Mandatory Orientation

HOME Investment Partnership

First-Time Homebuyer Program

Mandatory Orientation (Phase I)

Palm Beach County

Department of Housing and Economic Development

Mortgage and Housing Investments (MHI)

October 2023

Agenda

 Welcome/Introduction of Staff

 Purpose

 Pre-screening

 Program Description

 Required Documents

 Online Application Process

 Housing Partners (Counseling Agencies)

 Overview of Process After Income Certification

 Q & A

Meet The MHI Team

Dorina L. Jenkins-Gaskin, Division Director III

Wanda G. Gadson, Principal Planner

Rosa M. Rodriguez, Senior Planner

Lesley George, Department Housing Liaison

Roslynne Powell, Planner II

Sherrian Smith, Planner II

Tyrone Jacobs, Planner II

Marc Graham, Planner I

Chandra Cosby, Planner I

Jeremy Wiggins, Planner I

Patricia Rojas, Planner I

Mani Berjano, Compliance Inspector

Mike Toohey, Compliance Inspector

Antoinette Prescott, Customer Services Representative

PURPOSE

The purpose of this orientation is to provide an overview of the:

• Online application process

• Eligibility requirements

• Program description

• Required documents

• A list of housing counseling agencies; and

• The step by step review of the overall process for first-time

homebuyers participating in HOME Investment Partnership

First-Time Homebuyer Program.

Pre-Screening Questions

1. Are you a first time homebuyer? (An individual who has not had ownership in a

principal residence in the last 3 years)

2. Do you have a Pre-Approval Letter for a First Mortgage Loan?

3. Did you participate in the HOME First-Time Homebuyer Program Mandatory

Orientation? NOTE: Participants will receive a Certificate

4. Is the property for which you are applying for assistance, or expecting to

purchase, located in Palm Beach County

5. Is the property you are applying for assistance, or expecting to purchase, assessed

value, less than $586,577?

Pre-Screening Questions (Cont.)

6. Does your household size and household income meet the

requirements below?

Number of Persons in

Household

Moderate Income

(80%)

$54,500

$62,350

$70,150

$77,900

$84,150

$90,400

$96,600

8 $102,850

HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer

Program Description

Funding will provide financial assistance to income eligible applicants

to acquire their first home (including acquisition, rehabilitation, new

construction, down payment and closing cost). Funds will be

provided in the form of a repayable loan or deferred loan that will be

forgiven at the end of the affordability period.

Maximum Award – Up to $100,000 for ALL Income Category.

NOTE: Subsidy is Reserved, NOT Guaranteed

Maximum Purchase Price – $586,557

HOME Investment Partnership First-Time Homebuyer Program Description (Cont.)

Additional information:

• Applicant must secure a first mortgage approval from a lender.

• Applicant is required to attend a Mandatory First-Time Homebuyer workshop prior to closing.

• Assistance will be awarded as a 30 year deferred forgivable loan, 0% interest, secured by a

recorded mortgage, promissory note and declaration of restrictions

• Applicant may not currently own or have liquid assets exceeding $200,000 and/or

combination of liquid and non-liquid assets exceeding the current purchase price limit

• If the property is determined to have Chinese drywall, the property may be ineligible for

purchase assistance.

• If the property indicate evidence of toxic black mold, the applicant will be required to obtain

a mold inspection.

• Selected properties must be located in the unincorporated area of Palm Beach County. If the

property is located in the incorporated areas of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach

and West Palm Beach, applicants will be required to apply for assistance through the city

where the property is located.

Required Documents for Application Submittal

• Mandatory Orientation Certificate (Mandatory)

• Copy of Pre-Approval Letter from First Mortgage Lender (Mandatory)

• Copy of valid Drivers' License or State Identification for ALL Adult Household Members

• Copy of U.S. Birth Certificates or valid U.S. Passport or Naturalization Certificate for ALL

household members (for all Non-U.S. Citizen household members provide a copy of a

valid Permanent Resident Card).

• Copy of Verification of Employment (VOE) completed and signed by employer within 30

days of submission of application (Preferred) (OR) copy of most recent paycheck stub for

ALL working adult household members

• Copy of most recent Social Security, Retirement and/or Disability Award Letter for ALL

adult household members

NOTE: ALL household members MUST be listed on the application

• If self-employed, provide completed YTD Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement for ALL adult

household members or current 1099 Income earner

• If an adult student is employed – copy of class schedule

• If unemployed, a copy of unemployment benefits statement or a completed

Unemployment Affidavit for ALL household members

• Wage Earner Statement from Social Security Administration for ALL unemployed adult

household members

• Court ordered child support documentation and/or proof from Palm Beach County Clerk

and Comptroller’s Office that there is/are no child support case(s) or award(s); and ALL

appropriate legal documentation for adoption, divorce, battered spouse & restraining

order (All Pages)

Required Documents (Continued)

• Completed Verification of Deposit (VOD) (Preferred) for ALL current accounts (checking,

savings, CD, IRA, Investment, Retirement) for ALL adult household members (OR) copy of

most recent bank statements

• Most recent two (2) years of tax returns (signed and dated) as submitted to the IRS and

W2s/1099s.

