Pronto pa' tu casa: $88 million left and HUD raised income limits June 1 for your first home

Buying your first home in Puerto Rico can feel like an impossible goal, especially when the down payment and closing costs add up to tens of thousands of dollars. But there is good news for working families: the Pronto pa' tu casa program, run by the Housing Financing Authority (AFV) with federal CDBG-MIT funds, still has roughly $88 million available and just widened its income limits so more people can qualify ¹².

The context

Pronto pa' tu casa launched in January 2026 and offers up to $60,000 to cover the down payment, closing costs, and even to lower your monthly mortgage payment when buying a first home. The program has a total allocation of $100 million in CDBG-MIT funds and aims to help about 2,600 low- and moderate-income families become homeowners ¹³.

The latest news is that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved an update to the income limits that took effect June 1, 2026. In plain terms: you can now earn a little more and still qualify. According to AFV Executive Director Ricardo Alvarez Barreto, the program has delivered "extraordinary results," and this update opens the door to families who previously fell just above the cap ²⁴.

The numbers that matter

• Funds remaining: about $88 million of the $100 million allocated ².
• Families already helped: as of June 8, 2026, 297 families had been served, with disbursements of $13.8 million ²⁴.
• Maximum aid: up to $45,000 per low- and moderate-income (LMI) or urgent-need household; up to $55,000 if a household member belongs to the Essential Recovery Personnel; and an additional $5,000 incentive if you buy within a designated urban center certified by Housing ¹³.
• New annual income limits (at 120% of median income, by family size) ²⁴:
  • 1 person: $55,450 (was $54,050)
  • 2 people: $63,400 (was $61,750)
  • 3 people: $71,300 (was $69,450)
  • 4 people: $79,200 (was $77,150)
  • 5 people: $85,500 | 6 people: $91,900 | 7 people: $98,250 | 8 people: $104,550

What it means for you

If you applied last year and were told you earned too much, it is worth trying again. Applicants who were denied on income can resubmit their case under the new guidelines ². And if you have never applied, this is a good moment: the vast majority of the money is still available.

The aid is not a loan you have to repay month by month like a second mortgage: it is direct assistance for the down payment and closing, the two costs that most hold back first-time buyers. For a family already paying rent, this can be the difference between continuing to rent and owning a roof of your own. Note: you must meet the income limits, you cannot already own another home when you apply, and you must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualified alien ¹³.

How to do it: checklist

1. Confirm you are within the income cap for your family size (see the table above) and that you do not own another home ¹.
2. Find a participating bank or credit union and formally start your mortgage loan application. When you do, the institution simultaneously processes your Pronto pa' tu casa application through the AFV's HBA Platform ¹.
3. Take the homebuyer education course. The system transfers your case to a counseling agency automatically; you do not have to find one yourself ³.
4. Gather your documents: proof of income, evidence of marital status, photo ID, birth certificate, and the FEMA certification with case number ¹.
5. Wait for the AFV's final evaluation. The bank submits your information and the AFV determines eligibility once it has the complete file ¹.
6. Get oriented before you start by calling 1-833-234-2324, the prequalification line 939-333-5417, or emailing [email protected] ¹².

What's next

With $88 million still on the table and wider income caps, demand is expected to rise in the coming months. CDBG-MIT funds are not forever: they are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until they run out or the program period ends, so the sooner you start your mortgage process, the better. The AFV also runs sister programs like the Direct Homebuyer Assistance Program (HBA) and the HOME program, in case your situation fits another option better. At CoquiList we will keep tracking how much money is left and any changes to the requirements. If you are thinking of buying, now is the time to sit down with a participating bank and run the numbers.