Is it true that a certain percentage of newly built housing units in
San Francisco have to be sold to low-income buyers?  And if so, do you
know of any source(s)of easy-to-understand information on how to
qualify?

Hello mary55-ga,

Yes, it is true ?that a certain percentage of newly built housing
units in San Francisco have to be sold to low income buyers.? San
Francisco passed an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance two years ago which
requires that developers set aside 10-17% of housing units in a new
market rate development as affordable housing. The rules are somewhat
complex and you will have to contact the San Francisco Mayor?s Office
of Housing to get the current information about what income levels
qualify under these provisions. I?ve collected a selection of articles
and references to help you get an overview of this program.

Good luck.

~ czh ~



http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2004/06/05/BAWBDIGEST03.DTL
June 5, 2004 -- SAN FRANCISCO -- $250,000 push for affordable housing

San Francisco's 2-year-old inclusionary housing law requires
developers to set aside 10 percent of housing units in a new
market-rate development as affordable, or 12 percent if the affordable
housing isn't located in the new development.

-------------------------------------------------


http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2004/02/23/story6.html 
From the February 20, 2004 print edition
Burning over benefits -- S.F. "public benefits" proposal is riling
housing developers
 
These public benefits would exist alongside San Francisco's
inclusionary housing ordinance, which requires affordable units in all
housing developments. Those requirements are 10 percent to 12 percent
of units at the development itself, or 15 percent to 17 percent at
another site.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.housingforus.com/QA.htm 
What is the 10%/12%/17% Inclusionary Affordability Ordinance?

San Francisco?s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance requires developers to
make a certain percentage of the units they build available to people
at lower income levels.  The percentages vary according to
permitted/conditional use, or on- or off-site building of the
inclusionary housing.  For example, if a developer is building a
project that is 50 feet tall, it would be a conditional use under our
planning code.  As such, 12% of the units would have to be sold/rented
at below market rates if they are included on-site.  If the developer
builds those inclusionary units off-site, they must build 17%
inclusionary.
 
The Workforce Housing Initiative requires developers who participate
in the program to build 12% on-site/17% off-site inclusionary housing.
 
-------------------------------------------------


http://www.sfbctc.org/51903-housing.htm
May 19, 2003 
New Affordable Housing 

Condo developer Union Property Capital, UPC and their non-profit
partner, True Hope Church held a groundbreaking on April 28th for a
20-unit affordable housing project in the Bayview-Hunters Point
neighborhood.

These are the first affordable units built under the new Inclusionary
Housing Ordinance adopted in early 2002. The ordinance allows
affordable housing to be built 'off site' from the main project,
provided that 17% of the units provided are affordable rather than the
usual 12%. These numbers apply to planned unit developments requiring
a conditional use permit. Since 1990, the City of San Francisco has
required developers of projects with ten or more residential units to
designate ten percent of the units for working or middle class
residents to rent or buy at below market rates.

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/moh_index.asp?id=4491
Mayor's Office of Housing 

First Time Homebuyer Programs
The Mayor"s Office of Housing ("MOH") offers a variety of assistance
programs to low and moderate first time homebuyers in the purchase of
affordable single family homes, townhouses, and condominiums.

------------------------

http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/moh_page.asp?id=4209
Mayor's Office of Housing 

Inclusionary Program
The San Francisco City Planning Commission"s Inclusionary housing
policy applies a below market rate "BMR" requirement to most newly
constructed housing developments containing 10 or more dwelling units.
While there may be unique requirements imposed for some projects,
generally, the units are available to first time buyers whose incomes
do not exceed 100% of median adjusted by household size.

-------------------------------------------------


http://sfgov.org/planning/zabulletin.htm
The recent adoption of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (Planning
Code Section 315) has raised a number of questions regarding the
interpretation of the Ordinance. ...

http://www.sfgov.org/planning/
http://www.sfgov.org/planning/althome.htm

-------------------------------------------------


http://www.sfgov.org/site/moh_index.asp
Mayor's Office of Housing

The Mayor"s Office of Housing (MOH) coordinates the efforts of the
City to maximize housing opportunities for low income households and
individuals. We administer a variety of programs for housing finance
funded by federal, state, and local sources. We also work closely with
federal, state and other local agencies to coordinate their efforts
with ours.

http://www.sfgov.org/site/moh_index.asp?id=4497
Contact
Mayor"s Office of Housing
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-252-3177
415-252-3140 - fax




SEARCH STRATEGY
san francisco affordable housing laws
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"inclusionary housing ordinance" "san francisco"

Very quick and concise answer.

One interesting way for low-income persons to be able to afford
property in northern California is through the Northern California
Land Trust:

"Nonprofit land trusts buy land and either build new homes or fix up
old ones. They then sell the homes to people whose incomes typically
are below average, but retain the land to guard against escalating
property costs. Buyers... agree to a limited profit when they sell,
keeping the homes affordable for future buyers...

Typically, government subsidies for affordable housing are lost once
the original buyer decides to sell. Until recently, under state law,
affordable homes built with redevelopment funds could be sold on the
open market after 15 years. The term has been extended to 45 years...

By contrast, land trust homes are billed as 'permanently affordable,'
with deed restrictions that keep prices low for up to 200 years. Sale
prices are set by a formula based on the increase in the area's median
income. Sellers also can be reimbursed for any improvements they've
made."

SFGate: Low-income buyers get homes thanks to Bay Area land trusts 
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/12/26/LAND.TMP&nl=top

NCLT
http://www.nclt.org

Currently no properties are listed in San Francisco, but if you fill
out an application and qualify, you can receive mailings about
property vacancies in the future:

"Buyers must be able to qualify for loan and meet the following income
qualification criteria for homeownership:

 Income Levels (not to exceed):
 Single buyer: $46,350
 Two people: $53,000
 Three people: $59,600
 Four people: $66,250
 Five people: $71,550
 Six people: $76,850

Request an application by e-mail: nclt@nclt.org or by mail:
Homeownership Opportunities, Northern California Land Trust, 3126
Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705."

NCLT: Property Listings
http://www.nclt.org/listing.htm