Down Payment Assistance is funding from the state of Florida, Palm Beach County, and federal programs to help qualified first-time buyers purchase a home without needing to save up a large down payment over years.
In most programs, this money doesn't need to be paid back. It goes directly toward your down payment — and sometimes your closing costs too. If you qualify, the money is yours.
Myth #1
"DPA is only for low-income buyers."
FALSE
Programs have income limits, but they're not as restrictive as people assume. A household earning $70,000–$90,000 annually in Palm Beach County often qualifies. You don't have to be in financial hardship to access this assistance.
Myth #2
"You have to pay it back."
IT DEPENDS
Most programs in Palm Beach County don't require repayment if you stay in the property for a minimum period — typically 5 to 10 years. Some are 100% forgivable from day one. Tahissa walks you through the exact terms of each program before you commit.
Myth #3
"DPA makes the buying process more complicated."
FALSE
When you work with a realtor who knows these programs, DPA integrates seamlessly into the standard purchase process. The typical timeline is still 30 to 45 days — the same as any other buyer.
Available programs
The 5 programs with the most assistance in Palm Beach County
Every buyer's situation is different. These are the programs with the most available funding in the county right now. Tahissa evaluates which combination fits your income, credit, and target property.
Up to $35,000
Florida Hometown Heroes
Open to all Florida residents — despite the name, it's not limited to first responders or essential workers
Requires a credit score of 640 or higher
Must be a first-time buyer (or not have owned a home in the last 3 years)
Structured as a 0% second mortgage — no monthly payments while you live in the home
Income within Palm Beach County limits
Up to $30,000
Palm Beach County DPA
Administered directly by Palm Beach County
Property must be located within the county
Income limits based on family size (HUD scale)
Can be layered with state programs for greater total coverage
Targeted at low-to-moderate income buyers
Varies
SHIP — State Housing Initiatives Partnership
State of Florida funds distributed county by county
Amounts vary depending on available funding that year
Can be combined with county or federal programs
Locally administered — Tahissa knows current fund availability at the time of your process
$0 out of pocket
FHA + DPA Layered
FHA loans only require 3.5% down payment
Combined with DPA, that 3.5% can be fully covered — nothing out of your pocket
Most commonly used by buyers with credit scores between 640 and 680
Closing costs can also be covered under certain layered programs
3% down
Fannie Mae HomeReady
Only requires 3% down versus the standard 20% conventional requirement
Designed for low-to-moderate income buyers
Can be combined with county assistance to reduce out-of-pocket further
Allows co-borrower income from people who don't live in the home
Private mortgage insurance cancels once you reach 20% equity
Do you qualify?
More likely than you think.
Most rejections aren't due to ineligibility. They're due to not applying. These are the four basic criteria that cover the majority of DPA programs in Palm Beach County.
Credit score of 640 or higher — or willing to work toward getting there
First-time buyer, or no homeownership in the past 3 years
Income within Palm Beach County limits (typically up to $90,000–$110,000 per year depending on the program)
Start to finish, the typical process takes 35 to 50 days. Pre-approval with the lender takes 7 to 10 business days. Once you find a property and the seller accepts, closing takes another 21 to 30 days. Adding a DPA program doesn't meaningfully extend the timeline when the lender is experienced with it — which is exactly the type of lender Tahissa works with.
Yes. Most programs available in Palm Beach County apply to any property within the county, which includes Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and surrounding cities. A few programs have geographic restrictions, but there are options available for virtually every area where Tahissa operates.
It doesn't have to affect it negatively. DPA is typically structured as a silent second mortgage at 0% interest with no monthly payments. Your primary mortgage rate is still determined by market conditions and your credit score — just like any other buyer. What changes is that you come in with less (or zero) money out of pocket.
Some sellers have the misperception that a DPA buyer is a weaker buyer. In practice, a pre-approved DPA buyer is just as solid as any other qualified buyer. Tahissa knows how to present your offer correctly so that DPA isn't a barrier, and in today's market with more inventory available, the vast majority of sellers have no issue.
In many cases, yes. For example, Florida Hometown Heroes can be combined with Palm Beach County's local DPA. The goal is to maximize the assistance you're entitled to. Tahissa and the lender work together to identify the combination that reduces your out-of-pocket cost the most, within each program's rules.
Yes — DPA programs require lenders who are approved and trained for each specific program. Not every bank or mortgage broker can process these applications. Tahissa works with a network of approved lenders who know these programs in detail, which prevents delays and last-minute problems. You don't need to find one on your own.
Your first step takes 15 minutes.
A WhatsApp conversation. No cost. No commitment. We review your situation and give you an honest answer on what you qualify for.
