Florida First-Time Home Buyer Programs: 2026 Guide

Yes, Florida offers real first-time home buyer programs, and most run through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The main tools are the Florida Assist second mortgage of up to $10,000 at 0% interest with no monthly payments, the Florida Hometown Heroes program offering up to 5% of the first mortgage amount capped at $35,000, and the Florida Assist and HFA Preferred/Advantage down-payment options that provide 3% to 5% of the loan amount [1][2][3]. Statewide, these programs require a minimum 640 credit score, a HUD-approved homebuyer education course, and county income and purchase-price limits [2][3]. In Miami-Dade, where prices sit well above the state average, this assistance is often the difference between renting and owning for buyers looking at condos in Brickell or townhomes farther from the core.

Last updated: July 2026

Florida Housing Finance Corporation: the core programs

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) is the state agency that runs Florida's down-payment and closing-cost assistance. Its assistance is paired with a Florida Housing first mortgage and delivered through approved lenders. Across the board, the programs require a minimum 640 credit score, completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course, and household income and purchase price within published county limits [2][3].

The assistance itself comes as a second mortgage layered behind your primary loan. Some versions are deferred and repaid only on sale, refinance, or move-out; others are forgivable over time. The right combination depends on your credit, income, and the price of the home, which is exactly the conversation to have with a Florida Housing-approved lender early.

Florida Assist (FL Assist)

Florida Assist is a deferred second mortgage of up to $10,000 [2]. It carries 0% interest and requires no monthly payments, and the balance becomes due only when you sell, refinance, or stop using the home as your primary residence [2]. Because it does not amortize, it functions as a bridge that lets you keep more of your own cash at closing.

HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage down payment assistance

Paired with Florida Housing's HFA Preferred (conventional) or HFA Advantage first mortgage, this option provides 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan amount toward down payment and closing costs as a forgivable second mortgage, forgiven at 20% per year over five years [3]. Same statewide requirements apply: 640 minimum score, homebuyer education, and county income and price limits [3].

Florida Hometown Heroes: what changed

Hometown Heroes is the program buyers ask about most, and its rules have shifted. It provides down-payment and closing-cost assistance of up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, capped at $35,000, to first-time, income-qualified buyers, with a $10,000 minimum [1]. Eligibility was broadened so that it is no longer limited to specific frontline occupations. It is now open to first-time, income-qualified buyers employed full-time by a Florida-based employer [1].

The catch in 2026 is funding, not eligibility. Hometown Heroes is funded in cycles, and demand has repeatedly exhausted the money quickly. Florida Realtors reported that a recent $50 million cycle was fully committed within about six months, helping more than 3,000 families, and an additional $50 million tranche was slated to become available around mid-July 2026 [1]. If you are counting on Hometown Heroes, the practical move is to get pre-approved with a Florida Housing-approved lender ahead of a funding opening, because availability, not qualification, is usually the binding constraint.

Salute Our Soldiers: the military program

For active-duty service members, reservists, guard members, and veterans, Florida Housing runs the Salute Our Soldiers program. It pairs a Florida Housing first mortgage, which can be a government loan such as VA, with down-payment and closing-cost assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount, and is available in all 67 Florida counties [4]. The assistance follows the same deferred structure as Florida Assist, repaid on sale, refinance, or move-out, and the same 640 minimum credit score generally applies [4].

What every applicant needs

Three requirements run through nearly all of these programs, and it is worth confirming each before you shop:

A minimum 640 credit score on the qualifying programs [2][3].
A HUD-approved homebuyer education course completed before closing [2][3].
Household income and purchase price within your county's published limits, which vary across Miami-Dade [2][3].

Because the limits and funding change, treat any figure here as a starting point and verify current numbers directly with Florida Housing or an approved lender. When you are ready to map programs to specific homes and neighborhoods, we can do that in a buyer consultation, and if you already own and are planning a move up, a listing valuation shows where you stand today.

Frequently asked questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Florida?

It depends on the program. Florida Assist offers up to $10,000, the HFA Preferred/Advantage option offers 3% to 5% of the loan amount, and Hometown Heroes and Salute Our Soldiers offer up to 5% of the first mortgage capped at $35,000 [1][2][3][4].

Is Hometown Heroes still available in 2026?

Yes, but it is funded in limited cycles that fill quickly. A recent cycle committed fully within about six months, and additional funding was slated to open around mid-July 2026 [1]. Get pre-approved before a funding window opens.

Do I have to work in a specific job to use Hometown Heroes?

No longer. The program was expanded so it is open to first-time, income-qualified buyers employed full-time by a Florida-based employer, not just frontline occupations [1].

What credit score do I need for Florida down payment assistance?

Most Florida Housing programs require a minimum 640 credit score, along with a HUD-approved homebuyer education course and county income and purchase-price limits [2][3].

Can veterans get extra help?

Yes. Salute Our Soldiers pairs a Florida Housing first mortgage with up to 5% down-payment and closing-cost assistance for active-duty, reserve, guard, and veteran buyers, available in all 67 counties [4].

Gabriel

Sources

Gabriel A. Moyers, PA. eXp Realty. Florida License #3407280. Equal Housing Opportunity. This article is general information as of July 2026 and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify current figures against authoritative sources before acting.