Who this is for
Down payment assistance (DPA) helps Florida buyers cover the down payment and closing costs that often stand between them and a first home. Most programs are aimed at first-time buyers with moderate incomes, and most come as a second mortgage alongside your first mortgage.
Florida down payment assistance programs
Florida Hometown Heroes
- A deferred second mortgage toward down payment and closing costs, paired with a Florida Housing first mortgage. It's repaid when you sell, refinance, transfer the home or pay off the first mortgage.
- For first-time buyers who work full-time for a Florida-based employer in eligible fields (such as health care, schools, public safety, courts and child care), plus active-duty service members and veterans (F.S. 420.5096). Income and purchase-price limits apply by county. Full rules are in the Hometown Heroes guide.
- Funding is limited. Each year's state funding has run out in past cycles, sometimes within months. Check whether funds are available before you plan around it.
Florida Housing first mortgages and DPA seconds
- First mortgages: Florida First (FHA, VA and USDA) and HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage (both conventional, with reduced mortgage insurance).
- Florida Assist (FL Assist): a deferred second mortgage for down payment and closing costs, repaid on sale, refinance, transfer or payoff of the first.
- HFA Preferred PLUS / HFA Advantage PLUS: a second mortgage paired with those conventional firsts that is forgiven over time if you stay in the home.
Local county & city programs
- Many Florida counties and cities run their own DPA funded by SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership). Rules and amounts vary by location, so check with the housing office for the county you're buying in.
Assistance is usually a second loan, not a gift. Most Florida DPA is a deferred or forgivable second mortgage. Know what triggers repayment, and how it fits your plans if you might sell or refinance in a few years.
How to qualify
- First-time buyer (generally, no ownership interest in a primary home in the last 3 years) for most programs. Some exceptions apply.
- Income at or below the program's county limit.
- Purchase price within the program's county limit.
- Minimum credit score set by the program, and lenders may require more.
- Homebuyer education course - a certified class is required by most programs.
- Primary residence in Florida.
- A participating lender. Florida Housing programs are available only through lenders on its participating-lender list, so ask early whether a loan can use them.
FAQ
Do I have to pay back down payment assistance in Florida?
Usually yes, but not right away. Hometown Heroes and Florida Assist are deferred second mortgages, repaid when you sell, refinance, transfer the home or pay off your first mortgage. HFA PLUS seconds and some local programs are forgiven over time if you stay in the home.
Am I eligible for Florida Hometown Heroes?
It's limited by law to first-time buyers who work full-time for a Florida-based employer in eligible occupations, plus active-duty military and veterans (F.S. 420.5096). You also need to meet the county income and price limits, the credit minimum, and complete a homebuyer education course. Florida Housing publishes the current occupation list and limits.
Can I combine assistance with an FHA or VA loan?
Often, yes. Florida Housing's seconds must be paired with a Florida Housing first mortgage from a participating lender, which can be FHA, VA, USDA or conventional depending on the program. Local programs set their own rules on which first mortgages they accept.
Is there a minimum credit score for down payment assistance?
Yes. Each program sets a minimum, and the first-mortgage lender may set a higher one. If you're close, a review of your credit report can show what would make the biggest difference.