Orlando & Orange County Down Payment Assistance
Orlando buyers have two layers of help: the three statewide Florida Housing programs and the Orange County Housing Finance Authority's own assistance. Here is how they work across Orange County.
How down payment assistance works in Orange County
Orlando has grown fast, and down payment help has kept pace with two layers of options. The statewide Florida Housing program brings its three DPA flavors, FL Assist, FL PLUS, and Hometown Heroes, on top of a first mortgage. Separately, the Orange County Housing Finance Authority runs its own assistance and mortgage-credit-certificate program for buyers in the county. Most Orlando buyers start with the statewide program because it is the simplest and best funded, but OCHFA is worth checking. A 640 credit score opens both doors.
Buying across metro Orlando
Orange County and the surrounding metro give first-time buyers real room. Inside the county, the east side toward Union Park and Alafaya, the Pine Hills and west Orlando areas, and Apopka to the northwest carry affordable homes. The metro spills into Osceola County (Kissimmee, St. Cloud), which has its own county assistance too, and Seminole County to the north. The theme-park and hospitality economy means a lot of first-time buyers, and Hometown Heroes was built for exactly that workforce.
The Orange County HFA option
OCHFA, the Orange County Housing Finance Authority, is a separate local program from statewide Florida Housing. It offers its own down payment assistance and MCC for eligible Orange County buyers, with its own income and price limits and funding cycles. It generally is not combined with the statewide program, so it comes down to which one fits your address and situation. We can run both against your numbers. Start with the statewide options on our Florida Housing page.
Florida Housing income and purchase-price limits vary by county and are current per Florida Housing; Hometown Heroes amounts and funding also change. Confirm your county figure before relying on one. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
What down payment assistance is available in Orlando?
Orlando buyers can use the three statewide Florida Housing options, FL Assist ($10,000 repayable), FL PLUS (3-5% forgivable), and Hometown Heroes (up to $35,000), plus the separate Orange County HFA (OCHFA) local program with its own DPA and MCC.
What is the Orange County HFA?
OCHFA, the Orange County Housing Finance Authority, is a local down payment assistance and mortgage-credit-certificate program for Orange County buyers, separate from statewide Florida Housing. It has its own income and price limits and funding, and generally is not combined with the statewide program.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Orlando?
Florida Housing requires a 640 minimum credit score (660 for manual underwriting). The Orange County HFA program has its own requirements. Both pair with standard first mortgages.
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