Buying in Jacksonville or Duval County? You may be able to combine a local city grant with up to $35,000 in statewide assistance.
Written by Renzo Johnson, Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · Sourced from the City of Jacksonville and Florida Housing Finance Corporation · Last updated: June 2026
Duval County buyers have two layers of down payment help: a local City of Jacksonville program funded through state SHIP dollars, plus the statewide Florida Housing programs that work in every county. They can often be combined.
Jacksonville and Duval County local assistance
The City of Jacksonville’s Head Start to HOME Ownership (H2H) program provides down payment and closing-cost assistance to first-time buyers, funded through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP).
| Assistance | Up to $25,000 (more may be available in some cases, subject to annual funding) |
| Structure | Deferred second mortgage, no monthly payment |
| Income limit | At or below 80% of Duval County AMI (about $57,400 for one person, rising with household size) |
| Requirements | First-time buyer, primary residence, minimum $500 buyer contribution, homebuyer education |
| Administered by | City of Jacksonville Housing Services (904-255-8241) |
Funds are limited and program terms change each cycle, so confirm current availability with Jacksonville Housing Services before you shop.
Statewide programs you can also use in Duval County
- Hometown Heroes: up to $35,000 for full-time workers in 50+ eligible occupations
- Florida Assist: up to $10,000, 0% deferred second mortgage
- HFA Preferred: conventional loan with reduced mortgage insurance plus assistance
- Mortgage Credit Certificate: up to $2,000/year federal tax credit
See the full breakdown on our Florida down payment assistance guide, and the 2026 Duval County loan limits for how much you can borrow.
How to get started
Most programs require first-time buyer status (no ownership in the past 3 years), a HUD-approved homebuyer education course, and a participating lender. Request a free eligibility check and we’ll map the Jacksonville and statewide programs you qualify for.
Sources: City of Jacksonville Housing and Community Development (jacksonville.gov) and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (floridahousing.org), 2026. Local funding is limited and allocated each cycle; verify current terms with the administering office.