Palm Beach County, FL First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Palm Beach County buyers can apply to 1 local down payment program, with help up to $100,000 through State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) / HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program, on top of Florida's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Palm Beach County
These are run by Palm Beach County, separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) / HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program Limited funds Palm Beach County (Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED), Mortgage and Housing Investments Division) · source | deferred, forgivable, interest-free second mortgage | Up to $100,000 toward acquisition, new construction, down payment, and closing costs | Income-eligible first-time homebuyers; | Yes | Palm Beach County |
| Homebuyer Match Pilot Program (Phase I) Closed Palm Beach County (Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED), Mortgage and Housing Investments Division) · source | dollar-for-dollar matching grant | Up to $50,000, matching the buyer's own cash contribution dollar-for-dollar (buyer must contribute a minimum of $10,000) | Low Income (80% AMI): 1-person $65,450, 2-person $74,800, 3-person $84,150, 4-person $93,500; | Yes | Palm Beach County; |
- State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) / HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program. Status: open (funds allocated in rounds; apply on a first-submitted, first-qualified, first-served basis subject to fund availability) 0% interest, no monthly payment, deferred 30-year loan secured by a second mortgage and promissory note/declaration of restrictions; balance forgiven if the buyer occupies the home as primary residence for the full 30-year term.
- Homebuyer Match Pilot Program (Phase I). Status: Phase I pre-application window closed (portal open March 30 - April 20, 2026; 60 spots awarded by random lottery); confirm whether a later phase has opened $2,000,000 allocated to Phase I. Funds can be used for down payment assistance, mortgage rate points buy-down, minor repairs, and closing costs.
Income limits in Palm Beach County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL HUD Metro FMR Area (Palm Beach County) (fiscal year 2026): the 80% limit that most programs use is $93,500 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Florida statewide programs you can also use in Palm Beach County
Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) (homebuyer programs page) runs 4 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Florida, with down payment help up to $35,000 through Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Assist (FL Assist) source | Deferred second loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage source | Second mortgage | $12,500 | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage source | Forgivable second loan | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program source | Deferred second loan | Up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000 | Yes | n/a | See program page |
Palm Beach County closing costs that differ from the rest of Florida
Transfer tax: Palm Beach County follows Florida's standard statewide documentary stamp tax: $0.70 per $100 (or fraction) of consideration on the deed. Mortgages carry doc stamps of $0.35 per $100 of the debt plus Florida's nonrecurring intangible tax of $2.00 per $1,000 of the mortgage amount. Palm Beach County has no additional county surtax on real property transfers (unlike Miami-Dade). Source
Recording the deed costs $10 and the mortgage $10. Fee schedule
Owner's title policy: seller (customary in Palm Beach County, following the statewide Florida default outside Miami-Dade/Broward/Sarasota)
Recording fee is $10.00 for the first page (not exceeding 8.5x14 inches) and $8.50 for each additional page, per the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller fee schedule;
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Palm Beach County, FL?
State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) / HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program (Palm Beach County, up to $100,000). Florida statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Palm Beach County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $93,500 for a four-person household in West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL HUD Metro FMR Area (Palm Beach County) (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Palm Beach County?
Palm Beach County follows Florida's standard statewide documentary stamp tax: $0.70 per $100 (or fraction) of consideration on the deed. Mortgages carry doc stamps of $0.35 per $100 of the debt plus Florida's nonrecurring intangible tax of $2.00 per $1,000 of the mortgage amount. Palm Beach County has no additional county surtax on real property transfers (unlike Miami-Dade).
What is the median home price in Palm Beach County?
About $645,000, per MIAMI Association of Realtors / MIAMI SEFMLS - Palm Beach County Total Home Sales Rise for Sixth Consecutive Month (March 2026 statistics). Down payment help of up to $100,000 covers roughly 16% of that price.
Official sources
- Palm Beach County: State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) / HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program
- Palm Beach County: Homebuyer Match Pilot Program (Phase I)
- Palm Beach County transfer tax
- Palm Beach County recording fees
- MIAMI Association of Realtors / MIAMI SEFMLS - Palm Beach County Total Home Sales Rise for Sixth Consecutive Month (March 2026 statistics)
Palm Beach County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Other Florida counties
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties