Homebuyer Programs in Delray Beach, FL (2026)
Delray Beach is a vibrant coastal city in Palm Beach County, Florida, known for its lively Atlantic Avenue downtown, beautiful beaches, and growing arts scene, with a population of approximately 72,000 and a median home price around $480,000. The City of Delray Beach First-Time Homeownership Program offers up to $75,000 in down payment and closing cost help through a 0% interest forgivable loan. At the county level, the Palm Beach County SHIP Purchase Assistance Program provides up to $100,000, the Palm Beach County Homebuyer Match Pilot Program offers up to $50,000 as a grant, and the Palm Beach County Housing Finance Authority Homebuyer Program adds up to $17,500. State programs like Florida Hometown Heroes provide up to $35,000 and Florida Assist offers $10,000. By stacking city, county, and state programs, eligible Delray Beach homebuyers could access well over $150,000 in combined assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Delray Beach
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Delray Beach First-Time Homeownership Program (SHIP) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $75,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance | Yes | View → |
| Palm Beach County HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $100,000 | 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 → |
| Delray Beach Community Land Trust Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Permanently affordable homes priced below market rate for low to moderate income households | 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $75,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $100,000
- 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:
- Permanently affordable homes priced below market rate for low to moderate income households
- 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. The City of Delray Beach program requires household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Palm Beach County. You must not have owned a home in the past 3 years for most programs.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. Take at least 6 hours of a HUD-approved Homebuyer Education class and obtain your certificate. Contact the Delray Beach Community Land Trust at (561) 243-7500 for local resources, or reach out to the Palm Beach County Housing Authority for approved course providers.
- Step 3:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a lender to determine your purchasing power and obtain a pre-approval letter. Ask about Florida Housing Finance Corporation loan products like the Hometown Heroes and Florida Assist programs, which can be layered with local assistance.
- Step 4:
Find a home in Delray Beach within program limits. Search for eligible properties including single-family homes, villas, townhomes, and condos within city limits. Also check with the Delray Beach Community Land Trust for permanently affordable homes available through their program.
- Step 5:
Apply during the open enrollment period. The City of Delray Beach releases SHIP funding periodically. Monitor the city website for application opening dates. For the March 2026 round, applications open March 2 at 8
- Step 6:
Apply for county assistance through your lender. Your lender can submit applications to Palm Beach County for the SHIP Purchase Assistance Program, the Housing Finance Authority program, or the Homebuyer Match Pilot Program on your behalf.
- Step 7:
Close on your new home. Your assistance funds will be applied at closing as deferred second mortgages. The city loan is forgiven after 10 to 15 years of owner-occupancy depending on the amount received.