Florida First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Assistance

Florida first-time buyer programs open now

Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) is the state's housing finance agency (homebuyer programs page). It runs 4 down payment or closing-cost assistance programs. IRS definition: has not owned AND occupied a primary residence in the 3 years prior to purchase;

• Florida Assist (FL Assist). Terms: 0% interest, non-amortizing, deferred second mortgage; not forgivable. Due on sale, transfer, satisfaction/refinancing of the first mortgage, or when the borrower stops occupying the property Must pair with: A Florida Housing first mortgage loan (FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional) - not available as a standalone down payment product Homebuyer education: required Program page
• Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage. Terms: 3%, fully-amortizing, 30-year term second mortgage carrying its own monthly payment (must be factored into DTI) Must pair with: A Florida Housing first mortgage loan Homebuyer education: required Program page
• HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage. Terms: Forgivable second mortgage, forgiven at 20% per year over a 5-year term Must pair with: Florida Housing's conventional HFA Preferred for TBA or HFA Advantage for TBA first mortgage products only Homebuyer education: required Program page
• Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program. Terms: 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage; not forgivable. Due upon sale, refinancing of the first mortgage, transfer of deed, or when the borrower stops occupying the home as primary residence. Also offers reduced first-mortgage interest rates and reduced/no origination or discount points. Must pair with: An FHA, VA, RD (USDA), or Conventional first mortgage from a Hometown Heroes-participating lender Program page

City and county programs in Florida

Local governments run their own down payment funds on top of the state programs. These can be combined with a state loan in most cases; each has its own income limit and area.

• Miami-Dade County: Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program. Up to $35,000. Deferred second loan. Income limit: Under $95,620 (1 person) to under $136,500 (4-person household);. First-time buyers only. Official page

How little you can put down

You do not need 20% down. Conventional loans go as low as 3% (through programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible), FHA loans start at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can require nothing down. On Florida's median-priced home (about $416,800), 3% down is roughly $12,504. Putting 20% down lets you skip private mortgage insurance, but most first-time buyers put down far less.

Who counts as a first-time buyer

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years, so many repeat buyers qualify again. Florida programs often add income and purchase-price limits, which is another reason to confirm the details with Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

Stack a buyer rebate on top in Florida

Down-payment assistance and a buyer commission rebate are two different things, and in Florida you can use both. Assistance from Florida Housing Finance Corporation helps with your down payment and closing costs; a buyer rebate returns about 2% of the price to you at closing (roughly $8,336 on a median-priced home), which can cover much of your closing bill.

See Florida buyer rebates →   See Florida closing costs →

You may qualify for more help in your county

City and county governments in Florida run their own down payment programs on top of the state ones, and most can be combined with a state loan. Each county page lists the local programs, income limits and local closing costs alongside the state programs:

• Broward County: local help up to $120,000
• Hillsborough County: local help up to $10,000
• Miami-Dade County: local help up to $200,000
• Orange County: local help up to $70,000
• Palm Beach County: local help up to $100,000

Official sources

• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing)
• Florida Housing - Hometown Heroes Program
• Miami-Dade County - Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: down payment options and how to prepare

Florida program details last verified against Florida Housing Finance Corporation on September 11, 2026.