $60,000 for qualified first-time homebuyers purchasing within Concord city limits. Eligibility is based on income and household size.

Richmond's Homebuyer Assistance program provides $25,000 in down payment assistance to eligible first-time buyers who complete approved homebuyer education and purchase within Richmond.

The Antioch Home Ownership Program (AHOP) provides up to $100,000 in interest-free down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible low-to-moderate income first-time buyers purchasing within Antioch.

The San Pablo Loan Assistance for Sustainable Housing (SPLASH) program offers deferred-payment down payment assistance loans to empower low-income, first-time homebuyers purchasing within San Pablo.

Brentwood's Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) provides deferred-payment loans to income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing their primary residence within Brentwood city limits.

Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, San Ramon & Other Cities: While these cities do not currently operate separate municipal DPA programs, buyers in these areas can still access all county-wide programs (RCF Connects, CHDC/CalHome) and statewide programs (CalHFA MyHome, ZIP, Dream For All).

These programs are available to first-time buyers across all 58 California counties and can often be layered with local county assistance.

A shared appreciation loan providing up to 20% of the purchase price (capped at $150,000) for down payment and closing costs. Designed for first-generation homebuyers. The average buyer saves approximately $1,200 per month compared to traditional financing.

Deferred-payment junior loan up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value . Covers down payment and/or closing costs. No payments until you sell, refinance, or pay off.

Zero-interest closing cost assistance typically covering 3–4% of your first mortgage . Eliminates the cash-to-close requirement completely when combined with a CalHFA first mortgage.

CalHFA offers 30-year fixed-rate FHA, Conventional, VA, and USDA mortgages at special below-market interest rates specifically for first-time buyers. These first mortgages are designed to be paired with MyHome, ZIP, and Dream For All assistance programs.

Navigating county lotteries, state vouchers, and layered loans is complex. We handle the hard part so you don't miss out on free money.

Most loan officers only know one or two programs. We maintain active relationships with Alameda County HCD, Contra Costa housing authorities, and CalHFA to ensure you get every dollar you deserve.

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Programs like AC Boost and Dream For All have limited funding pools. The buyers who act first get the assistance. Let's find your match today.

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Your down payment assistance could be approved this week. Call or apply now.

Empire Home Loans specializes in down payment assistance programs across Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and the State of California.

Katrina Carter, Senior Mortgage Advisor

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