How much down payment help can I get in Florida as a first-time buyer?

When funding is available, the Hometown Heroes program offers up to $35,000 (5 percent of the loan, $10,000 minimum) as a 0 percent deferred second mortgage for eligible workers, and Florida Assist plus county SHIP funds can add more. The terms are set by Florida Housing, but funding comes in rounds and does run out — confirm current availability before you count on it.

Who counts as a first-time buyer in Florida?

For most of these programs, someone who has not owned a primary residence in the past three years — so you can qualify again even if you owned a home long ago. Veterans are often exempt from the first-time requirement.

First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Florida (2026)

First-time home buyer programs in Florida.

Florida runs some of the most generous down-payment assistance in the country through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation — but the funding is limited and first-come, first-served. If you are buying your first home in Central Florida, it is worth knowing what is out there before you assume you cannot afford to.

The short answer: Florida's Hometown Heroes program offers eligible workers up to $35,000 in down payment and closing-cost help, and programs like Florida Assist add more — usually as a deferred second mortgage you do not pay monthly. County SHIP funds can sometimes stack on top.

Hometown Heroes

Through Florida Housing, this provides up to 5 percent of the loan amount (a $10,000 minimum, $35,000 maximum) as a 0 percent-interest deferred second mortgage — no monthly payment, repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. You generally must be a first-time buyer (no primary-residence ownership in the past three years; veterans are exempt), work full-time for a Florida employer in an eligible occupation, meet your county's income limit, and have a qualifying credit score. Funding is limited and runs out, so timing matters.

Other paths

Florida Assist offers a smaller down-payment second mortgage, and many counties run their own SHIP-funded assistance that can layer with state programs. FHA, VA, and USDA first mortgages each have their own low- or no-down-payment options that pair with these.

The honest caveat

Program funding, income limits, and eligible occupations change — often more than once a year. Treat the figures above as a 2026 starting point and confirm current availability with Florida Housing or a participating lender before you count on it. I help first-time buyers line this up alongside the part most people forget: insurance and the CDD and HOA costs that decide your real payment.

Reviewed and updated August 15, 2026 by Sherlyn Arauma, Licensed Florida Broker & Property Manager. Facts last verified August 12, 2026 against the sources listed.