The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program helps full-time essential workers, active-duty service members, and veterans buy their first home with up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through a 0% interest second mortgage.
Check Your Eligibility
Designed specifically for Florida’s frontline workforce and military, this program removes the biggest barriers to homeownership.
Receive 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance through a 0% interest, non-amortizing 30-year second mortgage.
Unlike other Florida Housing programs, Hometown Heroes eliminates the standard 1% origination fee — saving borrowers thousands of dollars in upfront closing costs.
Active-duty service members are exempt from the Florida employer requirement. Veterans discharged under honorable conditions qualify by working full-time in any occupation — not just eligible categories.
Minimum 640 FICO. Available with FHA, VA, USDA, and Freddie Mac HFA Advantage (conventional). 30-year fixed rate determined by Florida Housing. Maximum 50% DTI with automated underwriting.
See if you qualify for up to $35,000 in down payment assistance.
Check Your EligibilityThe program offers exceptional benefits, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s what to weigh.
The second mortgage is not forgivable — it becomes due in full upon sale, refinance, transfer of deed, payoff of the first mortgage, or if the borrower no longer occupies the property as their primary residence.
Income must not exceed county-specific maximum limits, generally capped at 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) — which may restrict higher-earning households.
Only borrowers employed full-time by a Florida-based employer are eligible. Remote workers are not eligible. Hybrid employees who report to a Florida location part-time do qualify.
All borrowers must be first-time homebuyers (no ownership interest in a primary residence within the past 3 years) — unless exempt as a veteran, active-duty member, or purchasing in a federally designated target area.
Participants must be employed full-time and currently employed by a Florida-based employer. Only one borrower must qualify with an eligible occupation.
Nurses (RN, LPN, APRN, CNA), medical technicians, therapists (physical, occupational, respiratory, speech), mental health workers, physicians, pharmacists, dental staff, and patient care assistants.
Classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals, guidance counselors, librarians, school psychologists, social workers, teacher aides, food service staff, and maintenance/janitorial staff at K–12 schools.
Certified EMTs, certified paramedics, and firefighters employed full-time by a Florida-based fire department, ambulance service, or hospital.
Sworn law enforcement officers (local, state, federal), correctional officers, probation officers, juvenile detention officers, and 911 public safety communicators.
Court clerks, court stenographers, assistant state attorneys, assistant public defenders, and attorneys employed by Florida’s Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal, Circuit Courts, or county courts.
Workers at licensed childcare facilities and registered home daycares. Active-duty and reserve service members of all U.S. Armed Forces branches (including FL National Guard). Veterans employed full-time.
Key requirements you must meet to qualify for the Florida Hometown Heroes program.
At least one occupying borrower must currently work full-time in an eligible occupation with a Florida-based employer at the time of closing. Offer letters are not accepted.
All borrowers must be first-time homebuyers (no ownership interest in a primary residence within the past 3 years). Veterans, active-duty members, and purchases in federally designated target areas are exempt.
Minimum FICO score of 640 (660 for manual underwriting). Maximum DTI of 50% with automated underwriting approval (43% for manual). Manufactured housing max DTI is 45%.
Income must not exceed county-specific limits. The property must be a Florida primary residence — eligible types include single-family homes, 2–4 unit properties, condos, townhomes, and manufactured housing (1994+).
One borrower (primary) must complete an approved pre-purchase homebuyer education course. Veterans and active-duty members are exempt unless using the HFA Advantage (conventional) option.
Not sure if you qualify? Find out in minutes — no obligation.
Check My EligibilityKey details about the 5% second mortgage that provides your down payment and closing cost assistance.
Capped at $35,000 with a minimum of $10,000
Non-amortizing, 30-year deferred repayment
Deferred until sale, refi, transfer, or move-out
Search your Florida county below to find income limits, FHA loan limits, and HFA Advantage & VA loan limits.
| County | FHA, VA & HFA Advantage Income Limits | FHA Loan Limits | HFA Advantage & VA Loan Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua | $156,000 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Baker | $142,950 | $580,750 | $832,750 |
| Bay | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Bradford | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Brevard | $149,850 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Broward | $172,950 | $667,000 | $832,750 |
| Calhoun | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Charlotte | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Citrus | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Clay | $153,750 | $580,750 | $832,750 |
| Collier | $170,400 | $764,750 | $832,750 |
| Columbia | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| DeSoto | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Dixie | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Duval | $153,750 | $580,750 | $832,750 |
| Escambia | $147,150 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Flagler | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Franklin | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Gadsen | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Gilchrist | $156,000 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Glades | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Gulf | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Hamilton | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Hardee | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Hendry | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Hernando | $156,450 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Highlands | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Hillsborough | $156,450 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Holmes | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Indian River | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Jackson | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Jefferson | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Lafayette | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Lake | $158,100 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Lee | $153,300 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Leon | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Levy | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Liberty | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Madison | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Manatee | $161,400 | $547,400 | $832,750 |
| Marion | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Martin | $142,950 | $603,750 | $832,750 |
| Miami-Dade | $185,850 | $667,000 | $832,750 |
| Monroe | $195,450 | $990,150 | $990,150 |
| Nassau | $153,750 | $580,750 | $832,750 |
| Okaloosa | $153,000 | $603,750 | $832,750 |
| Okeechobee | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Orange | $158,100 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Osceola | $158,100 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Palm Beach | $175,350 | $667,000 | $832,750 |
| Pasco | $156,450 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Pinellas | $156,450 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Polk | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Putnam | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Santa Rosa | $147,150 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Sarasota | $161,400 | $547,400 | $832,750 |
| Seminole | $158,100 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| St. Johns | $153,750 | $580,750 | $832,750 |
| St. Lucie | $142,950 | $603,750 | $832,750 |
| Sumter | $143,400 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Suwanee | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Taylor | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Union | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Volusia | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Wakulla | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
| Walton | $148,350 | $603,750 | $832,750 |
| Washington | $142,950 | $541,287 | $832,750 |
Loan limits effective 1/2/26. Income limits for 2026 will be updated 2nd Quarter 2026. USDA income limits: adhere to USDA limits. Source: Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Everything you need to know about the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program. For more details, visit FloridaHousing.org or read our Top 10 HTH Questions.
Alex Doce will guide you through every step of the Hometown Heroes process.
Talk to AlexFind out if you qualify for up to $35,000 in down payment assistance. Alex Doce will walk you through every step — from eligibility check to closing day.
Down payment and closing cost assistance is available in the form of a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. This second mortgage becomes due and payable, in full, upon sale of the property, refinancing of the first mortgage, transfer of deed or if the homeowner no longer occupies the property as their primary residence. The Florida Hometown Heroes loan is not forgivable. There is no cost to apply for Hometown Heroes Downpayment Assistance. The Doce Mortgage Group is a participating lender in Florida Housing’s Homebuyer Loan Program and is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of or at the direction of Florida Housing Finance Corporation or the Federal Government.
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