Florida Housing pairs affordable first mortgages with several layers of down payment help — and its Hometown Heroes program has become one of the best-known assistance efforts in the country for frontline workers. Funding moves fast, though, so timing matters here.
This guide covers what is actually available to first-time buyers in Florida in 2026 — the agency behind these programs, the loans and down payment help on offer, who qualifies, and how to apply. For the wider local picture, see our Florida first-time home buyer guide.
The Florida Housing and its home loan programs
Florida’s first-time buyer programs are run by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing). Like most housing finance agencies, it does not lend directly — instead it offers below-market first mortgages, bundled with down payment help, through a network of approved local lenders. Its main first-mortgage options are:
- Florida First — 30-year fixed FHA, VA, or USDA loan
- HFA Preferred & HFA Advantage — conventional options with lower mortgage insurance
- Salute Our Soldiers — for active military and veterans
Most of these can be built on top of an FHA, VA, or USDA loan, or a conventional loan, depending on the product you pick — and the real value comes when you pair one with the down payment assistance below.
Down payment assistance in Florida
Down payment assistance is the heart of what Florida Housing offers, and Florida gives buyers more than one way to get it. Florida stacks a first mortgage with a choice of second-mortgage assistance products, from a $10,000 deferred loan to the larger Hometown Heroes second.
- Florida Assist (FL Assist) — deferred second at 0% interest, up to $10,000, repaid on sale, refinance, or payoff.
- HFA Preferred/Advantage PLUS — forgivable second (20% forgiven per year over 5 years), 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan amount.
- Florida Hometown Heroes Second Mortgage — deferred second at 0% interest, up to 5% of the loan, roughly $10,000–$35,000 (funding is appropriated annually and can run out).
If those terms are unfamiliar, our national guide to down payment assistance explains exactly how grants, forgivable second mortgages, and deferred loans differ — and what each one means when you eventually sell or refinance.
How much help could you get?
Imagine a $320,000 purchase in Florida. The PLUS forgivable second at 5% would provide about $16,000, forgiven a fifth at a time over five years so that staying five years wipes it out entirely. A frontline worker using Hometown Heroes could tap up to 5% of the loan as a deferred second, but that program’s funding is set each year and has been fully committed early in past cycles — so confirm current availability with Florida Housing before you count on it.
Who qualifies in Florida?
Every program sets its own rules, and they change periodically, but the common requirements in Florida look like this:
- Income limits. Income limits are set by county; Hometown Heroes uses a higher cap of 150% of area median income.
- First-time status. Most programs require first-time status, though Hometown Heroes has broader eligibility for qualifying workers.
- Credit score. A minimum score of 640 is standard. Our guide to credit score requirements covers what moves the needle.
- Homebuyer education. A homebuyer education course is required.
- Purchase price limits. County purchase-price limits apply.
Florida programs worth knowing about
Beyond the standard offerings, Florida aims extra help at specific buyers and places. Watch for:
- Florida Hometown Heroes — for eligible frontline workers including teachers, first responders, nurses, and military
- Salute Our Soldiers — for active-duty military and veterans
Mortgage Credit Certificates in Florida
Florida Housing has offered a Mortgage Credit Certificate in the past, but availability has varied and it is not always paired with current loan products — verify with Florida Housing. A Mortgage Credit Certificate is a federal tax credit worth a percentage of the mortgage interest you pay every year for the life of the loan, and where it is available it can usually be combined with the assistance above — putting money back in your pocket each tax season.
How to apply for Florida assistance
- Set your budget first. Our home affordability guide helps you land on a realistic price range before you start shopping.
- Complete a homebuyer education course. Nearly every Florida program requires one, and it is usually free and available online.
- Find a participating lender. Not every lender originates Florida Housing loans, so ask directly which Florida Housing programs a lender offers and have them run your numbers against a few.
- Get pre-approved and lock in the right program for your income, credit, and target home before you make an offer.
One important note: Florida Housing program funding and terms change from year to year, and some assistance rounds close when the money runs out. Always confirm current amounts and availability directly with Florida Housing before you count on a specific figure. Our first-time home buyer checklist keeps the rest of your process on track.
Florida first-time buyer programs FAQ
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get assistance in Florida?
Most programs require first-time status, though Hometown Heroes has broader eligibility for qualifying workers.
What credit score do I need for Florida Housing programs?
A minimum score of 640 is standard. Keep in mind a program’s own minimum can sit above the loan’s floor, so confirm the exact number with your lender.
Can I use Florida assistance with an FHA, VA, or USDA loan?
Yes. Florida Housing assistance is built to layer on top of a first mortgage, and FHA, VA, and USDA loans are common partners because their own down payment requirements are already low. Your lender structures both pieces so they close together.
Is Florida Hometown Heroes still available?
Hometown Heroes is funded by an annual appropriation, and in recent years the money has been fully committed early in the cycle. That does not mean it is gone — funding is typically renewed — but availability at any given moment depends on the current round. Always confirm live status and the current assistance cap directly with Florida Housing before building it into your plans.
City guides for Florida
Several Florida metros run their own local down payment programs on top of the statewide help above. See our city guides for Miami.
More Florida city guides
Buying in a specific Florida metro? See our first-time buyer guides for Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa, each covering the city’s own local down payment programs.
Looking specifically for grants in Florida?
If you want to zero in on grant and forgivable money — the help you do not pay back — see our focused guide to first-time home buyer grants in Florida.