Tampa mortgage loans come with a decision most buyers never hear about, because the city line moves your down payment assistance by $35,000.
Written by Renzo Johnson, Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · Figures from HUD, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County · Last updated: August 2026
Hillsborough County sits on the standard Florida loan floor, so the ceiling here is easy to state. However, the assistance is not, because the City of Tampa and the county run separate programs with very different awards.
What you can borrow in Hillsborough County
- FHA on a single family home: $541,287, the standard floor that 51 Florida counties share
- FHA on a duplex: $693,050, which suits buyers who plan to live in one unit and rent the other
- Conforming: $832,750, and above that figure a loan becomes jumbo
Because the FHA floor sits well below the conforming limit, many Tampa buyers land in the band where a conventional loan beats FHA outright. Therefore compare both before you commit, using our FHA versus conventional guide.
Tampa mortgage loans and the city line
| Program | Assistance | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| City of Tampa, Dare to Own the Dream | Up to $50,000, which the city forgives after 20 years of owner occupancy | Inside Tampa city limits |
| Home Sweet Home Hillsborough | Around $15,000 as a 0% deferred second mortgage | Unincorporated Hillsborough County |
The city program asks for income at or below 140% of area median, a 600 credit score and a $2,000 contribution from you. As a result, two similar houses a mile apart can carry very different help. First confirm the address, then write the offer.
Statewide programs you can stack in Tampa
- 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
- Mortgage Credit Certificate: up to $2,000 a year as a federal tax credit
Since the local award and the state award close different gaps, most buyers use both. Meanwhile the full county terms sit on our Hillsborough down payment assistance page.
How to get started
First get pre-qualified. Then check whether your target address falls inside Tampa city limits, because that single answer is worth more than any rate shopping you will do this month. Finally, request a free Tampa mortgage quote and we will map the local award against the statewide programs.
Sources: HUD and the FHFA 2026 loan limits, the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Local funding runs in cycles, so verify current terms with the administering office.