Tampa & Hillsborough County Down Payment Assistance
Tampa buyers have the three statewide Florida Housing programs plus the Hillsborough County HFA's 'Home Sweet Home' assistance. Here is how they work across Hillsborough County.
How down payment assistance works in Hillsborough County
Tampa Bay has been one of the hottest markets in Florida, and the two layers of down payment help have kept a lot of buyers in the game. Statewide Florida Housing brings FL Assist, FL PLUS, and Hometown Heroes. The Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County runs its own program, branded Home Sweet Home, with local down payment assistance and an MCC. Between them, a Tampa buyer with a 640 credit score has several paths, and the right one depends on income, price, and profession.
Buying across Tampa and Hillsborough
Hillsborough County gives first-time buyers a wide map. Inside Tampa, East Tampa, University, and the areas near USF carry affordable homes, while Brandon, Riverview, and Gibsonton to the southeast have added a lot of newer construction under the limits. Plant City to the east and the northern edge toward Lutz round it out. Across the bay, Pinellas County (St. Pete, Clearwater) has its own county HFA as well. Tampa’s health-care, education, and public-safety workforce is a strong fit for Hometown Heroes.
The Hillsborough Home Sweet Home program
Home Sweet Home is the Hillsborough County HFA’s local program, separate from statewide Florida Housing. It offers down payment assistance and a mortgage credit certificate for eligible county buyers, with its own income and price limits and funding cycles. As with the other county programs, it generally is not stacked with the statewide option, so the choice is about which fits your purchase. We compare both. See 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 Tampa?
Tampa 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 Hillsborough County HFA's local Home Sweet Home program with its own DPA and MCC.
What is the Hillsborough Home Sweet Home program?
Home Sweet Home is the Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County's local down payment assistance and mortgage-credit-certificate program, separate from statewide Florida Housing. It has its own income and price limits and funding cycles.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance in Tampa?
Florida Housing requires a 640 minimum credit score (660 for manual underwriting). The Hillsborough County program has its own requirements. Both pair with standard first mortgages.
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