Hometown Heroes
Up to $35,000 — the largest option.
All Florida Down Payment Assistance Programs (2026)
Florida buyers have more options than most: three statewide Florida Housing programs plus a deep bench of county programs. Here is the full menu, statewide and local, and who each one fits.
Statewide programs (the main event)
For most Florida buyers, the statewide Florida Housing programs are the simplest, best-funded path, and Florida gives you three flavors. FL Assist is a flat $10,000 repayable second. FL PLUS is a forgivable percentage of your loan (3%, 4%, or 5%), forgiven over five years. Hometown Heroes, the flagship, can reach $35,000. All three pair with a Florida Housing first mortgage and take a 640 credit score. Full detail on the Florida Housing page.
County programs
On top of the statewide options, many Florida counties run their own housing finance authorities. Orange County (OCHFA) covers metro Orlando; the Hillsborough HFA runs Home Sweet Home in the Tampa area; the City of Jacksonville HFA covers Duval; the Lee County HFA (OAHO) covers Fort Myers and Cape Coral; and Pinellas, Manatee, Escambia, and Osceola have their own. Each runs its own down payment assistance and MCC with its own income and price limits, targeted areas, and funding. They are separate from the statewide program and generally not combined with it. Compare them on our county HFA vs. statewide page.
The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
An MCC is not down payment assistance, it is a federal tax credit that returns a portion of the mortgage interest you pay each year, for the life of the loan. Both statewide Florida Housing and several county HFAs offer MCCs. For a buyer who keeps the home and the loan for years, an MCC can be worth real money over time. We can model it against your numbers.
Compare the programs
Verified August 2026 against the FHFC master term sheet and Florida Housing. County program details per each county HFA. This is not a commitment to lend.
FAQ
Common questions
What down payment assistance programs are there in Florida?
Statewide, Florida Housing offers FL Assist ($10,000 repayable), FL PLUS (3-5% forgivable), and Hometown Heroes (up to $35,000). On top of that, county HFAs (Orange/OCHFA, Hillsborough, Jacksonville, Lee/OAHO, Pinellas, and others) run their own local DPA and MCC programs.
Can I combine Florida down payment programs?
Generally no. The statewide Florida Housing options are used one at a time, and county HFA programs are separate with their own rules. You use the one that fits your county and situation. An MCC can layer with some tracks.
What is a Florida MCC?
A Mortgage Credit Certificate is a federal tax credit that returns a portion of your annual mortgage interest for the life of the loan. Both statewide Florida Housing and several county HFAs offer MCCs. It is separate from down payment assistance.
See which Florida program 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.