Up to $35,000 toward your down payment and closing costs, as a 0% interest loan with no monthly payment, for the Florida workers who keep our communities running.
Written by Renzo Johnson, Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · Program details from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation · Last updated: August 2026
The Florida Hometown Heroes program is the state’s largest down payment assistance program, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation runs it. It helps full-time workers in essential occupations buy a primary home in the community they serve. Because the 2026 eligibility list now covers more than 50 professions, it reaches far beyond first responders.
The Florida Hometown Heroes program at a glance
| Assistance amount | 5% of the first mortgage, up to $35,000, with a $10,000 minimum; loans of $200,000 or less automatically receive $10,000 |
| Structure | 0% interest, non-amortizing second mortgage with no monthly payment; you repay it only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage |
| Income limit | At or below 150% of your county’s area median income, roughly $143,000 to $195,000 depending on county and household size |
| Minimum credit score | 640, rising to 660 for manufactured homes |
| First-time buyer? | Yes for most applicants, meaning no ownership in the past 3 years; active-duty military and veterans skip this rule |
| Eligible counties | All 67 Florida counties |
| Works with | FHA, VA, USDA and conventional first mortgages through a participating lender |
Who qualifies
You must work full-time, meaning at least 35 hours a week, for a Florida-based employer in one of 50+ eligible occupations. Broad categories include:
- Education: teachers, school staff and childcare workers
- Healthcare: nurses, technicians and other medical professionals
- Law enforcement, firefighters and first responders
- Active-duty military, reserves and veterans, who face no first-time-buyer requirement
- Skilled trades and many other essential community roles
Only one borrower on the loan needs an eligible occupation. However, the state revises this list periodically, so a quick eligibility check confirms your status faster than reading the current version.
How to apply
- First, complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course.
- Then get pre-qualified with a Florida Housing-approved participating lender.
- Choose your first mortgage, whether FHA, VA, USDA or conventional, since Hometown Heroes layers on top of it as the second mortgage.
- Apply early in the funding cycle, because the state funds this program annually and it can run out mid-year.
Stacking with other help
Hometown Heroes is one piece of the picture. For everything else available, see our Florida down payment assistance guide, then pair it with a Mortgage Credit Certificate for annual tax savings. Also check the 2026 Florida loan limits to see how much you can borrow. Ready to start? Request a free eligibility check, or read the official terms at Florida Housing.
Source: Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Hometown Heroes Housing Program, 2026 terms. The state allocates this funding annually and it runs out, so confirm current availability and your county’s exact income and purchase-price limits with a participating lender.