Florida Down Payment Assistance in 2026
Down Payment Assistance Florida 2026 programs help first-time and repeat buyers cover the upfront cash that stops many people from closing on a home. The state’s main programs run through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), and most pair a first mortgage with a second mortgage that pays your down payment, your closing costs, or both. This guide covers the active 2026 state programs, their amounts, who qualifies, and how they stack with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans, plus a timely funding update: the flagship Florida Hometown Heroes program relaunches on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST with $50 million in new funding, reserved first-come, first-served through participating lenders. Read the funding status section so you can reserve early.
Every dollar figure below is tied to an official source with an access date, listed in the Sources section. Program amounts and county caps change, so confirm current numbers with a participating lender before you apply.
Florida State Down Payment Assistance Programs (FHFC)
Florida Housing does not hand out cash directly. You apply through an approved lender who originates an FHFC first mortgage and layers the down payment assistance on top as a second mortgage. The four programs below are the ones most Florida buyers use.
| Program | Structure | Maximum Assistance | Interest | Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hometown Heroes | Deferred, non-amortizing second mortgage | 5% of first mortgage; minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000 | 0% | Repaid on sale, refinance, deed transfer, first-mortgage payoff, or when it stops being your primary residence |
| FL Assist | Deferred second mortgage | Up to $10,000 | 0% | Due on sale, refinance, payoff, or move-out |
| Florida HLP Second Mortgage | Repayable amortizing second | Up to $10,000 | 3%, 15-year term | Monthly payment (~$69/mo on $10,000); remaining balance due on sale, refinance, or payoff |
| HFA Preferred Plus | Forgivable second mortgage | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan amount | 0% | Forgiven 20% per year over 5 years; unforgiven balance due if you sell, refinance, or pay off early |
Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program
Hometown Heroes is built for Florida residents who work full time in a qualifying occupation from Florida Housing’s eligible-occupations list, which covers more than 100 jobs including teachers, nurses and other healthcare workers, law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders, childcare workers, and active-duty military. Only one borrower on the loan needs to hold a qualifying occupation, and veterans are exempt from the occupation requirement entirely. Qualified buyers can get a zero-interest, non-amortizing deferred second mortgage worth 5% of the first mortgage amount, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000, to use for the down payment and closing costs. Because it is a loan and not a grant, you repay it in full when you sell, refinance, transfer the deed, pay off the first mortgage, or stop living in the home as your primary residence.
Funding status (2026): The Florida Hometown Heroes program relaunches Monday, July 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST with $50 million in new funding. Reservations are made through participating FHFC lenders on a first-come, first-served basis, and Florida Housing expects this round to last roughly seven to eight months before the money is fully reserved. Because demand is high, reserve early: get pre-approved with a Florida Housing-participating lender ahead of the reopen and confirm current availability with them, since funds can be committed well before the cycle formally closes.
FL Assist
FL Assist is the workhorse down payment and closing-cost program for FHFC first mortgages. It provides up to $10,000 as a zero-interest deferred second mortgage. There is no monthly payment. The balance comes due when you sell the home, refinance, pay off the first mortgage, or move out. FL Assist is the most common pairing for buyers who do not qualify for Hometown Heroes or who apply once Hometown Heroes funds are fully reserved for the round.
Florida HLP Second Mortgage
The Florida Homeownership Loan Program (HLP) provides up to $10,000, but unlike FL Assist it is a repayable second mortgage. It carries a 3% interest rate and is amortized over 15 years, so you make a fixed monthly payment (roughly $69 a month on a $10,000 balance). Because it adds a monthly obligation, your lender counts that HLP payment in your debt-to-income ratio, which can affect how much first mortgage you qualify for.
HFA Preferred Plus
HFA Preferred Plus pairs a conventional first mortgage with down payment and closing-cost assistance of 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total loan amount. Unlike the deferred FHFC seconds, this assistance is a zero-interest forgivable second mortgage: it is forgiven at 20% per year over five years, so if you stay in the home for five years you owe nothing. If you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage before the five years are up, the unforgiven balance comes due.
