Inclusionary Housing Program
Affordable Ownership Housing
The City of Huntington Beach Inclusionary Housing Program

There are several hundred homes in Huntington Beach that were built under the City's Inclusionary Housing Program to be affordable for low, median, or moderate income home buyers. These homes become available for purchase by eligible buyers when new developments are built or when existing homeowners decide to sell.

During an affordability period,” which is up to 60 years from the time a home was built, any Inclusionary Housing Program home that is sold must be purchased by an eligible buyer and the price of the home must fall within an affordable price limit calculated by the City. Prices are calculated for affordability; this calculation is not driven by property values or other market conditions.

The City records a lien on each affordable home that remains on title for the duration of the affordability period. The lien ensures that the City is able to enforce the Inclusionary Housing Program requirements, including the resale restrictions.

Service Fees for Inclusionary Housing Program

Effective October 1, 2002, the Economic Development department will be charging fees for the following housing program services:

Service
Fee
Loan Payoff Demand $50
Subordination Agreement $250
Reconveyance $65
Sales Price Determination One free per year
$50 for each additional request

Payment will be required at the time of application. Checks should be made payable to the City of Huntington Beach.

Buying an Affordable Home

From time to time, affordable homes are available for purchase (Get List). To be eligible to buy one of these homes, your total household income must be within certain limits. Most homes are restricted to moderate-income buyers; a limited number are restricted to low or median-income buyers. The City examines total gross income (before taxes or deductions) from all sources for all household members, even if not all household members are related or intend to be named on the mortgage or title. Homebuyer eligibility is based only on gross household income; net worth is not considered.

If you find an affordable home that you are interested in buying, you or your Realtor should contact the listing Realtor and negotiate a purchase offer. After your offer is accepted, you will be given several forms to complete, and you will be asked to provide copies of recent pay stubs and tax forms; occasionally, additional documentation may be required. This information is necessary to verify your income eligibility. The Department of Economic Development will examine these documents for the sole purpose of determining eligibility.

Sometimes homebuyers are interested in financial assistance from the City. A limited number of down payment assistance loans were made to first time homebuyers in the Brisas Del Mar and Pacific Park Villas affordable condominium developments. As these homes become available for re-sale by the existing owners, the City’s financial assistance can be transferred to the new buyers. The City has also recently started a new First-Time Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance Program. Please contact the Affordable Housing Clearinghouse at 949-859-9255 for information and assistance in filling out an application. You can also review the program at on the City's website here.

Maximum Selling Price

At the time of initial sale and for all re-sales during the affordability period, the maximum price for each Inclusionary Housing Program home is calculated by the City. The City’s formula is intended to provide the amount an eligible buyer should be able to pay without spending more than 35% of their gross income towards housing expenses. Prices are calculated for affordability; this calculation is not driven by property values or other market conditions.


When the City calculates a maximum sales price, the price equals the present value of the anticipated amount of the buyer’s income available for mortgage payments over 30 years at the current interest rate, plus a 10% assumed down payment. A sample calculation using this formula is provided along with an explanation of the variables used in the formula. 


When determining housing expenses, Homeowners’ Association Dues relate to a specific housing development; utilities are determined by bedroom count (see below); property insurance is assumed by periodically survey of local insurance companies to determine the typical annual cost of insuring a home for its replacement value; maintenance is a nominal cost that homeowners will be expected to incur for maintaining their property over a one-year period; and the property tax rate applied determines the annual property tax costs will be 1.08% of the purchase price of an affordable home.

 

Utilities Month Year
1-bdrm 77 924
2-bdrm 89 1068
3-bdrm 125 1500
4-bdrm 140 1680
5-bdrm 150 1800

(Source: Orange County Housing Authority,

effective 01/4/2010 )

Pricing Example

Moderate Income Limit for a Family of 4
(3 Bedroom Home)

$104,650

35% of Income

$36,628

Less Housing Expenses:

 

HOA Dues

-2,052

Utilities Expenses

-1,500

Property Insurance

-900

Maintenance

-600

Property Taxes

-4,958

Annual Income Available for Mortgage Payments

$26,617

Interest Rate

5.00%

Present Value of Income Available for Mortgage Payments over 30-Year Term

$413,191

Plus 10% Down Payment

+45,910

Maximum Sales Price

$459,101


*The pricing example provided is intended for explanatory purposes only and is not necessarily reflective of current pricing calculations.

View more sample sales price calculations

The buyer’s anticipated income available for mortgage payments equals the income limit (either low, median, or moderate, depending on the home being priced) for a household size equal to the number of bedrooms in the home plus one (a three bedroom home would use the income limit of a family of four). 35% of this amount is then decreased for anticipated homeownership costs, including homeowner association dues, utility expenses, property insurance, maintenance expenses, and property taxes. The income remaining is the amount a homeowner would be expected to be able to pay on their mortgage.

The interest rate used is the current Fannie Mae 30-year mortgage rate, as published in the Business Section of the Los Angeles Times.

 

Owning and Selling an "Affordable" Home

The Economic Development Department monitors the various affordable housing communities to ensure compliance with program requirements. These requirements include the following:

  • Homes must be owner-occupied.
  • Homes may not be rented. Home mortgage refinances and second liens must be approved by the City. Home re-sales must be approved by the City.

Affordable homes are covenanted by the City for up to 60 years. These covenants enable the City to enforce the various program requirements. If you are interested in selling your home, you will need to obtain an Inclusionary Housing Program packet from the Economic Development Department. Complete and return the Request for Sales Price Determination.

Your maximum sales price will be calculated, and your property will be added to the list of homes for sale. This packet will include material for the buyer you select. It is your responsibility to find an eligible buyer and to direct the buyer to the City for approval. When the buyer's eligibility is confirmed and your negotiated sales price is found to be within the affordable limit, your sale will be approved.

Many people ask if affordable homes can build equity. As with any home, building equity depends on various factors, such as the status of the real estate market. Unlike unrestricted homes, equity growth in affordable homes is not solely market driven and may be limited due to program restrictions.

 

Developments

There are several housing developments in Huntington Beach that have affordable housing covenants:

Name Built Units Income Eligible Location PHOTO
Greystone
Keys
1998 23 Affordable
150 Total
Moderate Promenade
Parkway &
Sea Gate
hgrey
The Tides 2004 12 Affordable
77 Total
Moderate Goldenwest &
Summit Drive
htides
Cape Ann 1999 146 Units Moderate Breezy Lane &
Sea Gate Drive
hcape
Pacific Park
Villas
1996 25 Units Moderate Joyful Lane &
Happy Drive
hpacitic
The Promenade 1999 80 Units Moderate Main Street &
Promenade Parkway
hpromenade
Brisas
Del Mar
1993 44 Units Low &
Moderate
Delaware St.
& Utica Ave.
hbrisas
Ash Street condos 2002 6 Units Median Ash St. ash

Forms and Brochures

Want more information about the Inclusionary Housing Program?

  • Get Listing of Units for Sale
  • Get the Inclusionary Housing Program Brochure

    Interested in buying an Inclusionary Housing Program home?

  • Online Sign up for the Incusionary Housing Program Interest List.
  •  
  • Get the Inclusionary Housing Program Home Buyer Application.

    Form for current homeowners

  • Request for Subordination Agreement
  • Request for Sales Price Calculation