Orlando mortgage loans sit in the easiest county in Florida to stack assistance, because county, city and state money together can clear $100,000.
Written by Renzo Johnson, Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · Figures from HUD, Orange County and the City of Orlando · Last updated: August 2026
Orange County sits on the standard Florida loan floor, so the ceiling is modest. However, the assistance is not, because three separate layers operate here at once. Notice that your income band, rather than the purchase price, sets the size of each award.
What you can borrow in Orange County
- FHA on a single family home: $541,287, the standard floor that covers 51 Florida counties
- FHA on a duplex: $693,050, for buyers who will occupy one of the two units
- Conforming: $832,750, the 2026 baseline before jumbo pricing applies
Because that FHA floor sits well under the conforming limit, plenty of Orlando buyers should price a conventional loan alongside FHA. Therefore run both before you choose.
Down payment assistance for Orlando mortgage loans
| Program | Maximum assistance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County DPA, income tiered | $70,000 very low, $40,000 low, $10,000 moderate | 0% deferred or forgivable second mortgage |
| Orange County SHIP | Up to $35,000 | The county funds this annually, and it can run dry |
| City of Orlando program | Up to $45,000 | Within Orlando city limits |
Notice that none of these hand you cash. Instead the county records a deferred or forgivable second mortgage against the property. In addition, each program asks for first-time buyer status, which means no ownership in the past three years.
Statewide programs you can stack in Orlando
- Hometown Heroes: up to $35,000 for full-time workers in 50+ eligible occupations
- Florida Assist: up to $10,000 as a 0% deferred second mortgage
- HFA Preferred: a conventional loan with reduced mortgage insurance
Since the money runs on annual cycles, apply early. Meanwhile the full terms sit on our Orange County down payment assistance page.
How to get started
First get pre-qualified, because none of these programs will reserve funds without a lender letter. Then confirm your income band, since it decides which tier you land in. Finally, request a free Orlando mortgage quote and we will map every layer you qualify for.
Sources: HUD and the FHFA 2026 loan limits, Orange County, the City of Orlando and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Local funding runs in cycles, so verify current terms with the administering office.