Salute Our Soldiers
Salute Our Soldiers was a dedicated military down payment assistance program, but as of 2022 its benefits were folded into Hometown Heroes, which now serves active-duty military, veterans, and qualifying surviving spouses. Treat Salute Our Soldiers as part of Hometown Heroes rather than a separate active product, and confirm the current structure with a Florida Housing-participating lender.
Eligibility Requirements for Florida DPA
The state programs share most of the same gates:
- Credit score: Minimum 640 for FHFC programs.
- First-time buyer status: Generally required, defined as not having owned a primary residence in the past three years. This is waived for qualifying veterans and for buyers purchasing in federally designated targeted areas.
- Primary residence: The home must be your primary residence. Investment properties and second homes do not qualify.
- Homebuyer education: You must complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course before closing. These typically cost $50 to $100 and take several hours.
- Income and purchase-price caps: County-specific income and purchase-price limits apply, and they vary widely across Florida. Confirm your county’s current limits through your FHFC lender.
- Approved lender: You must work with a lender approved by Florida Housing.
Federal Loan Limits and Down Payment Rules for 2026
Down payment assistance only matters once you know how big a loan you can get and how much you have to put down. Here are the 2026 federal numbers that apply in Florida.
Conforming (conventional) loan limits
For 2026, the FHFA baseline conforming loan limit for a one-unit property is $832,750, up $26,250 from 2025. The high-cost ceiling for a one-unit property is $1,249,125, which is 150% of the baseline. Most Florida counties use the baseline limit. Conventional programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible allow as little as 3% down, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) can be canceled once you reach 78% loan-to-value.
FHA loan limits
For FHA loans, the 2026 one-unit limit is $541,287 in most Florida counties. High-cost coastal counties are higher: the one-unit limit is $667,000 in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and $990,150 in Monroe County (the Florida Keys), the highest in the state. FHA allows down payments as low as 3.5% with a credit score of 580 or higher. FHA loans carry an upfront mortgage insurance premium and an annual MIP, which most Florida DPA buyers pay because FHA plus state DPA is the most common combination.
VA loans and the VA funding fee
VA loans offer eligible veterans and service members zero down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance. They do charge a one-time VA funding fee, unchanged for 2026:
| Situation | VA Funding Fee |
|---|---|
| First use, 0% down | 2.15% |
| Subsequent use, 0% down | 3.3% |
| 5% to under 10% down | 1.5% |
| 10% or more down | 1.25% |
| Veteran with a VA disability rating of 10% or higher | Exempt |
VA loans pair well with Florida DPA: the DPA can cover closing costs while the VA loan covers the zero-down purchase. Hometown Heroes, which absorbed the former Salute Our Soldiers military program in 2022, is well suited to military buyers, and veterans are exempt from its occupation requirement.
USDA loans
USDA loans offer zero down in eligible rural and suburban areas, with income generally capped around 115% of area median income. DPA can be used toward closing costs. Confirm compatibility with your lender, because not every DPA pairs with USDA.
Combining DPA With Your Mortgage
| Loan Type | Minimum Down | How DPA Helps | Mortgage Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA | 3.5% | Most common pairing; DPA covers down payment and/or closing costs | Upfront + annual MIP |
| VA | 0% | DPA covers closing costs | None |
| Conventional (3% programs) | 3% | DPA covers down payment and/or closing costs | PMI until 78% LTV |
| USDA | 0% | DPA covers closing costs | Guarantee fee |
A few realities to plan for: deferred second mortgages (Hometown Heroes, FL Assist) become due when you refinance or sell, so they can complicate an early refinance. Forgivable seconds (HFA Preferred Plus) can claw back if you sell before the forgiveness schedule finishes. Repayable seconds (HLP) add a monthly payment that counts against your debt-to-income ratio. And you still need cash reserves; DPA rarely covers every cost of closing.
