Florida Housing Finance Corp
Florida Hometown Heroes
Up to 5% (max $35k) for full-time FL workforce professionals. FTHB required.
Accepting new reservations as of our last check.
Assistance amount
Up to $35,000 (about 5%)
Structure
Deferred second — repaid when you sell or refinance
Where it works
Florida statewide
First-time buyer required
Yes, in most cases
Minimum credit score
640
Funding status
Active · verified August 2026
Program overview
Hometown Heroes is Florida's occupation-based assistance program. If you work full time for a Florida-based employer in an eligible role — teaching, nursing, law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, childcare, and a long list of other frontline jobs — you can receive up to 5% of the first mortgage amount (capped) as a 0% deferred second mortgage toward your down payment and closing costs, plus a reduced first mortgage rate.
Best for: Florida buyers working in an eligible frontline or public-service occupation.
Who qualifies
- First-time buyer rule: You generally cannot have owned a primary residence in the last three years.
- Credit score: A 640 credit score is the usual floor. Some loan types inside the program require higher.
- Income limits: Income limits are set county by county at a percentage of area median income and are more generous in high-cost counties like Monroe and Miami-Dade.
- Purchase price limit: The home cannot exceed roughly $500,000.
- Occupancy: Primary residence only. You must be employed full time by a Florida-based employer.
- Eligible loans: FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional
- Occupation: Targeted at teachers, nurses, first responders, healthcare workers, government employees, veterans.
- Homebuyer education: Required before closing. Start it early — certificates take days to issue.
Do you pay it back?
0% deferred second, due at sale/refi
Check whether you qualify for Florida Hometown Heroes
The Finder compares your income, household size, credit band, county, and job to this program's published rules and tells you roughly what it is worth in dollars.
Advantages
- Covers a very wide list of occupations — far beyond teachers and first responders.
- Reduced first mortgage interest rate on top of the cash assistance.
- No monthly payment on the assistance; it is deferred.
- Veterans are exempt from the first-time buyer requirement.
Things to consider
- Funding is appropriated by the legislature and has run out mid-year before.
- You must document full-time employment with a Florida employer.
- The assistance is repaid on sale or refinance.
- Not every lender is approved to originate it.
How to apply
- Confirm your household income against the current limit for your county and household size.
- Find a lender approved by Florida Housing. You cannot use just any lender — the agency maintains a participating list.
- Get pre-approved on the first mortgage the program requires.
- Complete the homebuyer education course. Do this early; certificates take days to issue.
- Write the offer with the assistance disclosed and a realistic closing timeline.
Ask RED: “Explain Florida Hometown Heroes to me in plain English.”
Ask REDPairing it with a loan
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay Florida Hometown Heroes back?
0% deferred second, due at sale/refi
How much money does Florida Hometown Heroes provide?
Up to $35,000 (about 5%). The exact figure depends on your loan amount, the option your lender selects, and the funding available at the time you reserve.
What credit score do I need for Florida Hometown Heroes?
A 640 credit score is the usual floor. Some loan types inside the program require higher.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to use Florida Hometown Heroes?
Yes. You generally cannot have owned a primary residence in the last three years. Veterans and buyers in designated target areas are often exempt — ask the agency.
Which loans can I use with Florida Hometown Heroes?
FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional. The first mortgage has to come from a lender approved by Florida Housing — you cannot bring your own lender and add the assistance to it.
What are the income limits for Florida Hometown Heroes?
Income limits are set county by county at a percentage of area median income and are more generous in high-cost counties like Monroe and Miami-Dade.
Do I have to live in the home?
Primary residence only. You must be employed full time by a Florida-based employer.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance?
Most programs start at 620, some FHA-based programs go to 640, and a handful of manually underwritten paths accept 580. A higher score usually unlocks a larger assistance tier and a better interest rate.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Usually, but 'first-time buyer' almost always means you have not owned a home in the last three years — not that you have never owned one. Some programs waive it entirely for veterans, for buyers in targeted areas, or for certain professions.
Other programs Florida buyers can use
Chenoa Fund Down Payment Assistance
Chenoa Fund · Nationwide
Up to $25,000 (about 5%)
A nationwide 3.5% or 5% second mortgage that covers the entire FHA down payment, available in nearly every state.
Program detailsFlorida Housing HFA Preferred + Florida Assist
Florida Housing Finance Corp · Florida statewide
Up to $10,000
$10,000 in DPA as a 0% deferred second mortgage. Pairs with Florida Housing first mortgages.
Program detailsRelated resources
- The complete Florida homebuyer guide
- All Florida assistance programs
- How much home can I afford?
- FHA loan requirements
- Conventional loan requirements
- Run my Readiness Score
- Down Payment Assistance Finder
- How to use the DPA Finder (user guide)
- The Homebuyer's Knowledge Center
- Down payment assistance explained
- Ask RED a question
ReadinessIQ is a Homebuyer Readiness Platform, not the agency that funds these programs. We publish what the agencies publish, link to the official source, and tell you when a rule is likely to change. The agency and your lender make the final call on who qualifies.