Florida Hometown Heroes: Up to $35,000 in Down Payment Help
Hometown Heroes is Florida's flagship down payment program, up to 5% of your first mortgage, capped at $35,000, for the state's workforce. Here is who qualifies, how much you get, and the one thing to check before you count on it.
What Hometown Heroes is
Hometown Heroes is the largest down payment assistance Florida offers, and it changed the math for a lot of buyers when it launched. It provides up to 5% of your first-mortgage amount, capped at $35,000, as a zero-percent deferred second mortgage. The state built it to help Florida’s workforce buy homes in the communities they serve. It pairs with a Florida Housing first mortgage, and a 640 credit score qualifies. In high-cost markets like Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, a $35,000 second is often the difference between renting and owning.
Who qualifies
Hometown Heroes was originally aimed at specific frontline professions, and it has since served a broad range of income-eligible Florida buyers who are first-time buyers employed by a Florida-based employer. The exact eligibility, income limits, and profession rules have shifted since launch as the state has retooled and refunded the program, so this is one to verify at the moment you buy rather than assume. We confirm your eligibility against the current Florida Housing rules up front.
The one thing to check: funding
Here is the honest caveat. Hometown Heroes is popular enough that its funding runs in cycles, it has been fully committed at points and then refunded by the legislature. That means the single most important thing to check is whether the program is open and funded when you are ready to buy. We watch that closely, so before you build your plan around a $35,000 second, we confirm it is available and, if it is not, point you to FL Assist, FL PLUS, or a county program instead. Compare those on our FL Assist vs. FL PLUS page.
Verified August 2026 against Florida Housing. Hometown Heroes amount and eligibility are VOLATILE (funding cycles) — confirm current status. This is not a commitment to lend. Related: All Florida Housing programs · DPA + VA.
Common questions
How much is Florida Hometown Heroes?
Hometown Heroes provides up to 5% of your first-mortgage amount, capped at $35,000, as a 0% deferred second mortgage. It is the largest down payment assistance Florida offers and pairs with a Florida Housing first mortgage.
Who qualifies for Florida Hometown Heroes?
It was built for Florida's workforce and has served income-eligible first-time buyers employed by a Florida-based employer. Eligibility and income limits have shifted since launch, so confirm the current rules. A 640 credit score is required.
Is Florida Hometown Heroes still funded?
Funding runs in cycles. Hometown Heroes has been fully committed at points and then refunded. The most important step is to confirm the program is open and funded when you are ready to buy; if it is not, FL Assist, FL PLUS, or a county program can fill in.
See if Hometown Heroes fits you
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Florida path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.