Alameda County AC Boost Downpayment Program
Article last updated July 2023
AC Boost is administered by Alameda County Housing and Community Development with funding provided by county voters through Measure A1.
AC Boost gives buyers a boost, providing loans that are intended to bring home ownership within reach of households who would otherwise not be able to afford a home. AC Boost provides loans of up to $210,000 (depending on buyer income and need). Loans are interest-free and have no monthly payment during the time that a household owns its home. Instead, the program requires repayment only when (1) the home is sold, (2) when the owner would like to take cash out of the home in a refinance (3) the owner no longer wishes to occupy the home or (4) when the 30-year loan term ends. At the time of payoff, the owner repays the amount that they borrowed plus a proportional share of the increase in the value of their home.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Buyers must provide a Homebuyer Education Certificate as part of the full application process, after the lottery. Buyers may take courses from any County-approved agency or any HUD-certified agency not currently on the County’s list.
Buyers must also participate in a mandatory AC Boost workshop if invited to submit a full application after the lottery. Please note: Your Homebuyer Education Certificate must be no more than 1 year old at the time of submission.
HOW TO APPLY
AC Boost is made available through a lottery process.
There will be one AC Boost lottery per year. Before a lottery, there will be a 45-day period in which you will have a chance to submit a Pre-Application through the website. The Pre-Application process checks your eligibility for an AC Boost down payment assistance loan based on your stated information, and if your household is considered eligible, you are entered into a lottery. After the lottery drawing is held, households will be invited to submit full applications in order of the lottery ranking. If you are invited to submit a full application and are deemed eligible, you will be issued a Reservation of Funds for an AC Boost loan, which will allow you to then begin shopping for a home.
The Pre-Application period for the current funding cycle closed on August 30th, 2021 at 5:00 pm and is open for a period of 1 time per annual year.
Buyers must also participate in a mandatory AC Boost workshop if invited to submit a full application after the lottery. Please note: Your Homebuyer Education Certificate must be no more than 1 year old at the time of submission.
Download the AC Boost Resource Guide below, including the AC Boost 8-Step Overview, the Applicant Step-By-Step Example, and a list of County-Approved Homebuyer Education Programs.
About the Author
Montana Gabrielle Hooks is an SF Bay Area Realtor in the East Bay. Local entrepreneurship, playing bass guitar, and singing live karaoke are a few of her favorite things. She serves on the Young Realtists Division, Oakland board is a member of the Associated Real Property Brokers. Follow her on Instagram or learn more about her on her website.
