Florida Housing’s first-time homebuyer programs
Many first-time homebuyer programs sponsored by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) offer down payment assistance and competitive interest rates on 30-year mortgages for new homeowners who qualify.
The FHFC partners with lenders to offer fixed-rate mortgages. Eligible participants can also choose a Florida Housing second mortgage program to help with a down payment and closing costs.
Income limits, purchase price caps, credit score minimums and other eligibility requirements vary by county. You can review the down payment assistance programs and contact a participating lender from the FHFC website.
» LEARN: First-time homebuyer benefits
FHFC down payment assistance options
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) offers several down payment assistance programs that can help new homebuyers purchase their first home. These programs come in the form of second mortgages, which are deferred for a set period or until you sell the home. Some options are even forgivable if you qualify.
Down payment assistance eligibility in Florida
To qualify for Florida Housing’s down payment assistance programs, you must:
- Have a minimum credit score of 640
- Work with a participating program lender
- Complete an approved homebuyer education class
- Keep your purchase price below the limit for your county
- Maintain an income below the limit for your county
- Meet the IRS definition of a first-time homebuyer
» LEARN: How to qualify for a mortgage
Florida Assist
Florida Assist (FL Assist) offers a deferred second mortgage with a 0% annual percentage rate (APR) to help pay for your down payment and closing costs. You can borrow up to $10,000 with Federal Housing Administration (FHA), VA, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and conventional loans.
The loan is nonamortizing, meaning you won’t accrue interest or make payments unless you move, are evicted or refinance. The loan isn’t forgivable. Repayment is deferred but still required when you sell the home or no longer occupy it. In some cases, your second mortgage may also become due if you pay off your first mortgage.
Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program
The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program provides down payment assistance, low-rate mortgages and reduced fees for income-qualified employees of Florida-based businesses. It is also available to military service members and veterans.
You can borrow up to 5% in down payment assistance in the form of a 0%, nonamortizing deferred second mortgage. This means you won’t have any payments on the loan, and it becomes due when you sell your home, refinance or no longer occupy the property as your primary residence. This loan isn’t forgivable.
Florida Homeownership Loan Program second mortgage
The Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) offers a fully amortized second mortgage with a 3% APR to help pay for your down payment and closing costs. You can borrow up to $12,500 to purchase a home.
The 3% loan is fully amortized over a 30-year period, meaning you’ll make monthly payments in addition to your first mortgage. If you sell the home, refinance or move out before the 30 years are up, the remaining balance will become due at that time.
FL HLP second mortgages aren’t forgivable, and the monthly payment may need to be considered in your debt-to-income ratio when qualifying for your home mortgage.
Forgivable second mortgages
The Housing Finance Authority (HFA) Preferred and HFA Advantage second mortgage programs offer up to 5% in forgivable down payment assistance for the purchase of your first home. You must use Florida Housing’s conventional HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage first mortgage products to qualify.
As with other down payment assistance programs, income limits and home price limits apply, depending on the county where you are looking to buy a home.
The second mortgage is forgiven at a rate of 20% per year for the first five years of your mortgage. After five years, the loan is completely forgiven.
» COMPARE: Best mortgage lenders for first-time buyers
Local homebuyer assistance programs
City and county Housing Finance Authorities (HFAs) and other local government agencies in Florida offer programs that provide affordable housing and down payment assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers in specific counties.
As an example, the Home Key Plus Second Mortgage program, which launched in May 2026, offers up to $10,000 in down payment assistance in Pinellas County and up to $7,500 in Pasco and Polk counties.
The assistance comes as a 0% interest, non amortizing, deferred second mortgage. This loan is not forgivable and must be repaid if you sell or refinance the home, pay off the first mortgage, rent it out or move out.
These programs can be used with FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development and conventional loans. The down payment assistance program has income limits that vary by county, and you must take a first-time homebuyer education class to qualify.
