Statewide programs at a glance
| Program | Assistance | Repayment |
|---|---|---|
| FL Assist | Up to $10,000 | Deferred second mortgage. Not forgivable; repaid on sale, refinance, transfer or when the home stops being the primary residence. |
| FL HLP Second Mortgage | $10,000 | Repayable second mortgage with scheduled monthly payments. Ask for current rate, APR, repayment term, fees and eligibility; the payment affects qualifying debt-to-income. |
| HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS | A percentage of the loan amount (3%, 4% or 5% options) | Second mortgage paired with specific first-mortgage products. Confirm current terms. |
| Hometown Heroes | Up to 5% of the first mortgage, $35,000 maximum | Deferred second mortgage for eligible workforce occupations, when funded. See our guide. |
Programs are administered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation through participating lenders and its first-mortgage programs. Amounts and availability change; confirm before relying on them.
Who typically qualifies
- First-time homebuyers, generally defined as no ownership interest in a primary residence in recent years, with some exceptions.
- Household income and purchase price within the county limits Florida Housing publishes.
- Credit, debt-to-income and first-mortgage requirements of the paired loan program.
- Completion of an approved homebuyer education course.
- The home must be the buyer’s primary residence.
Many counties and cities also run local assistance funded through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program, with their own rules and waiting lists.
Compare with and without assistance
Ask for two written scenarios on the same property: one with assistance and one without. Compare cash to close, monthly payment, mortgage insurance, rate and the remaining second-mortgage balance you will owe when you sell or refinance.
- Assistance can solve an upfront cash problem while adding a future obligation.
- Assistance-paired first mortgages may carry different pricing than other options.
- Programs generally cannot all be combined. Hometown Heroes, for example, is generally not stacked with FL Assist or FL HLP.
- Funding must be reserved for the transaction; a program web page is not proof funds are available today.
Questions clients ask
Is down payment assistance a grant?
Usually not. Most Florida Housing assistance is a second mortgage that is deferred or repaid monthly. Read the repayment terms before you rely on it.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Most statewide programs require it, with some exceptions. Bring your homeownership history to the conversation.
Can a seller credit be used with assistance?
Often, within the first mortgage program’s limits. Assistance and seller credits must both fit the program rules.
Sources and editorial information
Published by The Rice Financial Group. Editorial update: November 10, 2026. How we prepare our resources.
- Florida Housing: homebuyer programs overview
- Florida Housing: Hometown Heroes program
- CFPB: Buying a house
Educational information, not an approval, rate quote or commitment to lend. Program rules, pricing and availability can change. Confirm the requirements for your borrower, property and transaction with the mortgage team.
Make the information personal.
Tell us what you are planning and where you need clarity. You do not need to be ready to apply to ask a question.
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