Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, Inc. provides qualifying households the opportunity to purchase a home through an affordable mortgage in Alameda, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa counties.
When you submit a pre-application, we are confirming your household meets our basic program guidelines. The main areas we are reviewing are income, credit, U.S. legal residency, and confirming you are a first-time homebuyer. The below information will give you a clearer picture of what we are looking for.
Habitat’s affordable homeownership program is for households earning between 30- 120% of the area median income.
You will need to submit proof of income, so we may calculate your annual household income. Please refer to the first page of the pre-application to see what documents are required for each specific income type.
These charts show the current minimum and maximum gross annual income separated by household size for our program. These numbers typically change every year and are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development based on cost of living. These charts are divided by county.
Annual Gross Household Income
Alameda and Contra Costa County
2020 HUD Income Limits
Household Size | Minimum Income | Maximum Income |
1 | $27,450 | $100,128 |
2 | $31,350 | $114,423 |
3 | $35,250 | $128,736 |
4 | $39,150 | $143,040 |
5 | $42,300 | $154,483.20 |
6 | $45,450 | $165,926.40 |
7 | $48,550 | $177,369.60 |
8 | $51,700 | $188,812.80 |
Annual Gross Household Income
Santa Clara County
2020 HUD Income Limits
Household Size | Minimum Income | Maximum Income |
1 | $33,150 | $118,944 |
2 | $37,900 | $135,936 |
3 | $42,650 | $152,928 |
4 | $47,450 | $169,920 |
5 | $51,150 | $183,503.60 |
6 | $54,950 | $197,107.20 |
7 | $58,750 | $210,700.80 |
8 | $62,550 | $224,294.40 |
To qualify for our homeownership program, you must be a first-time homebuyer using HUD’s definition. Generally, a first-time homebuyer is someone who meets any of the following requirements:
In order to be fully approved through the Habitat homeownership program, applicants must attend an orientation: a free, hour-long class that covers program guidelines, expectations, timelines, and allows you to ask questions.
Click here to see when the next orientation will take place.
Once households have been approved through the pre-application and the full application, they become ‘Buyer Ready’. ‘Buyer Ready’ households are who we reach out to once properties become available.
We select Habitat homeowners based on meeting our all of our program guidelines and standards and these criteria: ability to pay, need for housing, and willingness to partner.
We are looking at the income and credit of the applicants (which is described in detail above).
We consider the stability of your current housing situation. Is your housing transitional, below market rate, unstable or unsafe? Is your current situation overcrowded? Does your current housing situation result in a cost burden (a very high percentage of your income going towards rent)?
The Habitat homeownership program is a hand up, not a handout. You will be purchasing a home and needing to meet certain requirements to achieve that. We require sweat equity and a savings plan.
Habitat for Humanity East Bay / Silicon Valley is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
© 2021 Habitat for Humanity East Bay / Silicon Valley