Homebuyer Programs in Boca Raton, FL (2026)
Boca Raton is an affluent coastal city in Palm Beach County known for its beaches, parks, and thriving economy, with a median home price around $550,000. The city offers some of the most generous homebuyer assistance in the state through its SHIP Purchase Assistance Program, providing up to $190,000 as a 0% interest forgivable loan for first-time buyers. A separate CDBG Homebuyer Assistance Program adds up to $75,000 in additional help. Palm Beach County's SHIP Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $100,000 more, and the Florida Hometown Heroes Program provides up to $35,000 for eligible frontline workers. By stacking city, county, and state programs, first-time buyers in Boca Raton could potentially access over $400,000 in combined assistance to make homeownership achievable in this competitive market.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Boca Raton
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Boca Raton CDBG Homebuyer Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $75,000 | Yes | View → |
| City of Boca Raton SHIP Purchase Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $190,000 | Yes | View → |
| Palm Beach County Homebuyer Match Pilot Program | Grant | Up to $50,000 | Yes | View → |
| Palm Beach County Housing Finance Authority Homebuyer Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $17,500 | Yes | View → |
| Palm Beach County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program | Tax Credit | Up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits | Yes | View → |
| Palm Beach County SHIP Purchase Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $100,000 | Yes | View → |
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with 0% interest | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with 0% interest | Yes | View → |
| Florida Assist (FL Assist) Second Mortgage Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | View → |
| Florida HFA Preferred and Advantage PLUS Program | Forgivable Loan | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first mortgage loan amount | Yes | View → |
| Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program | Deferred Loan | Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount, minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $75,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $190,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $100,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with 0% interest
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with 0% interest
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first mortgage loan amount
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount, minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Check your eligibility. Most programs require household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Palm Beach County, though the Boca Raton SHIP program extends to households up to 140% AMI depending on the funding strategy.
- Step 2:
Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The Urban League of Palm Beach County offers comprehensive housing counseling services and homebuyer education. Contact them at 561-833-1461 to register. The Boca Raton Housing Authority can also direct you to approved courses.
- Step 3:
Contact the City of Boca Raton Community Improvement Division at 561-393-7756 to obtain applications for both the SHIP Purchase Assistance Program (up to $190,000) and the CDBG Homebuyer Assistance Program (up to $75,000). Note that you must apply through the city program first before seeking county assistance.
- Step 4:
Get pre-approved for a first mortgage through a participating lender. For the Palm Beach County program, work with a lender approved by the Palm Beach County Housing Finance Authority.
- Step 5:
Find a home within the City of Boca Raton municipal limits. The home must be your primary residence. For the CDBG program, it must be an existing single-family home, townhome, villa, or condominium.
- Step 6:
Submit your complete applications with all required documentation. The Boca Raton programs are processed on an ongoing basis pending availability of funding, so apply as early as possible. If city funds are unavailable, obtain written confirmation to then apply for Palm Beach County assistance.