Fort Lauderdale mortgage loans reach a $667,000 FHA limit, and Broward County funds the largest local down payment award in Florida at up to $80,000.
Written by Renzo Johnson, Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · Figures from HUD, the FHFA and Broward County · Last updated: August 2026
Broward shares the Miami metro limit with Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. Because it sits above the Florida loan floor, the county also funds a far larger assistance award than most of the state manages.
What you can borrow in Broward County
- FHA on a single family home: $667,000, shared with Miami-Dade and Palm Beach
- FHA on a duplex: $853,900, for owner-occupied two-unit purchases
- Conforming: $832,750, and above that a loan becomes jumbo
Notice the gap. A Fort Lauderdale buyer between $667,000 and $832,750 has passed the FHA ceiling but remains conforming. Therefore a conventional loan usually wins in that band, so check your figure before you settle on a program.
Down payment assistance for Fort Lauderdale mortgage loans
| Program | Maximum assistance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Homebuyer Purchase Assistance | Up to $80,000, and up to $120,000 in higher-cost areas such as Weston | 0% deferred second, 15-year affordability period, income at or below 80% AMI, 3% buyer contribution except on VA |
| Broward Housing Partnership | $5,000 to $25,000 | Grants and forgivable loans, varying by program |
Both programs ask for first-time buyer status, a homebuyer education certificate and lender approval. However, the county allocates this money once a cycle, so it often runs out before the year ends. Therefore apply early if you can.
Two costs that catch Broward buyers
Broward is one of four Florida counties where the buyer, rather than the seller, customarily pays for the owner’s title policy. First, add that to your closing estimate. Second, windstorm and flood premiums sit inside the ratio that sets your loan size, which makes an early insurance quote worth more here than a rate quote.
How to get started
First finish a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Then get pre-qualified, because the county will not reserve funds without a lender. Finally, request a free Fort Lauderdale mortgage quote and we will map the county award against Hometown Heroes and the rest. Meanwhile the full terms sit on our Broward down payment assistance page.
Sources: HUD and the FHFA 2026 loan limits, Broward County Housing and Urban Planning Division and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Local funding runs in cycles, so verify current terms with the administering office.