Homebuyer Programs in Palm Beach Gardens, FL (2026)
Palm Beach Gardens is a growing city of about 65,000 residents in northern Palm Beach County, Florida, known for its master-planned communities and proximity to the coast. With a median home price around $735,000, buyers here benefit from several strong assistance programs. The Palm Beach County SHIP Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $100,000 as a forgivable loan, while the Palm Beach County HOME Program provides up to $100,000 as a deferred loan for lower-income households. The newer Homebuyer Match Pilot Program offers up to $50,000 in grant funds through a lottery system. The Palm Beach County Housing Finance Authority Homebuyer Program adds up to $17,500 in additional assistance. Florida state programs including Florida Hometown Heroes (up to $35,000) and Florida Assist (up to $10,000) are also available. By combining county and state programs, eligible buyers in Palm Beach Gardens can potentially stack over $100,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Palm Beach Gardens
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 → |
| Community Partners of South Florida Homebuyer Program | Grant | Varies; includes matched savings, down payment assistance, and closing cost assistance | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with 0% interest | No | 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 $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:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Varies; includes matched savings, down payment assistance, and closing cost assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with 0% interest
- First-time only:
- No
- 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 Palm Beach County programs require household income at or below 140% of Area Median Income for the SHIP program, or 80% AMI for the HOME program. You must be a first-time homebuyer, meaning you have not owned a home in the past three years.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. An 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer education course is required. The Urban League of Palm Beach County offers free homebuyer workshops, and Community Partners of South Florida at 561-841-3500 ext. 1075 provides individualized counseling and education classes.
- Step 3:
Get pre-approved for a first mortgage. Contact an approved lender through the Palm Beach County Housing Finance Authority or the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's participating lender network to get pre-approved for your first mortgage loan.
- Step 4:
Apply for down payment assistance. Once pre-approved, submit your application to Palm Beach County's Department of Housing and Economic Development for the SHIP or HOME Purchase Assistance Program. You can also apply for the Housing Finance Authority's program for an additional $17,500 in assistance.
- Step 5:
Find a home within program limits. Homes must not exceed the program purchase price limit, which is approximately $568,557 for the SHIP program. Work with your real estate agent to find eligible properties in Palm Beach Gardens.
- Step 6:
Close on your new home. Your lender and the county will coordinate to apply your assistance at closing. The SHIP assistance is structured as a 0% interest, 30-year deferred loan that is fully forgiven if you remain in the home for the full term.