Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions DPA
Deferred second loan · New construction · Income limits
Down payment assistance · Riverside County
Buying a home in Palm Desert, CA
6 county programs and 54 statewide.Palm Desert has no program of its own, 6 across Riverside County, and 54 statewide. Here is what each one offers, what the local market looks like, and who near you can walk you through it.
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What’s local to Palm Desert
No program of Palm Desert’s own yet
No program run for Palm Desert alone is listed. A home in Palm Desert can use Riverside County’s programs below, plus the California statewide and federal ones.
The closest city that runs its own program is Hemet, about 34 miles away. City programs usually require the home to be inside that city’s limits.
Anywhere in RiversideAnywhere in Riverside County
6 county programs6 county programs a Palm Desert homebuyer can use
- Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions DPAUp to $100,000
- GSFA Assist-to-Own - Riverside County EmployeesGrant
- GSFA Platinum Grant - Riverside County SpecificGrant
- Riverside County ARPA First-Time Homebuyer Program (5th District)Forgivable
- Riverside County HOME First-Time Homebuyer ProgramDeferred
- Riverside County MCC (Mortgage Credit Certificate) ProgramTax credit
5 more programs are for homes in Riverside, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Menifee and Perris. See them 5 programs in neighboring cities — for homes inside those cities, not Palm Desert
- Riverside — City of Riverside First-Time Homebuyer Program
- Hemet — City of Hemet Homebuyer Assistance Program
- Lake Elsinore — City of Lake Elsinore Down Payment Assistance
- Menifee — City of Menifee Homebuyer Assistance Program
- Perris — City of Perris Homebuyer Assistance Program
The Palm Desert marketThe Palm Desert housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Palm Desert
- 37.7% single-familysingle-family
- 30.7% townhousetownhouse
- 7.6% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 14.3% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 9.6% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. All 6 of Palm Desert’s local and county programs accept condos.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Palm Desert’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
33.3%
of Palm Desert homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
$106,500
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Riverside County, 4-person household (2026)
$77,513
Palm Desert median household incomeMedian household income in Palm Desert (Census, 2024)
56 of the 122 programs here set their income limit as a share of Riverside County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Riverside County
Free help nearbyFree help near Palm Desert
2 HUD-approved counseling agencies within 15 miles2 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies within 15 miles
4 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.4 of the 6 local programs here ask for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
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Across California and nationwide
116 statewide & federal programs54 statewide programs, plus federal options
Palm Desert questions
Does Palm Desert have its own down payment program?
No program run for Palm Desert alone is listed. A home in Palm Desert can use the 6 programs that cover Riverside County and the 54 statewide programs. Each program’s own site has the current terms.
Can I use assistance on a condo in Palm Desert?
All 6 of Palm Desert’s local and county programs accept condos. Each program’s page lists the kinds of homes it accepts, and the agency confirms it for the home you choose.
What is the income limit in Riverside County?
Each program sets its own. 56 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Riverside County, adjusted for household size. HUD publishes the median each year; the 2026 figure is shown above and on the published limits page.
Where can I take a homebuyer class near Palm Desert?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 2 agencies are within 15 miles of Palm Desert. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
ZIP codes
92211 · 92255 · 92260 · 92261
Nearby in Riverside
Sources
Sources: agency sites (June–August 2026), Census ACS 2024 5-year, HUD FY2026, HUD counseling list. Hey Prescott is not a lender.Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (June–August 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.