Palm Beach County • First-time Buyers • 2025
Palm Beach County First-Time Homebuyer Program 2025 (Complete Guide to Up to $100,000 in Assistance)
By Ernst Cenege • Cenege Real Estate Group • Updated Oct 8, 2025
Status: The county reports the 2025 application limit has been reached and the portal is now CLOSED. Use this guide to prepare early for the next cycle so you don’t miss out.
Why this Program Matters in 2025
Buying your first home in Palm Beach County can feel out of reach — rising prices, closing costs, and short inventory. The county’s HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Program changes the math by offering up to $100,000 toward your purchase (down payment, closing costs, even new construction), via a 0% interest deferred payment loan that’s forgiven after 30 years when you keep the property as your primary residence.
In plain English: no monthly payment on the assistance, and nothing due if you meet the long-term occupancy requirement.
2025 Key Details at a Glance
Application window:
Opens Wed, July 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM and ends Wed, Aug 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM (or once 100 applications are submitted).
Funding: $3,000,000 total • Max award: $100,000 • Max purchase price: $568,557
- Processed: first-submitted, first-qualified, first-served (subject to funding availability)
- Admin: Mortgage & Housing Investments Division, 100 Australian Ave, West Palm Beach
- Use of funds: acquisition, down payment, closing costs, eligible new construction
Who Qualifies (eligibility & income limits)
First-time homebuyer Program (HUD definition). You haven’t had ownership in a principal residence during the past 3 years (with specific allowances for single parents, displaced homemakers, manufactured homes not on permanent foundations, or homes that weren’t code-compliant and can’t be brought to code economically).
- Property must be your primary residence.
- First mortgage pre-approval required before applying.
- Asset limits: no more than $200,000 in liquid assets and not exceeding the purchase-price limit when combined with non-liquid assets (excluding your current primary residence, if applicable).
Income limits (≤ 80% AMI)
| Household size | Maximum income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $65,450 |
| 2 | $74,800 |
| 3 | $84,150 |
| 4 | $93,500 |
| 5 | $101,000 |
| 6 | $108,500 |
Required Documents (checklist)
Submit these for all adult household members with your online application:
- Mortgage pre-approval letter (mandatory)
- Driver’s license or state ID; birth certificate/passport (or Permanent Resident Card)
- Verification of Employment (VOE within 30 days) or most recent 30 days of pay stubs
- Social Security, retirement and/or disability award letters (if applicable)
- Student enrollment/class schedule if an adult student is employed
- Unemployment benefits statement (or county Unemployment Affidavit)
- Wage Earner Statement from SSA for unemployed adults
- If self-employed: YTD P&L + last 3 years tax returns (all pages, signed)
- Verification of Deposit (preferred) or most recent bank statements (all pages)
- Most recent statements for CDs, investments, whole life insurance, stocks/bonds
- Last 3 years tax returns + W-2s/1099s (redact first five digits of SSNs)
- Homebuyer education certificate from a HUD Certified Counseling Agency or NeighborWorks (or proof of scheduled class) + County 8-hour certification form
- Relevant legal docs: child support, adoption, divorce, protective orders
Pro tip: Start a shared folder and file names like 2024-TaxReturn-John.pdf to upload fast when the portal opens.
How to Apply (step-by-step)
- Attend a virtual Pre-Application Orientation. Join via WebEx link: bit.ly/HOMEorientation25 or dial (904) 900-2303 (Access code: 2308 109 3412 | Password provided by county).
- Get first-mortgage pre-approval. (Ask us for trusted local lenders.)
- Complete your HUD 8-hour homebuyer course and obtain certificate.
- Apply online at pbcgov.com/HED once the portal opens (first-come, first-qualified).
- Upload all required documents (PDFs, all pages, readable).
- Respond quickly to any county requests; then proceed to contract and closing with assistance funds.
Pre-Application Orientation dates (2025)
- Thu, June 26 at 7:30 AM
- Tue, July 1 at 10:00 AM
- Thu, July 10 at 2:00 PM
- Tue, July 15 at 5:00 PM
- Tue, July 22 at 12:00 PM
Rules & Restrictions (read before you apply)
- Property must be within Palm Beach County and meet code.
- Home must remain your primary residence for 30 years to qualify for full forgiveness.
- You can’t currently own another home at application time.
- Purchase price cannot exceed $568,557.
Tips to Boost your Approval Odds
- Be early. Have your pre-approval, HUD certificate, and PDFs ready before the opening minute.
- Double-check completeness. Missing pages/signatures are the #1 reason apps get kicked back.
- Keep income stable. Avoid job changes, new debt, or big credit pulls until closing.
- Work with a local team. An agent + lender who know county programs can shave days off the process.
Anecdote: A Lake Worth buyer I worked with nearly missed out because their VOE was 45 days old. We refreshed it the day before the portal opened — they made the top 100 and closed with $48K in assistance.
Example: how assistance changes the numbers
Family of 3, income $82,000, purchase price $420,000.
- Estimated down payment + closing costs: $55,000
- Approved assistance: $50,000 (combination of down payment + closing)
- Result: Out-of-pocket drops to ~$5,000 and monthly payment falls by ≈ $300
Related resources & programs
- Palm Beach Home-Buying Guide (local steps, timelines, lender list)
- First-Time Buyer Checklist (downloadable)
- Palm Beach Closing Costs Explained
- Florida Hometown Heroes Program • SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) • FHFC first-mortgage options
- Find a HUD-Approved Housing Counselor (NeighborWorks, HUD) — links available on county site
Official Contact Information
Mortgage & Housing Investments Division
100 Australian Avenue, 5th Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Tel: (561) 233-3606 • Main: (561) 233-3600
Email: HEDverify@pbc.gov
Need help? I guide first-time buyers through the program, from documents to closing. Book a free first-time buyer consult →
FAQs
Is the Palm Beach First-Time Homebuyer Program still open?
For 2025, the county has reached its application limit and closed the portal. Prepare early for the next round with your documents and certificates ready.
Do I ever repay the assistance?
The loan carries 0% interest and is forgiven after 30 years if you maintain the home as your primary residence and follow program terms.
What credit score do I need?
The county doesn’t set a score, but your lender typically wants 620+. Higher scores help with rate and approval.
Can we qualify if only one spouse meets the first-time buyer rule?
Yes. If either spouse meets HUD’s first-time buyer definition, the household can qualify.
What if my income is slightly over the limit?
Explore related options such as Florida Hometown Heroes or SHIP. A HUD counselor can help you map alternatives.
