Weekend Wrap: South Florida Real Estate Events & Buyer Programs : Aug 28–30, 2026

Read Time: 8 minutes
By the Kohler Team

South Florida’s real estate calendar is full this weekend, with opportunities for commercial professionals, luxury buyers, first-time purchasers, and investors.

From an AI-focused commercial real estate breakfast in Palm Beach Gardens to designer-decorated model homes in Boca Raton and homebuyer education workshops across Miami-Dade and Broward, Aug. 28–30 is a useful weekend to learn, compare, and take your next step.

As always, event schedules, program funding, and eligibility can change. Confirm details with the event organizer, lender, or housing agency before making plans.

Friday, Aug. 28: Connect, learn, and tour

1. Palm Beach Gardens Commercial Real Estate Breakfast: AI & Technology

Commercial real estate is changing quickly. Artificial intelligence is influencing property marketing, leasing, investment analysis, customer relationship management, and deal sourcing.

The PBG: Commercial Real Estate Breakfast AI & Technology will explore how professionals can use emerging tools to work more efficiently and analyze information faster.

• Date: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
• Time: 9:30–11:30 a.m.
• Location: Palm Beach Gardens Realtors Association Office, 2801 PGA Blvd., Suite 220, Palm Beach Gardens
• Focus: AI tools, productivity platforms, market research, automation, marketing, and business growth
• Included: Breakfast, coffee, refreshments, live demonstrations, networking, and door prizes

The event is presented through the Rworld event calendar. Admission may vary by membership status. The event page notes complimentary admission for Realtors Commercial Alliance members.

Pro Tip: If you attend, do not ask only, “What can AI do?” Ask, “Which repetitive task is costing me the most time every week?” That question can lead to a practical implementation plan.

2. Begin your Lotus Edge model-home tour

GL Homes’ Lotus Edge in Boca Raton is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The community is located at 20393 Grand Cascade Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33434, near Glades Road and Florida’s Turnpike.

The featured opportunity this weekend is significant for luxury buyers: professionally decorated and fully furnished model homes are scheduled to be offered for sale on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The models represent the Fiji and Bali collections and showcase:

• Contemporary architecture
• Custom millwork and designer lighting
• Resort-style pools
• Covered outdoor living areas
• Waterfront and lake views
• Flexible rooms for offices, media rooms, gyms, or guest accommodations
• Large kitchens designed for entertaining

GL Homes lists model residences ranging from approximately $2.4 million to more than $4 million, depending on the floor plan, homesite, furnishings, and features. For current availability, pricing, and purchase procedures, review the official Lotus Edge models-for-sale page or contact the sales office at 561-585-8800.

Important: A model home purchase is not the same as buying a typical resale property. Ask about furnishings, warranties, homeowners’ association costs, property taxes, insurance, closing timelines, and any community restrictions.

Saturday, Aug. 29: Homebuyer education takes center stage

3. Hialeah Spanish-language first-time homebuyer workshop

A full-day Spanish-language first-time homebuyer workshop is planned for the Hialeah area on Saturday, Aug. 29, from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A full-day class can help you understand:

1. How lenders review income, credit, and debt
2. How much cash you may need at closing
3. What down-payment assistance programs require
4. How inspections, appraisals, title, and insurance fit together
5. Why completing an approved education course may matter

The City of Hialeah First-Time Homebuyer Program materials explain that the city program may provide assistance to eligible households and requires a homebuyer class certificate among the application documents. The city’s program specialist number is 305-883-8040.

Because workshop locations and registration details can change, confirm the exact venue, language, time, registration process, and certificate requirements before attending.

4. Miami online first-time homebuyer workshop

AHCOPA lists a live online First-Time Homebuyer Workshop for Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The class covers financial preparation, grant funds, lending, inspections, insurance, and the professionals involved in a purchase. The official event page currently states that the workshop is full, but you can join the organization’s mailing list for future sessions.

That is still a valuable reminder: education calendars fill quickly. If you are planning to buy this fall or winter, register early rather than waiting until you have an accepted offer.

5. Urban League of Broward first-time homebuyer workshops

The Urban League of Broward County offers recurring first-time homebuyer education workshops in person and through Zoom.

The organization describes the class as:

• A free, one-day, eight-hour workshop
• Generally held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Facilitated by a housing counselor
• Designed to provide a certificate of completion after full attendance

Topics may include budgeting, credit scores, mortgage products, lending fees, home inspections, insurance, title, and the closing process. Some sessions also include lenders, real estate professionals, inspectors, and title representatives.

Check the Urban League’s current schedule before relying on a particular Aug. 29 date. Attendance requirements matter, especially when a lender or assistance program requires an approved certificate.

