Homeownership Opportunities > First-time Home Buyer Counseling Programs

Are you a first-time homebuyer?

Oakland Community Housing, Inc. is a nonprofit community housing development corporation.  An important part of our work is building and selling affordable homes to first time homebuyers with low or moderate incomes. 

Most buyers of these homes are referred to us by a first time homebuyer counseling program.  If you have not completed such a program and have not owned a home before, we strongly recommend you contact one of the organizations below.  They can help you take the required steps to prepare for homeownership such as:  saving money for a down payment, pre-qualifying for a mortgage loan, and arranging for all the forms of down payment and loan assistance that you are eligible to obtain.

First-Time Homebuyer Counseling Programs

The Unity Council Homeownership Center
3411 E. 12th, Suite 200 Oakland, CA 94601
Tel: (510) 535-6943
www.unitycouncil.org

Lao Family Community Development
1551 23rd Avenue Oakland, CA 94606
Tel: (510) 533-8850

ACORN Housing
3166 Fruitvale Ave. Oakland, CA 94602
Tel: (510) 436-6532
Fax: (510) 436-3702
www.acornhousing.org

Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond
1535A Third Street Richmond, CA 94801
Tel: (510) 412-9290
www.chdcnr.com
 
Bay Area Home Buyer Agency
37 Graham St. Suite 110. San Francisco, CA 94129
Tel: (888) 572-1222

When you enroll in the program, please tell them you are interested in purchasing a home from OCHI.  The program staff can help you decide what you can afford and what types of assistance in financing will be most useful based on your income, family size and other factors.

If you have already completed the steps above, we invite you to contact OCHI at homeownership@ochi.org or 510-763-7676 ext. 319.
 
Special note to Section 8 Voucher Holders under the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA):  You may be able to qualify for assistance through the Oakland Housing Authority’s Section 8 Homeownership Program.  Please contact the OHA at (510) 874-1528 for further information.