First Time Homebuyer Program

The Purchase Assistance Program is designed to provide down payment, closing cost, principal reduction, rehabilitation and other costs associated with purchasing a new or existing eligible home. (The Purchase Assistance program does not reimburse applicants for purchases made before an applicant received approval). Persons can apply for this program if they wish to live in Plantation. If you are interested in purchasing a house not in Plantation, many cities in Broward County have similar purchase assistance programs. Please contact them directly.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

  • Have reasonably good credit
  • Meet the program’s current state and federal income guidelines
  • Very low, low, and moderate income persons
  • Applicants are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis
  • Homeowners who have received any form of grant assistance from the City cannot reapply for five years
  • Must sign the City’s Second Mortgage. The City’s Mortgage is forgiven after fifteen(15) years and is not written down on a yearly basis.
  • Must NOT have owned a home, in whole or in part, within the last three years
    • Others that may qualify as first time homebuyers are:
    • Single parents with children under the age of eighteen who has been recently divorced and displaced.
    • A displaced victim of domestic abuse.
    • A person displaced as a result of governmental action.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

  • Below market interest rates
  • Fixed rate terms
  • Liberal qualifying ratios (38%-45%)
  • Minimum 1% down payment from buyer
  • Forgivable Loan from the City of Plantation up to $50,000

REQUIREMENTS

  • Property must be located in City of Plantation
  • Must verify cash to close (minimum 1% down payment)
  • Applicant must be able to provide documentation of:
    • Income verification
    • Employment verification
    • Asset verification
    • See Application “Checklist” for complete list of required documentation

REQUIREMENTS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE (DPA)

  • Homeowner must complete First Time Homebuyer class
  • Homeowner completes the pre-approval process with an approved bank (ratio must be 38%-45% debt ratio)
  • Bank issues a Pre-Approval Letter to the homeowner
  • Homeowner completes DPA application
  • Income certification is approved
  • Bank submits lender package to include the HUD-1080 and Inspection report
  • Housing counselor prepares package & verifies documents according to checklist
  • Housing counselor prepares the mortgage documents for closing
  • Housing counselor prepares request for funding from the City
  • All parties go to closing

ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES

  • Single-family homes
  • Townhomes
  • Condominiums
  • Villas

SOME PARTICIPATING LENDERS INCLUDE:

  • American Mortgage
  • Bank Atlantic
  • Bank of America
  • Bank United
  • Mercantile Bank
  • RAD Financial
  • Washington Mutua