Buyer-program snapshot: what may be available

The following programs can help eligible buyers reduce the cash needed for down payment or closing costs. They are not interchangeable, and most require a participating lender, income verification, owner occupancy, and an approved homebuyer education course.

Maximum advertised assistance at a glance

Program	Maximum stated assistance	General structure
Florida Assist	Up to $10,000	0% deferred second mortgage; generally not forgivable
Florida HLP	Up to $12,500	3% fully amortizing second mortgage
Hometown Heroes	Up to $35,000	5% of the first mortgage, subject to minimum and maximum amounts
Miami-Dade purchase assistance	Up to $100,000	County assistance; terms depend on funding source and eligibility
Palm Beach County purchase assistance	Up to $100,000	Deferred assistance for qualifying first-time buyers

A simple visual comparison

Maximums are not guaranteed awards and are not directly comparable.

Florida Assist             $10,000  ██
Florida HLP                $12,500  ██
Hometown Heroes            $35,000  ████
Miami-Dade assistance     $100,000  ██████████
Palm Beach assistance     $100,000  ██████████

FHA loans

FHA financing remains one of the most familiar options for first-time buyers. According to HUD’s homebuying guidance, FHA loans can offer lower down payments, but you still need to qualify through an FHA-approved lender.

A common FHA baseline is:

• 3.5% down with a qualifying credit score of 580 or higher
• A larger down payment may apply for lower credit scores
• Mortgage insurance is required
• The property must generally be your primary residence
• The home must meet FHA appraisal and property standards

The down payment is only one part of the budget. Include taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA fees, inspections, reserves, and maintenance.

Florida Assist and Florida HLP

Florida Housing programs are typically accessed through participating lenders rather than through a direct consumer application.

• Florida Assist: Up to $10,000 as a 0% deferred second mortgage. It generally has no monthly payment, but the balance may become due when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage, transfer the property, or stop using it as your primary residence.
• Florida HLP: Up to $12,500 through a 3% second mortgage with monthly payments. The exact term and underwriting details should be confirmed with your lender.

Review the current Florida Housing homebuyer overview before assuming you qualify.

Hometown Heroes

Eligible frontline and workforce professionals may want to ask about Florida Hometown Heroes.

The 2026 structure is described as 5% of the first mortgage, with assistance generally ranging from $10,000 to $35,000, subject to program rules, income limits, occupation eligibility, and available funding.

This is a loan: not free money. Ask about repayment triggers, approved occupations, county income limits, and whether your lender has completed a current program review.

Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County assistance

Miami-Dade’s Affordable Homeownership Program describes low-interest second or third mortgages for qualified first-time buyers. County materials also describe a Homebuyer Loan Program with assistance that can reach $100,000, depending on the applicable program and area.

Palm Beach County’s Mortgage and Housing Investments page states that up to $100,000 may be available to income-eligible first-time buyers for purchase assistance, rehabilitation, new construction, down payment, gap financing, and closing costs.

Funding is limited. Qualification is not a guarantee of an award.

Investors: programs worth discussing

The weekend is also a good time for seasoned investors to review their next move.

Potential strategies include:

• DSCR financing: Underwriting that focuses primarily on the property’s rental income and debt-service coverage rather than only on personal employment income.
• 1031 exchange: The IRS explains that qualifying investment or business real property may be exchanged for other like-kind real property, subject to strict rules.
• Private lending: Flexible capital that may help fund acquisitions, renovations, or bridge periods, usually at higher rates or with more customized terms.

With a 1031 exchange, timing is critical. Investors commonly face a 45-day identification period and a 180-day exchange period, and should involve a qualified intermediary and tax professional before closing.

Your weekend action plan

Before the weekend begins:

1. Register or confirm attendance for your chosen workshop.
2. Bring documentation: identification, pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, debt information, and employment records.
3. Ask whether the class certificate is accepted by your desired assistance program.
4. Use a mortgage calculator to test payments, taxes, insurance, and HOA costs.
5. Tour with a written checklist, especially when visiting new construction or luxury model homes.
6. Talk with a qualified lender and real estate professional before submitting an offer.

You do not need to solve every part of the process in one weekend. Start with facts, face fears with facts, and build your personal treasury one informed decision at a time.

If you are buying, renting, relocating, or investing from Palm Beach County through Miami-Dade County, the Kohler Team can help you evaluate neighborhoods, listings, financing considerations, and next steps. You can also review our first-time homebuyer guide series and try our mortgage calculator.

Program information is provided for general education and may change. Assistance is subject to funding availability, lender approval, income limits, property requirements, and program guidelines. This article is not legal, tax, mortgage, or financial advice.

Read next: First-Time Homebuyer Resources from the Kohler Team

( The Kohler Team)