The Employee Down Payment Assistance Program is an employee benefit available to all full-time, permanent employees who have completed at least 18 months of service with the County of San Mateo ("County") or the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo ("HACSM"). The program is intended to encourage County and HACSM employees to reside within the County, reducing commute times as well as the associated environmental and personal impact.

The program offers a $100,000 loan (second mortgage) towards the purchase of a home in San Mateo County. The loan is deferred for the first, five years amortized for 30 years at three percent interest (3%). The County also offers a $5,000 grant to help cover closing costs, if moving to San Mateo County from outside the County.


ELIGIBLITY

  • County of San Mateo or Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo employee; and
  • Currently, full-time, permanent employee for at least 18 months; and
  • No income restrictions and cannot currently own a home in San Mateo County; and
  • Pre-Approval letter from Monterra Credit Union (required).

DRAWING

All eligible applicants, who submit a pre-approval letter from Monterra Credit Union, will have their names included in the quarterly drawing.

Five names will be drawn quarterly.


The next drawing: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026


FUTURE DRAWINGS:

  • December 15, 2026


WEBINAR

The County will host monthly Employee Down Payment Assistance Program “Lunch and Learn” seminars.

Virtual Zoom seminars will be hosted on the following dates:

  • Friday, July 17th – Noon-1 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 26th – Noon-1 p.m.
  • Monday, September 14th – Noon- 1 p.m.

For the attendee link, please check the County’s Intranet site and the County’s “Upcoming Events”: https://smcgov.sharepoint.com/Pages/intra_home.aspx or to receive the attendee link, please contact Nila Kim at nhkim@smcgov.org

For additional information about the program, please see the PDFs below.

If you have additional questions or would like a departmental presentation, please contact Nila Kim at nhkim@smchousing.org
or via phone at (650) 802-5002.