Palm Bay, FL
Palm Bay pairs purchase help with repairs through its SHIP program, and buyers get in line through a wait list kept by Community Housing Initiatives.
The City of Palm Bay Housing office offers Purchase Assistance with Rehabilitation through the state SHIP program for income-eligible buyers in Palm Bay. It is designed to help with the purchase and with repairs to the home. Income limits follow the Florida Housing chart for Palm Bay. The City does not run the line itself: the wait list is kept by Community Housing Initiatives, reachable at 321-253-0053.
The City page does not state award amounts or whether the purchase wait list is currently open. Palm Bay has a 2026-29 Local Housing Assistance Plan on file with Florida Housing, which sets the formal terms. In practice, call Community Housing Initiatives first, ask whether names are being added, and ask how long the current wait is. If you are close to buying, do not count on this money unless you have it in writing. The rehabilitation piece makes this program a good fit for older homes that need work, since repair money is built into the same award rather than requiring a second loan. Ask how inspections and repair bids are handled before you choose a property.
Brevard County's Purchase Assistance Program lists up to $75,000 for very low income buyers at or below 50% AMI and up to $60,000 for low income buyers at 51-80% AMI, and it is also funding-dependent. The Home Sweet Home program out of Hillsborough County lists $15,000 for Brevard buyers and is open. Brevard Public Schools teachers and Palm Bay Police staff can check Florida Hometown Heroes, the statewide program with a 0% deferred second mortgage. See the Brevard County guide and the program finder for what fits your income.
City of Palm Bay
City page does not state amounts or whether the purchase wait list is open; LHAP 2026-29 on file with FHFC (not parsed).
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Check whether I fitHillsborough County (also Brevard, Clay, Duval)
County page says first-time buyers have two DPA options (Home Sweet Home and 'Affordable Income Subsidy Grant'). LHAP 2025-28 strategy 'Purchase Assistance HFA': 0% deferred, 30-year, repaid on sale or payoff of first mortgage. Lock rate 7.125% on eHousingPlus 11/6/2026.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Read our full write-upCheck whether I fitBrevard County
0% deferred payment loan (repayable for moderate income). Contact C.H.I. (321) 253-0053. Page does not state open/closed status.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Read our full write-up Check whether I fitBuyers in Palm Bay also have 3 statewide programs to draw on, Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program among them. Browse every Florida program or let the program search narrow it down.
Matching county guide: Brevard County.
Nearly every down payment program makes you finish a homebuyer class before closing. These HUD-approved agencies around Brevard County teach one or offer one-on-one counseling before you buy.
| Agency | Based in | How far | What they offer | Languages | How they meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Housing Initiative, Inc | Melbourne | 7 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Phone |
| Catholic Charities of Central Florida | Orlando | 41 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. | Orlando | 44 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Consumer Debt Counselors, Inc | Winter Park | 45 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
| Incharge Debt Solutions | Orlando | 47 mi | homebuyer education class, pre-purchase counseling | English, Spanish | Face to Face, Phone, Internet |
From HUD's list of housing counseling agencies. A given program may accept only certain classes.
Call Community Housing Initiatives at 321-253-0053, which keeps the City's wait list.
The City page does not state amounts. Terms are set in the City's 2026-29 SHIP plan on file with Florida Housing.
Brevard County's Purchase Assistance Program, Home Sweet Home ($15,000 for Brevard) and Florida Hometown Heroes.
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