Updated November 2026. Every Florida Housing down payment program for first-time buyers, how each one is repaid, who qualifies, and where it fits in the buying process. Florida Housing, NAR, VA and CFPB pages read November 1, 2026.
Florida first-time home buyer down payment assistance in 2026 comes mostly from Florida Housing: FL Assist (up to $10,000 at 0%, deferred), the FL HLP second ($12,500 at 3%), HFA PLUS grants of 3% to 5% forgiven over five years, and Hometown Heroes (5% of the loan, $10,000 to $35,000). Each works only with Florida Housing’s own first mortgage.
Found a home? Beycome’s buyer program has no upfront fee and can stack with assistance as a closing credit, if your lender approves.
Jump to: 💲 The programs · ✅ Who qualifies · 🎖️ Hometown Heroes · 🔁 Repayment · 📍 County help · 🪜 Steps · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Florida Housing’s programs need a 640 credit score, an approved homebuyer course, a participating lender, and price and income under county limits.
- Only the HFA PLUS second is forgiven; FL Assist, FL HLP and Hometown Heroes are repaid when you sell, refinance or move out.
- Hometown Heroes covers health care, school, first responder, court, child care and military workers employed by a Florida-based employer.
- Nationally, first-time buyers put a median 10% down, and 22% used gifts or loans from family (NAR, 2025 Profile). If family is helping, check how much parents can give for a down payment.
Down payment help changes the math for a first home more than almost anything else. This page sticks to Florida: what’s on offer, the strings attached, and when to bring it up. For the general buying steps anywhere, see our essential tips for first-time home buyers. For life after the keys, read the first-time buyer’s guide to caring for your new home.
What down payment assistance does Florida offer first-time buyers?
Florida Housing Finance Corporation runs the statewide programs. Each one is a second mortgage that sits behind a Florida Housing 30-year fixed first mortgage. None of them is offered on its own.
| Program | Amount | Terms | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|
| FL Assist | Up to $10,000 | 0%, no monthly payment, not forgiven | FHA, VA, USDA and conventional first mortgages |
| FL HLP second mortgage | $12,500 | 3%, monthly payment, 30-year term | Florida Housing first mortgages |
| HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS | 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan | Forgiven 20% a year over 5 years | Conventional HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage first mortgages only |
| Hometown Heroes | 5% of the first mortgage, $10,000 min, $35,000 max | 0%, 30-year deferred, not forgiven | FHA, VA, RD and conventional first mortgages |
The FL HLP payment counts in your debt-to-income ratio, Florida Housing notes, so it can shrink the loan you qualify for. The others don’t add a monthly bill. For a broader look at loans with little or nothing down, our guide to buying without a down payment covers VA and USDA too.
Who qualifies for Florida Housing down payment help?
Florida Housing lists the same core rules for its homebuyer loan program:
- A minimum credit score of 640.
- A participating lender, found through its Lender and Real Estate Agent Locator.
- An approved homebuyer education course, finished before closing.
- A purchase price and household income under the limits for your county.
- First-time buyer status under the IRS definition.
That last rule is looser than it sounds. You count as first-time if you haven’t owned and occupied a primary residence in the three years before the purchase. Someone who sold a condo four years ago and has rented since can qualify again. The home must be where you’ll live.
Credit under 640? Work on it first; our guide on repairing credit to buy a house lists what moves a score fastest. And our checklist of six things to go over before buying for the first time covers the budget side.
Who is eligible for Florida Hometown Heroes in 2026?
The Hometown Heroes program offers the largest amounts of the statewide programs, though it’s a loan, not a gift. For 2026 Florida Housing limits it to full-time workers at a Florida-based employer in these groups:
- Health care workers.
- School staff members.
- First responders, public safety and court employees.
- Child care workers.
- Active servicemembers and reservists, the Coast Guard, and the Florida National Guard.
- Veterans employed full-time by a Florida-based employer.
Buyers must be first-time and income-qualified, and the program has its own 2026 income and loan limits. Besides the 5% second mortgage, Florida Housing lists reduced upfront fees and no origination or discount points. One warning from its page: applying costs nothing. Anyone charging a fee to apply is a scam, and Florida Housing asks buyers to report it to its Inspector General.
The program page doesn’t say whether funds are open on a given day, so ask a participating lender when you apply.
How is Florida down payment assistance repaid?
This is the part most buyers skip. Take a $350,000 home bought with an FHA loan at 3.5% down: a $337,750 base loan and $12,250 down.
| Program | Help on this loan | What happens later |
|---|---|---|
| FL Assist | Up to $10,000 | Full $10,000 due when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage or move out |
| Hometown Heroes (5%) | $16,888 | Full amount due on sale, refinance, transfer or move-out |
| HFA PLUS (5%) | Not available on FHA | Needs a conventional HFA first mortgage; forgiven 20% a year |
Sell in year six with Hometown Heroes, and $16,888 comes out of your sale proceeds. With HFA PLUS on a conventional loan, nothing is owed after five years. So if you expect to move within a few years, the forgivable option can be worth a conventional first mortgage. Florida loan types are compared in our FHA vs conventional loan Florida guide.
