Down payment assistance

Down payment assistance in Florida

2 programs can help buyers in Florida with a down payment and closing costs. Most are for first-time buyers with moderate incomes and are used with a participating lender.

Check which programs fit your situationDown payment assistance finder

Florida Housing FL Assist

Open · Deferred loan

$10,000

A 0% second loan with no monthly payment, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first mortgage (it isn’t forgiven). Used with a Florida Housing 30-year fixed first mortgage.

Who qualifies: First-time buyers; Florida Housing income and price limits; a Florida Housing first mortgage through a participating lender.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation · Agency website → · Not yet confirmed by us: check the agency’s site for current amounts and rules.

Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program

Funding rounds · Deferred loan

5% of the first mortgage, from $10,000 to $35,000

A 0% second loan with no monthly payment for down payment and closing costs, repaid when you sell, refinance or stop living in the home. Funded by the state each year; the 2026 funds became available July 13, 2026 and are first come, first served.

Who qualifies: First-time buyers who work full-time for a Florida-based employer; household income up to 150% of area median income; a Florida Housing first mortgage.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation · Agency website → · Not yet confirmed by us: check the agency’s site for current amounts and rules.

How assistance usually works

Most programs are a second loan with no monthly payment that is forgiven over time or repaid when you sell or refinance, and some are grants. You usually need a program first mortgage from a participating lender, a homebuyer education course and income under the program’s limit. Apply before you make offers, so your pre-approval reflects the help.

Program amounts and rules change often. Confirm the details on each agency’s site before you rely on them.