• If self-employed , provide a current 1099 and three (3) years of most recent signed tax

returns as submitted to the IRS

• Copy of Homebuyer Education Certificate from a HUD Certified Counseling Agency or

Neighborworks America

• Completed County’s Homebuyer Education Certification of Completion from the agency

that provided counseling

Required Documents (Continued)

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS

The online application portal opened Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 8:00am

and will close Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 11:59pm (or until 50

applications have been submitted)

Only Fifty (50) applications will be available online

To apply, visit Palm Beach County’s website at pbcgov.com/HED

Applications will be accepted on a first submitted, first completed, first

qualified, first served basis, subject to funding availability

*Technical Issues

Housing Partners (Counseling Agencies)
UF/IFAS Extension
559 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
ATTN: Cyndi Longley
Clongley@pbcgov.org
561-233-1744
Urban League of Palm Beach County, Inc. 
1700 N. Australian Ave 
West Palm Beach, FL  33407
561-833-1461 Ext 3000, Ext. 3030 or Ext. 3034
[email protected]
We Help Communities “2” Develop Corporation
349 S.E. 3
rd
Street 
Belle Glade, FL  33430
561-992-5854
WENNIEM@AOL.COM
West Palm Beach Housing Authority
3700 Georgia Avenue 
West Palm Beach, FL  33405
561-655-8530 Ext 1103 or Ext. 1203
mr[email protected]
Credit Card Management Services, Inc.
D/B/A Revermortgagehelper.org and Debthelper.com
1325 N. Congress Ave – Suite 201 
West Palm Beach, FL  33401
800-920-2262/ 561-472-8000
counseling@debthelper.com
fthb@debthelper.com
Gateway to Housing 
160 Congress Park Drive, Suite 116 
Delray Beach, FL  33445
561-536-8503
Housing Foundation of America – Lake Worth, FL
8461 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, FL  33467
561-713-1457
Housing Partnership, Inc.
D/B/A Community Partners of South Florida
2001 West Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach, FL 33404
561-841-3500
[email protected] or ccampbell@cp-cto.org
Real Estate, Education and Community Housing, Inc. (R.E.A.C.H.) 
8409 N. Military Trail, Suite 111 
Palm Beach Gardens, FL  33410
561-491-1670/855-487-3224
[email protected]
13

Overview of the Process After Income Certification

• Income certification may take up to 4-6 weeks to process

• Applicants may work with a realtor and/or non-profit to locate a home within the program guidelines.

NOTE: The selected property must be located in Palm Beach County, and meet all applicable building codes. Deficiencies must be

corrected prior to, or as part of the purchase transaction. Illegal/unpermitted rooms or additions will be required to be permitted or

removed – Per the Building Official. In the case of new construction, a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is required prior to occupancy. If the

property is located Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach, the applicant MUST first seek funding from

that city. If no funding is available, applicants MUST submit written documentation from that city stating no funding is available for

purchase assistance for their income category.

• Once ALL of the following documents are received, the processing of the applicant’s file for closing will begin:

• Executed Contract

• Contract Cover Form

• Private Home Inspection

• WDO – Termite Inspection

• Lead Paint (if home was built in or before 1978)

NOTE: Forty-five (45) days is required to process a file for closing AFTER all the above documents are received

• The assigned closer will work closely with the non-profit, realtor, lender and title company to close on the

property within a timely manner.

• A closing date is set

• Homeowner receive his/her keys

HELPFUL INFORMATION

TO GET CHILD SUPPORT DOCUMENT:

CLERK & COMPTROLLER (561) 355-6511

General information: 1-877-769-0251 - State of Florida Child Support

Disbursement Unit automated system for individual case information

TO GET WAGE EARNER STATEMENT:

Social Security Administration Office

801 Clematis Street

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

(800) 772-1213

*NOTE: The Wage Earner Statement must be stamped by SSA

TO GET IRS TAX TRANSCRIPT:

IRS Tax Transcripts visit: Internal Revenue Service

1700 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

(561) 616-2002