$100,000 down payments available for first-time homebuyers in Palm Beach County
Betty Legendre was tired of moving from house to house.
Sometimes she and her family had to move because her landlord decided to sell. Once, a landlord asked her to leave because he found someone willing to pay more in rent. When an apartment complex wanted to raise her monthly rent to $3,000, she and her family decided it was time to see if they could buy a home.
In October, Betty, her husband and two children moved into a Wellington house they purchased for about $500,000.
It would never have happened if it were not for a state program, administered by the county, that offers eligible first-time homebuyers up to $100,000 that can be used as a down payment toward the purchase of a home.
Funds are awarded as a deferred loan secured by a recorded mortgage but the loan is forgiven at the end of the 30-year term.
'You don't have to make a payment as long as you continue to live in the home,' noted Legendre. 'This was a lifesaver for us. The constant moving was causing anxiety issues for my daughter.'
The Legendres took advantage of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Purchase Assistance Program. It is again being offered in Palm Beach County. The online application portal will open on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 12 p.m., and close on Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (or until 100 applications have been submitted).
About 40 awards are expected to be issued this year, with most of them at the $100,000 level. The program is only for first-time homebuyers, according to Sherrian Smith, who helps oversee the program. The county's allocation this year from the state is $3 million.
Applications must be submitted online, and will be processed on a first-submitted, first-qualified, first-served basis, subject to funding availability. Applicants must have a valid drivers' license or state identification card for all adult household members. An applicant may not currently own or have liquid assets exceeding $200,000.
Virtual pre-application orientations will be held in April on the 24th and 29th. The final one will be held May 1. The sessions, while not mandatory, educate applicants as to how to save for a down payment and shop for lenders.
Once someone is approved, the applicant must then find a house and obtain a first mortgage.
The Legendres had rented for decades.
'There is no question that we would still be renting if it were not for the SHIP program. It is a program that people should try to take advantage of. Our family is very happy.'
It is expected to take up to six weeks for county officials to begin making awards. Once an applicant is approved, he or she must then find a home to purchase that falls within the program's guidelines.
MORE: Affordable housing hobbled by parking-space rules to get relief from Palm Beach County
MORE: Subsidies approved for two workforce housing projects, but can workers afford the rents?
The SHIP program in Palm Beach County is overseen by the county Department of Housing and Economic Development, Mortgage and Housing Investments. For more information about the program, applicants should visit the website.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: $100,000 grants available for first-time Palm Beach County homebuyers
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