Budget for the rest too. Assistance covers the down payment and closing costs, not your monthly life. Car repairs, childcare, medical expenses and the rest don’t stop when you buy a house.
Are there county and city programs in Florida?
Yes, and they’re worth a call. Through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), Florida Housing sends funds to all 67 counties and 55 cities, with at least $350,000 per county. Down payment and closing cost help is one of the allowed uses, and at least 65% of SHIP money must go to homeownership.
Each local office sets its own amounts, income tiers and waitlists in a local housing assistance plan. Some local programs can be combined with Florida Housing’s, some can’t. Your participating lender knows which pairings work in your county. Look up your county’s SHIP office before you start touring.
Federal options sit alongside. The VA says nearly 90% of its backed loans are made with no down payment, which may make assistance unnecessary for eligible veterans.
When do you apply for assistance in the buying process?
1. Check eligibility. Compare your income with your county’s limit and confirm your score is 640 or more.
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On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →2. Take the homebuyer course. Florida Housing requires an approved one. Do it early so it can’t hold up your closing.
3. Pick a participating lender and get pre-approved. Assistance is reserved through the lender, not by you directly. Each lender must send a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application, per the CFPB. In Florida, Beycome Mortgage’s first-time home buyers page covers Florida Housing programs, down payment and credit.
4. Shop within the price limit. Your county’s purchase price cap applies. Our look at the Florida condo loan requirements matters if a condo is your entry point, and our tips on choosing the right property list what to look for.
5. Make an offer and inspect. Ask for a seller credit if the market allows. Our guide to the fixes that make or break a sale shows what inspections usually find.
6. Close. The second mortgage is signed at closing with the first. Read both on the Closing Disclosure. Our guide to closing costs has the full list, and Beycome Title handles closings in Florida and Texas, with Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana starting November 2, 2026.
Do you need a buyer’s agent to use assistance?
No, it’s not required; it’s your choice. Florida Housing’s locator lists both lenders and real estate agents who know the programs. NAR’s 2025 Profile found 88% of buyers used an agent or broker, and first-time buyers were 21% of all buyers, with a median age of 40.
Our buyer program is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents, with no upfront fee. Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. On a $400,000 home where the seller offers 3%, that’s $8,000 back. Rules on buyer credits vary by state, and assistance programs may limit how much cash you can get back at closing, so check with your lender.
That 3% is only an example: commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are negotiable, sellers choose whether to offer buyer-agent compensation, and since August 17, 2024 those offers can’t be shown on the MLS. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers.
Florida down payment assistance: questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Florida?
Up to $10,000 with FL Assist, $12,500 with FL HLP, 3% to 5% of the loan with HFA PLUS, or 5% of the loan ($10,000 to $35,000) with Hometown Heroes, per Florida Housing.
Who counts as a first-time home buyer in Florida?
Florida Housing uses the IRS rule: you haven’t owned and occupied a primary residence in the three years before the purchase.
What credit score do I need for Florida Housing programs?
At least 640. Lenders can ask for more, and your score still affects your loan terms.
Do I have to pay back Florida down payment assistance?
Usually yes. FL Assist, FL HLP and Hometown Heroes are repaid when you sell, refinance or move out. Only the HFA PLUS second is forgiven, at 20% a year over five years.
Is the Florida Hometown Heroes program available in 2026?
Florida Housing lists a 2026 program with 2026 income and loan limits. Its page doesn’t show funding status, so ask a participating lender whether money is open.
Can I use down payment assistance on a condo?
Often, if the condo meets the first mortgage’s rules, such as HUD approval for FHA. Price limits still apply.
Do I need a real estate agent to buy my first home?
No, it’s not required; it’s your choice. 88% of buyers used one in NAR’s 2025 Profile. Both paths can work.
Can I get assistance without Florida Housing’s first mortgage?
Not from Florida Housing; its help isn’t offered as stand-alone assistance. County and city SHIP programs set their own rules.
Program terms from Florida Housing’s homebuyer overview, Hometown Heroes and SHIP pages, read November 1, 2026; programs change terms and funding during the year. Dollar examples are our arithmetic; confirm with a participating lender. General information, not financial or legal advice.
Buyer program: no upfront fee; Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of any buyer-agent commission offered at closing, subject to lender approval; not available on most FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers. Commission figures are examples only. Rules on buyer credits vary by state.
Beycome Mortgage LLC, NMLS #2523620, is licensed in Florida only; using it is never required for the buyer credit. Beycome Title: Florida and Texas today; Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana starting November 2, 2026.
Sources
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Homebuyer overview, read November 1, 2026.
- Florida Housing, Hometown Heroes Program, read November 1, 2026.
- Florida Housing, State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), read November 1, 2026.
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Homebuyer programs, read November 1, 2026.
- NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers release, read November 1, 2026.
- VA, VA-backed home loans, read November 1, 2026.
- CFPB, What is a Loan Estimate?, read November 1, 2026.
- CFPB, Loan-to-value ratio, read November 1, 2026.
- Beycome, buyer program terms, November 2026.
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