Homebuyer Programs in West Palm Beach, FL (2026)
West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County on Florida's southeastern coast, with a population of approximately 117,000 and a median home price around $425,000. The city offers one of the most generous homebuyer programs in the state through its First-Time Homebuyers Program, providing up to $100,000 as a zero-interest forgivable loan. Palm Beach County adds further options including the SHIP Purchase Assistance Program with up to $100,000, the new Homebuyer Match Pilot Program offering up to $50,000, the Housing Finance Authority program with up to $17,500, and a Mortgage Credit Certificate worth up to $2,000 per year in tax credits. At the state level, the Florida Hometown Heroes Program and Florida Assist provide additional down payment and closing cost help. By stacking city, county, state, and federal programs, West Palm Beach buyers can potentially access extraordinary levels of homebuyer assistance.
Top Homebuyer Programs in West Palm Beach
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of West Palm Beach First-Time Homebuyers Program | Forgivable 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 → |
| 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:
- Forgivable 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:
- 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. For the City of West Palm Beach First-Time Homebuyers Program, you must not have owned a home in the past three years and must meet income limits. The Palm Beach County SHIP program allows incomes up to 140% of the area median income.
- Step 2:
Complete at least 8 hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education. Both the city and county programs require this before you can apply. Approved counseling agencies include the Urban League of Palm Beach County, R.E.A.C.H., and the West Palm Beach Housing Authority.
- Step 3:
Get pre-approved for a first mortgage from a lender. Both the city and county programs require mortgage pre-approval before you can submit an application.
- Step 4:
Apply through the City of West Palm Beach program first. For homes within West Palm Beach city limits, you must apply through the city program before seeking Palm Beach County assistance. Contact the City of West Palm Beach Department of Housing and Community Development to begin.
- Step 5:
If city funds are not available, obtain written confirmation and then apply to the Palm Beach County SHIP program. You must attend two mandatory county orientations before submitting your county application.
- Step 6:
For additional assistance, work with a participating lender to access the Palm Beach County Housing Finance Authority program for up to $17,500 in down payment help and the Mortgage Credit Certificate for up to $2,000 per year in tax credits.
- Step 7:
Find a home within West Palm Beach and submit your complete application. Be aware that demand is extremely high and application portals may close quickly when funding cycles open. Apply as early as possible.