Purchase Program

PAHC Services, LLC administers the City of Palo Alto’s Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Purchase Program, a program that provides homes in Palo Alto for low- and moderate-income buyers. BMR properties, which are principally condominium apartments and townhouses, are sold at prices that are significantly below the prevailing market rate. BMR units are located in market-rate condominium projects all across the City of Palo Alto. BMR purchasers are selected from a Waiting List maintained by the Alta Housing Services, LLC and must meet special income and other eligibility requirements. BMR units must be owner-occupied and are subject to special restrictions on rental and resale.

Due to the length of the waiting list, we closed the waiting list for the purchase program on Friday, October 14, 2016, at 5PM. 

Links to educational videos explaining various aspects of the BMR Program:

Fannie Mae Certificate Class for first time homebuyers – Free!

Background information on BMR Mortgages – September 2023 

Rules and Regulations of the Palo Alto BMR Program – January 2024