Florida Down Payment Assistance Programs (2026): A First-Time Buyer's Guide

Florida down payment assistance is the most useful tool most first-time buyers have never fully explored. Between the state's programs and the ones run by our own counties, a qualified buyer can cover much or all of the down payment and closing costs it takes to get into a first home. This guide breaks down the main programs, who qualifies, and the loans they pair with, with single parents and lower-income buyers specifically in mind. One caution first: program amounts and income limits change often, sometimes every July, so treat the figures here as current for 2026 and confirm the details with a lender before you rely on them.

Key takeaways

• The state agency, Florida Housing, offers down payment help as a second mortgage on top of an FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first loan, and requires a 640 credit score plus a homebuyer education course.
• Florida Assist gives up to $10,000 at 0 percent, deferred; Hometown Heroes gives eligible workers 5 percent of the loan, from $10,000 up to $35,000.
• Our counties add their own help: Broward and Palm Beach up to $100,000, and Miami-Dade up to $35,000, as deferred zero-interest second mortgages.
• The zero-down loan paths are VA (veterans) and USDA (rural areas like Okeechobee and Highlands); FHA needs 3.5 percent down and conventional HomeReady or Home Possible need 3 percent.

Florida's state programs (Florida Housing)

Florida Housing is the state's housing finance agency. Its down payment assistance always comes as a second mortgage paired with one of its 30-year fixed first mortgages, originated through an approved lender. Across the board you generally need to be a first-time buyer (meaning you have not owned a primary residence in the past three years, with exceptions for veterans and certain targeted areas), have a minimum 640 credit score, complete a homebuyer education course, and stay under your county's income and purchase-price limits.

The main assistance options are:

• Florida Assist: up to $10,000 as a 0 percent, deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. It is not forgivable, so it is repaid when you sell, refinance, or move out.
• HFA Advantage PLUS: 3, 4, or 5 percent of the loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage on the conventional path, forgiven at 20 percent per year over five years.
• Florida Homeownership Loan Program: up to $12,500 at a low fixed rate with a small monthly payment (around $53), which counts toward your debt-to-income ratio.

Because these core products never run out of funds, they are a dependable base to build on. To see what a payment would look like once you factor assistance in, run our mortgage calculator and the mortgage qualifier.

Hometown Heroes, for essential workers

The Hometown Heroes Housing Program is Florida's flagship workforce program, and it is more generous than the standard options. It provides 5 percent of the first mortgage amount, a minimum of $10,000 and up to $35,000, as a 0 percent deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. It is not forgivable and is repaid on sale, refinance, or move-out.

The catch is that it is limited to eligible occupations, not all first-time buyers. More than 50 professions qualify, including teachers and school staff, law enforcement, firefighters and first responders, paramedics and EMTs, healthcare workers, and childcare employees, along with active military and veterans. Buyers generally need to be full-time Florida employees, under the county's 150 percent area-median-income limit, and have a 640 credit score. Veterans are exempt from the first-time-buyer rule. The important caveat is funding: Hometown Heroes is first-come, first-served and has repeatedly run out of money mid-year, so it has to be checked in real time rather than assumed.

Low-down-payment loans these programs sit on

Down payment assistance is a second layer. Underneath it is your actual mortgage, and the loan type sets how little you can put down.

• USDA: zero down for homes in eligible rural areas, which includes much of Okeechobee, Highlands, and other inland parts of our region. Household income generally must be at or below 115 percent of the area median.
• VA: zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses.
• FHA: 3.5 percent down with a credit score of 580 or higher, which makes it a common choice for buyers rebuilding credit, including many single parents.
• Conventional HomeReady and Home Possible: 3 percent down for lower-income first-time buyers, with reduced mortgage insurance.

Pair a 3 percent conventional or 3.5 percent FHA loan with state or county assistance, and the out-of-pocket cash to close can shrink dramatically. A lender can tell you which combination you qualify for, which is why the first step is almost always to get pre-approved.

County programs in our service area

Our counties run their own purchase-assistance programs, usually funded by the state SHIP program and federal HOME dollars, layered on top of a first mortgage. Like Hometown Heroes, these are first-come, first-served and funding-limited, so timing matters.

• Broward County offers up to $100,000 as a 0 percent, deferred second mortgage over 15 years for households below 120 percent of area median income, with a sale-price cap and a required buyer contribution.
• Palm Beach County offers 0 percent deferred second mortgages, with the most generous tiers reaching up to $100,000 for qualifying moderate-income households.
• Miami-Dade County offers up to $35,000 as an interest-free deferred second mortgage for first-time buyers under income limits, with shared-equity resale terms.
• St. Lucie, Martin, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Indian River each administer their own SHIP-funded assistance; terms vary by year, so contact the county housing office directly.

Who qualifies, in plain terms

A few themes run through almost every program. First-time buyer usually means you have not owned a primary residence in three years, and veterans are often exempt. Income limits are expressed as a percentage of area median income and adjusted for household size, which is exactly how these programs reach single parents and modest-income households. There are purchase-price caps, a homebuyer education course is almost always required, and the assistance is a second mortgage on top of your main loan. Above all, funding is limited on the county programs and Hometown Heroes, so applying early in the cycle and moving quickly after approval genuinely affects whether you get help.

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 and Hometown Heroes up to $35,000. County programs can go higher: Broward and Palm Beach up to $100,000 and Miami-Dade up to $35,000, all as deferred zero-interest second mortgages.

Do you have to repay Florida down payment assistance?

Usually yes, but not on a monthly basis. Most state and county help is a 0 percent deferred second mortgage repaid when you sell, refinance, or move out. Some options, like HFA Advantage PLUS, are forgivable over five years.

Can a single parent get help buying a home in Florida?

Yes. These programs are income-based, which is exactly how they reach single-parent and modest-income households. Pairing an FHA or 3 percent conventional loan with state or county assistance is a common path.

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

Florida Housing programs generally require a minimum 640 credit score plus a homebuyer education course. FHA loans on their own can go lower, to 580 for 3.5 percent down.

Want to know which programs you actually qualify for? The fastest first step is to get pre-approved, and a Pure Equity Realty agent can connect you with a lender who works with Florida's assistance programs. When you are ready, browse homes for sale across South Florida.