Interested in applying?
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. Check out our 8-step overview of the application process or an Applicant Step-by-Step Example.
The Pre-Application period for the current funding cycle closed on August 30th, 2021 at 5:00 pm. If you would like to be notified of the next Pre-Application period and lottery, please sign up to Stay Connected, Hello Housing's email newsletter.
What to expect
Check out our 8-step overview of the application process or an Applicant Step-by-Step Example.
Are you ready?
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. Check out the list of County-approved homebuyer education programs to find one that works for you. Please note: Your Homebuyer Education Certificate must be no more than 1 year old at the time of submission.
Not quite ready?
If you are finding that you aren't quite ready to apply for a first mortgage, we encourage you to begin working with an experienced homebuyer counseling agency. In addition to a homebuyer education course, you may qualify for one-on-one counseling. Check out the list of County-approved homebuyer education programs to find one that works for you (please note that not all agencies listed provide one-on-one counseling).
Program Guidelines
For additional information and details of program eligibility criteria, preferences and process, please review the AC Boost Program Manual.