Florida’s housing market can be volatile and varied across both urban and suburban areas. While home prices and availability differ by area, many buyers, especially first-timers, find that the initial costs of purchasing a home can add up quickly.
To help with upfront expenses, Florida offers a range of down payment assistance (DPA) programs that can make homeownership more accessible. Many of these programs are designed specifically to support first-time homebuyers, helping them overcome one of the biggest financial barriers to homeownership.
While this article doesn’t cover every possible option, we’ve highlighted some of the best and most readily available programs in the state. We’ll continue updating this page as programs evolve or new opportunities become available.
What Is AMI?
It's common for down payment assistance program guidelines to limit eligibility to applicants whose earnings fall within a certain range of the area median income (AMI). This helps to ensure that assistance is being provided to the buyers who need it most.
Example: You're looking to purchase a home in an area with an AMI of $90,500. The DPA program you're applying for allows income levels up to 140% AMI, meaning that you could earn as much as $126,700 and still potentially qualify.
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Statewide Down Payment Assistance Programs
Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) oversees the state’s primary down payment assistance options. These are available in most parts of the state through participating lenders.
Florida Assist (FL Assist)
Offered through the Florida Housing, the Florida Assist Program provides up to $10,000 as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage to help cover your down payment and closing costs. There are no monthly payments, and the loan is only due when you sell, refinance, or move out of the home.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer with a minimum credit score of 640, meet income and purchase price limits for your county, complete an approved homebuyer education course, and use a Florida Housing-approved lender. Assistance must be paired with a Florida Housing first mortgage loan.
HFA Preferred/Advantage PLUS
The HFA Preferred/Advantage PLUS provides 3%, 4%, or 5% of the loan amount in down payment and closing cost assistance as a forgivable second mortgage. Forgiven at 20% per year over a 5-year term when used with Florida Housing’s HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage first mortgage.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer with a minimum credit score of 640. Must meet county income and purchase price limits, complete an approved homebuyer education course, and work with a Florida Housing-approved lender. Must be used with a qualifying Florida Housing conventional first mortgage.
Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program
The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program offers up to 5% of the loan amount (max $35,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% interest, 30-year deferred second mortgage, repayable if the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer the primary residence.
Eligibility: First-time, income-qualified homebuyers in one of the specified occupations working full-time for a Florida-based employer and buying a home in the community they serve. Must use a Florida Housing first mortgage. Qualifying occupations include health care worker, school staff member, first responder, public safety or court employee, child care worker, military service member or veteran.
Down Payment Assistance Programs by County
Many counties in Florida offer generous Statewide Housing Initiatives Partnership- (SHIP-)funded down payment assistance for first-time buyers. These are often forgivable or deferred-payment loans.
Broward County Purchase Assistance
Broward County Purchase Assistance offers up to $100,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. The loan has a 15-year term and is repayable if the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer the buyer’s primary residence.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer, meet current income and purchase price limits, complete homebuyer education, and obtain lender approval. Property and funding restrictions vary by participating community.
Hillsborough County – Home Sweet Home Program
The Hillsborough County Home Sweet Home Program provides up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance throughout Hillsborough County. Assistance is a 0% interest, 30-year deferred second mortgage that is not forgiven and becomes repayable when the home is sold, refinanced, foreclosed on, or no longer owner-occupied.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer with a minimum 640 credit score and maximum 45% DTI. Must meet income limits, complete an approved homebuyer education course, use the home as a primary residence, and purchase a home within the program’s current sales price limit.
Palm Beach County SHIP Purchase Assistance
Palm Beach County SHIP Purchase Assistance offers up to $100,000 to income-eligible first-time homebuyers. Funds may be used for gap financing, lot acquisition, down payment, closing costs, eligible rehabilitation, and certain new-construction costs.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer, meet current income and purchase price limits, and purchase an eligible primary residence within Palm Beach County. Current program requirements and available funding apply.
Orange County Down Payment Assistance
Orange County Down Payment Assistance provides between $10,000 and $70,000 in down payment assistance, based on income.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer with income under 120% AMI and complete a homebuyer education course. Current program, lender, and property requirements apply.
Brevard County Purchase Assistance Program
The Brevard County Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $75,000 for very-low-income first-time homebuyers and up to $60,000 for low-income buyers. Assistance is provided as a second mortgage; for very-low- and low-income households, it is a 0% interest, deferred-payment loan.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer purchasing an eligible property in Brevard County, meet income limits, complete required homebuyer education, and obtain a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage. The program generally limits housing and total debt ratios to 34% and 42%, respectively, and requires a buyer contribution based on income.
Pasco County Down Payment Assistance Program
The Pasco County Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $65,000 for very-low-income first-time homebuyers and up to $50,000 for low-income buyers. Assistance is provided as a 0% interest, 30-year deferred second mortgage that is forgiven at the end of the term if the borrower continues to meet the program’s occupancy requirements.
Eligibility: Must generally have not owned a home within the previous 3 years, meet income limits, complete an approved homebuyer education course, use a participating lender, and purchase an eligible home within Pasco County. Buyer contribution and current purchase price limits apply.
