Homeowner Support
Project Sentinel is a non-profit organization and a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency. They provide homeownership support such as first time home buyer education, mortgage delinquency counseling, and a variety of other housing related services. They also offer rental support such as free, neutral, and confidential dispute resolution, as well as mediation services for landlords, tenants, homeowners, and neighbors.
Homeowner Housing Counseling Services
Now more than ever before a safe place to call home is of the utmost importance. Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley (RTSV) is a nonprofit that has spent 30 years serving our neighbors here locally through the belief that everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy home. Their free Safe At Home and Critical Repairs programs are available for qualified homeowners in need across Santa Clara County. To find out if you qualify or for more information about the work that RTSV does in your neighborhood please visit RTSV.
The HELP program assists middle-income first-time homebuyers with incomes that are slightly higher than most down payment assistance programs will allow. This program will help households whose incomes are up to 140% of the Area Median Income (AMI) to purchase a market-rate primary residence. HELP is an equity (appreciation) share program with a deferred loan of thirty (30) years and down payment assistance of up to 10% of the purchase price. The Program Market Area covers Santa Clara County and the San Mateo County cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Visit the eventscalendar to see monthly scheduled workshops and HUD approved homebuyer education classes.
Empower Homebuyers is a 2016 Measure A down payment assistance program created by the County of Santa Clara and administered by HTSV.
This thirty (30) year deferred loan program will offer first-time homebuyers up to 30% of the purchase price (maximum loan amount of $250,000) in down payment assistance, with no maximum purchase price. This programs has an equity (appreciation) share component in lieu of interest. Empower Homebuyers is intended to put the dream of home ownership within reach for low to moderate income people- including nonprofit workers, teachers, healthcare professionals, county employees and others- who live or work in and are trying to buy a home in Santa Clara County.
The Finally Home Security Deposit program provides a one-time grant up to $2,500 to individuals and families moving to permanent sustainable housing. Priority is given to individuals or families with the greatest need, who can sustainably remain in permanent housing and are able to demonstrate long-term self-sufficiency.
The MCC Program, authorized by Congress in 1984, provides financial assistance to first-time homebuyers. The Santa Clara County MCC tax credit reduces the federal income taxes of qualified Borrowers purchasing qualified homes; thus having the effect of a mortgage subsidy. The current tax credit rate is 15% of the interest paid to the Lender on the first loan or up to 15% based upon an individuals personal tax situation. The MCC will reduce the amount of federal income taxes otherwise due to the federal government from the Borrower; however, the mortgage tax credit cannot be claimed as a refund. MCC Borrowers may consider adjusting their federal income tax withholdings so as to benefit on a monthly basis from the MCC. For more information on how to claim the tax credit refer to IRS Publication 530.
Over the past 30 years Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley has served over 8,000 individuals in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties by providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low-income families who meet three criteria:
- Earn an income between 30%-80% of area median income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Have a need for housing.
- Are willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity and contribute hundreds of hours of sweat equity hours to the construction of their own home, or their neighbor's home. Phone: 408.942.6444