How to Apply for Florida Down Payment Assistance
- Reserve Hometown Heroes early. The 2026 round reopens July 13, 2026 with $50 million on a first-come, first-served basis. If you work in an eligible occupation, it is usually the largest benefit, so get pre-approved with a participating lender ahead of the reopen. If funds for the round are fully reserved, move to FL Assist or HLP.
- Confirm your county income and purchase-price limits through an FHFC lender, since they are county-specific.
- Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Keep the certificate; it is required before closing.
- Find an FHFC-participating lender and get pre-approved. Apply for the first mortgage and the DPA second together.
- Budget for remaining closing costs and reserves that DPA will not cover. Run the numbers with a closing cost calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum down payment assistance in Florida for 2026?
The largest single state program is Hometown Heroes, at 5% of your first mortgage with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000. FL Assist and HLP each cap at $10,000, and HFA Preferred Plus provides 3% to 5% of the loan amount as a forgivable second.
Is the Florida Hometown Heroes program open in 2026?
The 2026 round reopens Monday, July 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST with $50 million in funding, offered first-come, first-served through participating lenders and expected to last about seven to eight months. Reserve early and confirm current availability with a Florida Housing-participating lender, because funds can be committed before the cycle formally closes.
What credit score do I need for Florida down payment assistance?
FHFC programs require a minimum 640 credit score. FHA financing itself can go as low as 580, but the state DPA layer sets the 640 floor.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Generally yes, defined as not owning a primary residence in the past three years. This is waived for qualifying veterans and for purchases in designated targeted areas.
Do I ever have to pay the assistance back?
It depends on the program. FL Assist and Hometown Heroes are deferred zero-interest seconds, due when you sell, refinance, or move out. HFA Preferred Plus is forgivable over five years. The HLP second is repayable with a monthly payment at 3% over 15 years.
Can I combine DPA with an FHA or VA loan?
Yes. FHA plus state DPA is the most common combination in Florida, and VA plus DPA lets you buy with zero down while DPA covers closing costs. Your lender must participate in both programs.
Do I have to work a specific job to qualify for Hometown Heroes?
Hometown Heroes uses an eligible-occupations list covering more than 100 jobs. Only one borrower on the loan needs to hold a qualifying occupation, and veterans are exempt from the occupation requirement entirely.
What are the 2026 FHA loan limits in Florida?
The 2026 FHA one-unit limit is $541,287 in most Florida counties, $667,000 in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, and $990,150 in Monroe County.
By the AskDoss Mortgage Editorial Team. Reviewed for accuracy against official 2026 federal and Florida Housing program sources on July 8, 2026. This article is general information, not personalized lending or financial advice. Program amounts, county caps, and funding availability change; confirm current details with a Florida Housing-participating lender before applying.
Related guides
- National down payment assistance guide
- Full Florida Hometown Heroes program details
- California DPA programs
- Texas down payment assistance
- Georgia Dream program
- Arizona Home Plus assistance
- North Carolina neighboring-state programs
- Estimate Florida closing costs
- How much house you can afford
- 2026 FHA loan requirements
- Zero-down buying strategies
- USDA loans in rural Florida
Sources
- FHFA, 2026 Conforming Loan Limit Values: https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-conforming-loan-limit-values-for-2026 (accessed 2026-06-20)
- HUD, FHA 2026 Loan Limits (HUD No. 25-145): https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-25-145 (accessed 2026-06-20)
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Down Payment Assistance: https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/homebuyer-overview-page/down-payment-assistance (accessed 2026-06-20)
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Hometown Heroes program page: https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/homebuyer-overview-page/hometown-heroes-program (accessed 2026-07-08)
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Hometown Heroes 2026 funding relaunch (July 13, 2026, $50M) (accessed 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA funding fee rates: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/funding-fee-and-closing-costs/ (accessed 2026-06-20)