Sarasota County SHIP Purchase Assistance Program
The Sarasota County SHIP Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $75,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible very-low- and low-income first-time homebuyers. Assistance is provided as a 0% interest, deferred loan that is forgiven at 5% per year over 20 years as long as the home remains the buyer’s primary residence and program requirements continue to be met.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer, meet income and program requirements, and purchase an eligible home in unincorporated Sarasota County or a participating community, including North Port, Venice, Osprey, Nokomis, or Englewood. The City of Sarasota is not included.
Down Payment Assistance Programs by City
Some Florida cities offer their own DPA programs, separate from county offerings. Here are a few worth noting.
City of Tampa – Dare to Own the Dream (DARE)
The Dare to Own the Dream Program offers up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% interest, deferred-payment loan for eligible first-time homebuyers. Fully forgivable after 20 years if the home remains owner-occupied.
Eligibility: Must purchase within Tampa city limits, complete homebuyer education, have minimum credit score of 600, and work with an approved lender. Household income must be at or below 140% of AMI, and the buyer must contribute at least $2,000. Income limits and purchase price limits apply.
City of Jacksonville – Head Start to HOME Ownership (H2H)
The Head Start to HOME Ownership provides up to $25,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible homebuyers.
Eligibility: Must meet current household income criteria, must not currently own a home, and intend to occupy the home as a primary residence. Applicants must be approved before signing a sales contract. The home must meet Section 8 Housing Quality Standards.
City of Lauderhill – Purchase Assistance Program
The City of Lauderhill Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $75,000 in down payment, closing cost, or principal reduction assistance as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage for eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing within Lauderhill city limits. Assistance and forgiveness terms vary by income level and funding source.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer purchasing a single-family home, townhouse, condo, or villa in Lauderhill. Applicants must meet very low, low, or moderate-income limits and plan to occupy the home as a primary residence.
This is a first-come-first-served program and sometimes runs out of funding.
City of Boca Raton – First-Time Homebuyer Program
The City of Boca Raton First-Time Homebuyer offers up to $190,000 in down payment, closing cost, and eligible rehabilitation assistance through a 0% interest, deferred loan forgivable after 20 years of owner occupancy. Loan amount is based on income tier.
Eligibility: Must be a first-time homebuyer purchasing within Boca Raton city limits, complete homebuyer education course, contribute at least 1% of the purchase price, and maintain $2,500 in assets for 3 months prior to applying. Applicants must meet income limits and property price limits.
City of Miami – First-Time Homebuyer Program
The City of Miami First-Time Homebuyer Program offers up to $130,002, based on bedroom count and need, to help eligible buyers with down payment, closing costs, and mortgage financing. Assistance is provided as a 0% interest, 30-year deferred-payment loan that is forgiven at the end of the term if the loan remains in good standing. Selling or transferring the home early can trigger repayment and equity-sharing requirements.
Eligibility: Must not have owned a home within the previous 3 years, have household income at or below 80% of AMI, purchase within the City of Miami, contribute at least $500 of personal funds, complete an approved homebuyer counseling workshop, and obtain a first mortgage through a participating lender. The current maximum sales price is $494,000.
What's Happening in the Florida Housing Market?
After surging demand and massive increases in value during the pandemic-era housing frenzy, many housing markets across Florida, including Naples, Vero Beach, and the Villages, are currently seeing prices retreat from their recent highs. Affordability remains a common issue across the state as increased property taxes and insurance costs stretch many homeowners' budgets thin.
Despite these challenges facing the Florida real estate market, some prospective buyers are finding opportunities for great deals, as sellers are outweighing buyers – sometimes drastically – in many locales. In Orlando, for example, recent data shows there are 1.63 sellers for every buyer, while Jacksonville trails only slightly with 1.61 sellers per buyer.
More Down Payment Assistance Programs
Here are additional programs not covered in the main sections above:
Statewide Programs
- Florida Homeownership Loan Program (HLP)
- Chenoa Fund (Nationwide program available in Florida)
County Programs
- Escambia County SHIP Program
- Leon County/Tallahassee SHIP
- Pinellas County Home Key Plus
- Miami-Dade County DPA
- Manatee County Down Payment Assistance Program
- Hernando County Purchase Assistance Program
- Lake County SHIP Home Ownership Assistance
- MDEAT Homeownership Assistance Program
- Polk County Housing Finance Authority Down Payment Assistance
City Programs
- City of Hollywood (via Broward)
- City of Pensacola SHIP
- Gainesville Down Payment Assistance Program
- City of Miami District 5 Expanded First-Time Homebuyer Program
- St. Petersburg Housing Down Payment Assistance Program
Final Thoughts
Florida offers one of the broadest ranges of down payment assistance options in the country, helping both first-time and repeat buyers get into homes with less cash upfront. Make sure to stay up to date with current mortgage rates and use our loan calculators to better understand your homebuying position. If you're looking to buy in Florida, don’t overlook these opportunities. They could save you tens of thousands of dollars.
Check with the organization directly for the most recent guidelines. While programs were fact-checked at the time of writing, requirements change often, and programs become unavailable when funds are exhausted.