Other Florida jurisdictions with similar program as of publishing include:
- Boca Raton
- Brevard County
- Broward County
- Charlotte County
- Collier County
- Coral Springs
- Daytona Beach
- Deltona
- Deerfield Beach
- Escambia County
- Flagler County
- Gainesville
- Homestead
- Jacksonville
- Lake County
- Miami
- Miami-Dade County
- Miramar
- North Miami
- Orange County
- Osceola County
- Palm Bay
- Palm Beach County
- Pasco County
- Pensacola
- Plantation
- Pompano Beach
- Tampa
If your city or county isn’t listed, contact your local HFA or check this list of Florida programs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to learn about what assistance is available in your area. Local housing programs often run on limited grants or allocations, so they may pause or cease accepting applications when they run out of funding.
Homebuyer education classes
You'll be required to take a homebuyer education class if you use most first-time homebuyer or down payment assistance programs in Florida. These education classes must be approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and completed prior to obtaining down payment assistance.
The classes cover the homebuying process, how to get approved for a mortgage, how to shop for lenders and how to maintain your home. The goal is to help new homebuyers feel comfortable with the responsibility and financial burdens of homeownership.
In Florida, each county has a list of HUD-approved classes available, but there are also a few companies that offer online classes, including:
- eHome America
- HomeTrek
- National Foundation for Debt Management (free course with code “flnj”)
Target areas and income requirements
Most first-time homebuyer programs have target areas and income requirements that determine eligibility for down payment assistance. Income parameters vary by program, but an income below 80% of the area median is typical.
Florida first-time homebuyer programs can be statewide, or their target areas may be more specific. Some programs are only available in specific counties or cities. Others may be available only within specific parts of a city or county, often identified by census tract number.
FAQ
What is the $7,500 first-time homebuyer grant in Florida?
The Florida Assist program used to offer a $7,500 grant for qualified first-time homebuyers, but recently, the amount has increased to $10,000. Borrowers can get a second mortgage with 0% APR worth up to $10,000 to help pay for a down payment and closing costs. The program can be used with FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans and comes with income and home price limits.
How do I qualify for the first-time homebuyer grant in Florida?
To qualify for Florida’s first-time homebuyer grant, you must use an HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage mortgage through Florida Housing. Your income and the price of the home must fall within the limits set for your county. If you qualify, you’ll receive a second mortgage with no interest that will be forgiven after five years of on-time payments.
What is the $35,000 down payment assistance program in Florida?
Florida’s Hometown Heroes program offers up to $35,000 in down payment assistance for eligible borrowers employed by Florida-based businesses. The $35,000 is provided as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments. However, the full amount must be repaid when you sell the home, refinance or no longer occupy the home as your primary residence.
How can I apply for Florida’s first-time homebuyer programs?
To apply for Florida’s first-time homebuyer programs, start by choosing a participating lender from Florida Housing’s approved list. The lender will help you understand eligibility, income limits and credit score requirements. The lender will guide you through applying for your mortgage and discuss any down payment assistance that might be available to you.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, “Homebuyer Overview.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, “Hometown Heroes.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “Homeownership Assistance Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Pinellas County, “Housing Finance Authority First-Time Homebuyer Program.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Boca Raton, “SHIP Purchase Assistance Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Brevard County, “Purchase Assistance Program.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Broward.org, “Home Buyer Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Charlotte County, “Housing Services.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Collier County, “Buying a Home.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Coral Springs, “Purchase Assistance.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Daytona Beach, “Affordable Home Ownership.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Deerfield Beach Florida, “Housing & Grants.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Deltona, “Housing & Community Development.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Escambia County, “Homebuyer Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Flagler County, “Home Buying Assistance.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Gainesville, “Down Payment Assistance.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency, “Grants & Incentives.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Jacksonville.gov, “Housing Services.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Lake County, “SHIP Home Ownership Assistance.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Miami, “Apply for First-Time Homebuyer Program.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Housing Finance Authority of Miami-Dade County, “Homebuyers.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Miramar, “Housing.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- North Miami Florida, “First-Time Homebuyer.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Orange County Government, “Homebuyer Program.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Orange County Housing Finance Authority, “Homebuyers Resource.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Osceola County, “Housing Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Palm Bay, “Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Palm Beach County Housing Authority, “Homebuyers’ and Renters’ Page.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Pasco County, “Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA).” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Pensacola, “Home Buyer Programs.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Plantation, “Housing & Grants.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- Pompano Beach, “First Time Home Buyer.” Accessed May 25, 2026.
- City of Tampa, “Dare to Own the Dream (DARE).” Accessed May 25, 2026.
