Confirm eligibility
Your loan officer reviews employment, first-time-buyer status, income, credit, property type and the applicable county limits.
Eligible Florida homebuyers may receive 5% of the first mortgage loan amount - from $10,000 to $35,000 - toward the down payment and eligible closing costs on a primary residence.
Funding is limited and is reserved through participating lenders. Eligibility and assistance are not guaranteed until all program, mortgage and funding requirements are satisfied.
The program is administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. It combines an eligible Florida Housing first mortgage with a separate Hometown Heroes second mortgage used for approved down-payment and closing-cost expenses.
Your loan officer reviews employment, first-time-buyer status, income, credit, property type and the applicable county limits.
The primary loan may be FHA, VA, USDA or an eligible conventional mortgage, depending on your qualifications and the program channel used.
The Hometown Heroes second mortgage provides funds toward eligible cash-to-close expenses. It carries 0% interest and no scheduled monthly payment.
At least one occupying borrower generally must be currently employed full-time in an eligible category and meet the program's Florida employment-location requirements. Hybrid workers may qualify; fully remote workers generally do not.
Employees of eligible Florida healthcare providers, physicians, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, mental-health facilities and healthcare facilities.
Full-time employees of eligible Florida public, private, charter or magnet K-12 schools, including many instructional and support positions.
Eligible firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics employed by qualifying Florida departments or services.
Eligible law-enforcement, corrections, juvenile-justice and emergency-communications employees.
Eligible court-system employees and workers at qualifying licensed or registered Florida childcare facilities.
Active-duty and reserve service members, including the Florida National Guard, and qualifying veterans who meet current employment requirements.
A first-time homebuyer generally means someone who has not had an ownership interest in a principal residence during the previous three years.
Exceptions may apply to qualifying veterans, certain military borrowers and buyers purchasing in federally designated targeted areas. The exemption depends partly on whether the loan uses the Bond or TBA channel.
Government-insured financing that may offer flexible credit and down-payment requirements, subject to FHA and program rules.
Financing for eligible service members and veterans, subject to VA entitlement, occupancy and underwriting requirements.
Potential 100% first-mortgage financing for eligible buyers and properties in approved rural areas, with separate USDA income limits.
Eligible Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac housing-finance-agency products, depending on whether the loan is structured through Bond or TBA.
Mortgage rates are established through Florida Housing's program system and can change. The lowest payment or rate is not automatically the best fit for every buyer.
Both channels can provide the same Hometown Heroes assistance, but they use different income calculations, limits and first-time-buyer tests.
Income: Generally considers gross income from all household occupants age 18 and older, even when someone is not on the mortgage.
Limits: Uses county household-income and purchase-price limits, with different limits for targeted areas.
Conventional: May include Fannie Mae HFA Preferred or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage.
First-time status: The review can extend to borrowers, a non-purchasing spouse and parties appearing on the deed.
Income: Generally uses qualifying income for the borrowers on the loan rather than total household income.
Limits: Usually offers higher income limits and uses maximum first-mortgage loan limits instead of Bond purchase-price limits.
Conventional: The 2026 TBA guide provides Freddie Mac HFA Advantage; Fannie Mae is available through Bond.
First-time status: Generally focuses on occupying borrowers; a spouse who is not on the loan is treated differently than under Bond.
The limits below are effective for reservations as of May 6, 2026. They are shown for educational purposes and should be reverified before a buyer makes an offer.
| Program channel | Income limit | Loan or purchase limit | What is measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBA - FHA, VA or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage | $204,300 | FHA loan: $667,000 VA/Freddie loan: $832,750 | Program qualifying income for borrowers on the loan |
| TBA - USDA-RD | $131,200 | USDA eligibility and agency limits also apply | USDA income rules |
| Bond - Non-targeted area | 1-2 people: $136,200 3+ people: $156,630 | Purchase price: $697,889 | Gross household income of occupants age 18+ |
| Bond - Targeted area | 1-2 people: $163,440 3+ people: $190,680 | Purchase price: $852,976 | Gross household income of occupants age 18+ |
A maximum loan amount is not the same as a maximum purchase price. Down payment, loan type, property eligibility, appraisal, debt-to-income ratio and available assets still affect the final approval.
These examples use conventional first-mortgage amounts only to illustrate the 5% calculation. They are not loan estimates, approvals or quotes.
Illustrative 3% down payment and a $388,000 first mortgage.
Illustrative 5% down payment and a $522,500 first mortgage.
Illustrative 5% down payment and a $712,500 first mortgage.
Assistance can generally be applied to eligible down-payment and closing-cost expenses. Any remaining cash requirement depends on the loan type, purchase contract, taxes, insurance, prepaid items, property type and available seller or other permitted credits.
The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program launched in 2022 to help eligible Florida homebuyers with down-payment and closing-cost expenses. The original program focused on first-time, income-qualified buyers working in designated essential occupations.
Eligibility was broadened in 2023 and later returned to specified community-service and workforce categories. Florida has continued to fund the program in later budget cycles, including a $50 million appropriation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
The program remains administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and must be used with an eligible Florida Housing first mortgage arranged through a participating lender or authorized mortgage broker.
No. The assistance is a 0% deferred second mortgage with no scheduled monthly payment, but it is repayable and is not automatically forgiven.
Generally, only one occupying borrower must satisfy the eligible-employment requirement. A non-occupying co-signer cannot satisfy it for the occupying borrower.
Current 2026 guidance generally excludes fully remote workers. Hybrid workers may qualify when they report to or work from an eligible physical Florida location and the employer provides acceptable documentation.
No. The Hometown Heroes second mortgage must be paired with an eligible Florida Housing first mortgage through an approved participating lender or an authorized mortgage broker working with one.
Generally yes, meaning no ownership interest in a principal residence during the preceding three years. Exceptions may apply to veterans, certain military borrowers and purchases in federally designated targeted areas. Bond and TBA apply some exemptions differently.
A participating lender makes the reservation through Florida Housing's system after the required transaction and borrower information is available. A preapproval alone does not guarantee that funds will remain available.
No. The property must be purchased as the borrower's primary residence and must satisfy the program's eligible property requirements.
Not necessarily. The amount needed from the buyer depends on the purchase price, loan type, required down payment, closing costs, insurance, taxes, prepaid expenses, credits and the final assistance amount.
Carlos Carvajal is the Broker/Owner of NXT LVL Lending, LLC, a Miami-based mortgage brokerage serving homebuyers throughout Florida.
With experience in real estate and mortgage finance dating back to 2003, Carlos helps buyers understand financing options and navigate the mortgage process with clear, practical guidance.
He works with first-time buyers, experienced homeowners, real estate professionals and eligible Florida Hometown Heroes applicants.
Complete the eligibility form to provide the basic employment and homebuying information needed for an initial program review.
Check Your EligibilityLast updated: July 30, 2026. Program guidelines, rates, eligible employers, limits and funding availability can change. This page is educational and is not a commitment to lend, an approval or a guarantee of assistance. NXT LVL Lending, LLC is not a government agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. All financing is subject to borrower, property, program and lender approval.
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