Florida First-Time Home Buyer Programs

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Buying your first home in Florida usually comes down to one obstacle: the down payment. The state of Florida and its counties run several first-time home buyer programs to help close that gap, some worth up to $35,000. This guide covers every major first-time home buyer program in Florida for 2026, including qualifications, funding status, and how each one actually works, based on current Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) guidelines.

This page reflects current 2026 figures. Program funding and income limits change throughout the year, so your loan officer will confirm the live numbers when you apply.

Check your eligibility

Am I a First-Time Home Buyer in Florida?

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a primary residence in the past three years. You still qualify even if you've owned a home before, as long as it's been three years or more. The first-time buyer requirement is waived entirely for veterans and for buyers purchasing in a federally designated targeted area, known as a Qualified Census Tract. Your lender checks this against the property address.

Florida Housing Homebuyer Loan Program

This is the foundation the rest of Florida's first-time home buyer program benefits build on: a 30-year, fixed-rate first mortgage offered through Florida Housing's network of approved lenders, and it can be combined with any of the down payment assistance programs below.

To qualify, you generally need to:

• Qualify for a Conventional, FHA, FHA 203(k), VA, or USDA loan
• Buy a single-family home, townhome, condo, a 2 to 4 unit property, or a modular home under your county's purchase price limit
• Have a minimum credit score of 640
• Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course, usually online, a few hours, roughly $75 to $99
• Have household income under your county's limit

Florida Hometown Heroes Program: Up to $35,000

This is the program most people searching for a first-time home buyer program in Florida actually mean. It's aimed at full-time community workforce employees, covering more than 50 eligible professions including teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, correctional officers, court employees, childcare workers, military members, and veterans, who are exempt from the first-time buyer requirement.

How the Hometown Heroes Program Works

• A 0% interest, deferred, non-amortizing second mortgage, with no monthly payments
• Worth 5% of your first mortgage amount, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000. Because of the $10,000 minimum, loans of $200,000 or less generally receive the full $10,000, more than a straight 5% would give
• Repaid only when you sell, refinance, transfer the property, pay off your first mortgage, or the home is no longer your primary residence. It's a loan, not a grant, but it costs nothing while you live there and can be paid off early with no prepayment penalty
• Waives the standard 1% loan origination fee and includes documentary stamp and intangible tax exemptions at closing, which can save several thousand dollars on top of the assistance itself

Hometown Heroes Eligibility

• Full-time employment, 35+ hours a week, with a Florida-based employer in an eligible occupation
• Household income at or below 150% of your county's Area Median Income. In 2026 this ranges from roughly $148,050 in most counties up to $214,950 in Monroe County, but your lender will confirm the exact figure for your county and household size
• A minimum credit score of 640
• Qualify for a Conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA loan
• Purchase a single-family home, condo, townhome, 2 to 4 unit property, or manufactured home built 1994 or later, double-wide or larger, as your primary residence

Current Hometown Heroes Funding Status (2026)

Florida Housing reopened Hometown Heroes on July 13, 2026 with $50 million in new funding, released on a first-come, first-served basis through participating lenders. Florida Housing estimates this round will last roughly 7 to 8 months, into early 2027, though the actual pace depends on demand. Since the program launched in 2022, it has distributed roughly $386 million to about 25,000 Florida families. Because reservations pause once a round's funds are committed, it's worth getting pre-qualified now rather than waiting for the next funding announcement.

Check current funding status and get pre-approved

Florida Assist and Florida HLP: Down Payment Help for Everyone Else

If you don't qualify for Hometown Heroes, whether because of profession or income slightly over the cap, these two programs are the fallback, and they're open to any first-time buyer in Florida who meets the income and credit requirements.

Florida Assist (FL Assist)

• Up to $10,000 for down payment or closing costs
• 0% interest, deferred second mortgage, no monthly payments
• Repaid when you sell, refinance, or the home stops being your primary residence

Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP)

• Up to $10,000, structured as a second mortgage
• 3% fixed interest, amortized over 15 years, roughly $69 a month on the full $10,000
• Balance due in full if you sell, refinance, or move

Both can be paired with either the Bond or TBA (non-bond) version of the first mortgage. Your lender will help you pick whichever combination gets you the lowest total cost.

County and City First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Florida

On top of the state programs, most Florida counties, including South Florida counties like Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach, and Central Florida counties around Orlando, run their own down payment assistance through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership, known as SHIP. These are often stackable with the state programs above. A few examples:

These figures vary by year and funding availability, and this table is a sample, not the full list of Florida's 67 counties.

Is There a Florida First-Time Home Buyer Bond Program?

Yes, though "Bond" refers to how the first mortgage is funded, not a separate assistance program. Florida Housing offers both Bond loans, funded through tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds with household income limits, and TBA or Non-Bond loans, funded through the open market with borrower-only income limits. Which one you get depends on your income makeup and household size, and it's typically decided by your loan officer during pre-qualification rather than something you choose upfront.

How to Apply for a First-Time Home Buyer Program in Florida

1. Check your credit. Most programs require a 640+ score. Pull your report early so you have time to fix errors.
2. Get pre-qualified with a Florida Housing approved lender to see which programs you fit, and confirm your county's current income and price limits.
3. Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Required for nearly every program.
4. Shop with your buying power in mind. Use a buy ability calculator to set a realistic price range before you fall for a house outside your county's limit.
5. Apply for down payment assistance alongside your mortgage application. It's processed together, not separately, once you have a signed contract.
6. Close. Your assistance funds are applied at closing; you won't see the cash directly.

Start your pre-qualification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first-time home buyer program in Florida?

Florida doesn't have one single program. It's a combination of a base 30-year fixed mortgage through Florida Housing, plus optional down payment assistance such as Hometown Heroes, Florida Assist, or FL HLP, plus whatever your specific county offers through SHIP funding.

What are the qualifications for a first-time buyer program in Florida?

Generally: no home ownership in the past three years, a credit score of 640 or higher, household income under your county's limit, and completion of a homebuyer education course. Exact requirements vary depending on which specific program you use.

Is there a Florida first-time buyer program for 2026?

Yes. All figures on this page reflect the current 2026 cycle. Hometown Heroes reopened on July 13, 2026 with $50 million in funding, expected to last into early 2027. Check current availability before applying, since funding can be committed before a round's expected end date.

How much down payment assistance can I get in Florida?

Up to $35,000 through Hometown Heroes if you qualify by profession, or up to $10,000 through Florida Assist or FL HLP if you don't. County programs can add more on top in some cases.

Is the Hometown Heroes program still active?

Yes, as of 2026, with a new $50 million round that opened July 13, 2026. Funding is released in cycles and reserved first come, first served through participating lenders, so timing matters.

Do I have to repay Florida's down payment assistance?

Florida Assist and Hometown Heroes are deferred, 0% interest second mortgages, not grants. You repay the amount, with no interest and no growth, when you sell, refinance, or stop using the home as your primary residence. FL HLP is a 3% interest loan you pay monthly. Some county grant programs genuinely don't require repayment, so check the specific program.