FL Assist vs. FL PLUS: Repayable or Forgivable?
Florida Housing gives you a choice between two everyday down payment options: FL Assist, a $10,000 repayable second, and FL PLUS, a forgivable second. Picking the right one comes down to the size of the help and how long you will stay.
The core trade-off
Both options cover your down payment and closing costs with a zero-percent second that has no monthly payment. The difference is size and what happens later. FL Assist is a flat $10,000, and you repay it when you sell, refinance, or pay off. FL PLUS is a percentage of your loan, 3%, 4%, or 5%, so on a larger loan it can exceed $10,000, and it is forgiven at 20% a year, gone entirely after five years if you keep the home. More flexibility and repayment later, or a percentage that erases itself, that is the decision.
FL Assist vs. FL PLUS at a glance
| Feature | FL Assist | FL PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | $10,000 (flat) | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total loan |
| Structure | 0% deferred second | Forgivable second |
| Repayment | Repaid at sale/refinance/payoff | Forgiven 20%/year over 5 years |
| If you stay 5+ years | Still owed at eventual sale | Fully forgiven — nothing owed |
| Best for | Buyers who want a fixed amount | Buyers who plan to stay 5+ years |
Who picks which
If you plan to stay in the home at least five years, FL PLUS usually wins, keep the house and the assistance simply vanishes, and on a larger loan the percentage can beat the flat $10,000. If you might move or refinance sooner, FL Assist’s flat, predictable $10,000 can be cleaner. And if you qualify for Hometown Heroes, that can dwarf both, up to $35,000, so we check that first. There is no universal answer; we run your numbers across all three before you commit. See Hometown Heroes.
Common questions
What is the difference between FL Assist and FL PLUS?
FL Assist is a flat $10,000 as a 0% deferred second that you repay when you sell, refinance, or pay off. FL PLUS is 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total loan as a forgivable second, forgiven at 20% per year over 5 years. FL PLUS can be larger and disappears if you stay 5 years.
Is Florida down payment assistance forgivable?
FL PLUS is, it is forgiven at 20% per year over 5 years. FL Assist is repayable (due at sale, refinance, or payoff), not forgivable. Hometown Heroes is a deferred second repaid at sale/refinance/payoff.
Which Florida down payment option is bigger?
It depends. FL Assist is a flat $10,000. FL PLUS is 3-5% of the loan, which can exceed $10,000 on a larger loan. Hometown Heroes is the largest at up to 5% of the first mortgage, capped at $35,000.
Ready to see your options?
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