Program Highlights:
The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to income-qualified, first-time homebuyers who are employed full-time (35+ hours per week) in Florida.
Here’s what the program offers:
- Up to 5% of your total loan (not purchase price) amount (minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000) in assistance
- This assistance comes as a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. Repaid on Sale, Refinancing or conversion to Rental Property.
- Reduced costs (no Doc stamp taxes on the mortgage or intangible taxes on the note)
The Florida Legislature recently passed the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Budget, which includes $50 million in funding for the Hometown Heroes Loan Program. However, it also introduces significant changes from prior years.
The 2025 Hometown Heroes Loan Program will be limited to borrowers employed full-time by a Florida-based employer in the following eligible occupations:
- Healthcare worker
- School staff member
- First responder
- Public safety employee
- Court employee
- Childcare worker
- An active duty servicemember of the United States military
- A veteran employed full-time by a Florida-based employer (Not Occupation Limited, must be working Full Time for a Florida Based company)
For a complete and current list of occupations visit: Florida Housing Home Town Heroes Program
Participants in the program must complete a Home Buyer Education (HBE) course. [This is a requirement!] These are online courses, typically free of charge. (There is no reimbursement of charges for any organizations that do charge).
This is a partial list of Online Providers who will issue a certificate upon completion. This training should be completed before the loan is reserved with Florida Housing, the organization overseeing the Home Town Heroes Program.
- Arch MI https://www.housingeducation.org/pathways
- eHomeAmerica https://www.ehomeamerica.org/
- Essent MI https://centerforhomeownership.net/homepath/register
- Fannie Mae https://homeready.frameworkhomeownership.org/
- Freddie Mac https://creditsmarttutorial.freddiemaclearning.com/
- HUD https://www.hometrek.org/
- MGIC https://www.mgic.com/tools/homebuyer-education-options#finally-home
Florida Housing does not endorse any of the providers but only gives this as a tool for loan officers to quickly find providers. Links may not be current due to consistent changes with web pages. Some of these Online Providers charge fees to obtain access to these courses. Florida Housing doesn’t pay these
Income Limits: Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties: $156,450
Example Property with an FHA Loan with a 3.5% down payment.
Example Property with a Conventional Loan with a 20% Down Payment
