Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program
What is the Hometown Heroes Program?
The Florida Hometown Heroes Program is a down payment/closing cost assistance program administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Key Features:
It offers up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (capped at $35k) to eligible borrowers to help cover down payment and closing costs.
The assistance is structured as a 0% interest, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. That means no monthly payments on that assistance - repayment is triggered only under certain conditions (e.g. sale, refinancing, deed transfer, or when the first mortgage is paid off).
The program also offers favorable terms for the first mortgage, including lower interest rates, reduced upfront fees, and no discount/origination points for participating borrowers.
It can be used with different loan types (FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional) through approved participating lenders.
In short, the program lowers the upfront “hurdle” for many who qualify by covering part of what is often the most challenging cost in a home purchase.
Who Is Eligible?
Like many housing-assistance programs, the Hometown Heroes program has a set of eligibility criteria. I think meeting all of them is essential. Some of the main requirements are:
Occupation / Service Requirement
You must work in one of the eligible occupations and be working full-time (typically 35+ hours/week) for a Florida-based employer. Eligible roles include (but may not be limited to):
Health care workers
School / educational staff
First responders / public safety
Court / judicial employees
Child care workers
Active-duty military, military reserves, Coast Guard, Florida National Guard
Veterans employed full-time by a Florida-based employer
First-Time Homebuyer / Homeownership History
Generally, you must be a first-time homebuyer, defined as not having owned a home in the past three years.
Income & County Limits
Your gross (pre-tax) income must be below the threshold for the county where you’ll buy. These limits vary greatly by county and household size.
Property Type & Use
The home must be a primary residence (you live in it).
If you think you might qualify, the best move is to reach out to our team and learn your county’s income limits, and prepare your financial profile well ahead of when funding becomes available.
