Florida down payment assistance at a glance
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) offers first mortgages paired with down payment and closing cost assistance through participating lenders, including a program for eligible local workers.
Want the full Florida breakdown? Our dedicated Florida guide covers programs, local options, and current details: visit the Florida DPA guide →
Statewide programs
Florida Hometown Heroes
Down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible first-time buyers in a wide range of occupations, offered as funding allows.
Florida Housing second-mortgage assistance
Deferred second-mortgage assistance paired with Florida Housing first mortgages for eligible buyers.
Florida Housing first mortgages
FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional first-mortgage options designed to pair with assistance.
Mortgage Credit Certificate
A federal tax credit option that has been available through Florida Housing for eligible buyers.
Program names, amounts, and eligibility change frequently and funding can pause. Always confirm current terms with a participating lender or the program administrator.
Local and city programs
Most Florida counties and many cities administer SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) funds for local down payment assistance. Amounts, income limits, and waiting lists vary by county.
What Florida buyers should know
- Homeowners insurance — and flood insurance in some zones — can significantly affect your payment. Get quotes early.
- Condominiums must meet the first mortgage's project requirements, which have tightened in Florida in recent years.
- Hometown Heroes funding has opened and closed in rounds; timing matters.
Next step
Matthew Brown is licensed in Florida and can check which statewide and local programs fit your income, credit, and the home you want to buy.