Hometown Heroes Loan Program Florida
Up to $35,000 in down payment assistance for first responders, educators, healthcare workers, and veterans. Your licensed Florida mortgage broker can get you qualified today.
Down Payment Help for Florida Heroes
The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program is one of the most powerful homebuyer benefits available in Florida in 2026. Furthermore, it is available to a wide range of qualifying occupations — not just firefighters and police officers.
Administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Hometown Heroes provides up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a 0% interest, non-amortizing 30-year deferred second mortgage. As a result, there are no monthly payments on the assistance — the full amount is only due when you sell, refinance, or pay off your first mortgage.
Additionally, the program works with FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional first mortgages. However, you must use a Florida Housing Finance Corporation approved lender. Mortgage Capital is an approved originator for the Hometown Heroes program across all 67 Florida counties.
Florida Hometown Heroes Income Limits
To qualify for Hometown Heroes, your total household income must fall at or below 150% of your county’s Area Median Income (AMI). These caps rose roughly 8–12% statewide effective July 1, 2025 and carry into 2026. All 67 Florida counties are eligible — the most-requested South Florida and major-metro limits are below.
| County | 2026 Income Limit (150% AMI) |
|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | $185,850 |
| Monroe County | $195,450 |
| Palm Beach County | $175,350 |
| Broward County | $172,950 |
| Collier County | $170,400 |
| Orange County | $158,100 |
| Hillsborough County | $156,450 |
| Duval County | $153,750 |
| Lee County | $153,300 |
| Martin County | $142,950 |
| St. Lucie County | $142,950 |
Figures shown are approximate maximum household income limits for 2026 and increase with household size. Limits are updated periodically by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation — confirm the current figure for your county and household size with Mortgage Capital before applying. Don’t see your county? We serve all 67 — .
How Hometown Heroes Repayment Works
The most common question buyers ask is whether Hometown Heroes is “free money.” Technically, the assistance is a 0% interest, non-amortizing second mortgage — not a grant. But in practice it behaves much like one: there are no monthly payments, no interest accrues, and the balance simply sits silently behind your first mortgage.
You only repay the original amount when one of three things happens: you sell the home, you refinance the first mortgage, or you pay the first mortgage off. Because you repay only what you borrowed — with no interest — Florida home appreciation often more than covers the eventual payback. A buyer who receives $20,000 in assistance and sees their home gain $60,000 in value over several years comes out far ahead.
This structure is why Hometown Heroes is widely considered one of the strongest down payment assistance programs in the country — it removes the upfront cash barrier to homeownership without saddling you with a second monthly payment.
Hometown Heroes vs. Other DPA
Florida buyers have several down payment assistance options, and the right one depends on your county, income, and occupation. Hometown Heroes typically offers the largest benefit ($35,000) and the most flexible 0% deferred structure — but it requires a qualifying occupation and is subject to funding rounds.
County SHIP grants are administered locally and can sometimes layer on top of Hometown Heroes for even lower out-of-pocket costs, though amounts are smaller and waitlists are common. Standalone Florida down payment assistance programs through FL Housing are open to buyers in any occupation but generally provide less. If you don’t qualify for Hometown Heroes by occupation, a first-time buyer program is usually the next-best route.
As an approved FL Housing originator, Mortgage Capital reviews every program you qualify for across your county and stacks them where the rules allow — so you capture the maximum assistance available. Questions? Call (561) 300-0380.
Getting Your Hometown Heroes Loan
Verify Employment
Confirm you work in a qualifying occupation — over 50 job categories are eligible.
Check Income Limits
Income limits vary by county. Mortgage Capital verifies eligibility same day.
Pre-Approval
We submit your file to FL Housing for Hometown Heroes certification alongside your pre-approval.
Close with DPA
Assistance is applied at closing — typically reducing your out-of-pocket to under $5,000.
Florida Hometown Heroes Questions
Who qualifies for the Florida Hometown Heroes program?
The Florida Hometown Heroes program is open to first-time homebuyers (or anyone who has not owned a home in the past 3 years) who work full-time (35+ hours/week) for a Florida-based employer in one of 50+ eligible occupations — including firefighters, law enforcement, EMTs and paramedics, nurses, physicians and healthcare workers, teachers and school staff, childcare workers, and more. Active-duty military and veterans are eligible regardless of first-time-buyer status. You must also meet your county income limit and have a minimum 640 FICO score.
How much down payment assistance does Hometown Heroes provide?
The program provides up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, capped at $35,000 (minimum $10,000), as a 0% interest deferred second mortgage. The funds can go toward your down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, or upfront mortgage insurance. The exact amount depends on your purchase price and loan amount.
Is Hometown Heroes a grant or a loan?
Technically it is a deferred second mortgage, not a grant. However, because the interest rate is 0% and no monthly payments are required, it functions much like a grant for most buyers. The balance is only due when you sell, refinance, or pay off your first mortgage. If you stay in the home long enough, appreciation typically more than offsets the eventual repayment.
What are the income limits for the Florida Hometown Heroes program in 2026?
Income limits are set at 150% of your county's Area Median Income (AMI) and rose roughly 8–12% statewide effective July 1, 2025. For example, the 2026 cap is approximately $185,850 in Miami-Dade, $175,350 in Palm Beach, and $172,950 in Broward. Limits increase with household size and update periodically, so confirm your county's current figure with Mortgage Capital before applying. See the county table above for more examples.
What credit score do I need for Hometown Heroes?
The minimum credit score is 640 FICO for most loan types, or 660 for manufactured homes. Because the assistance layers on top of an FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional first mortgage, your first-mortgage program's own credit requirements also apply. Mortgage Capital can review your credit and tell you exactly where you stand the same day.
Can I use Hometown Heroes with a VA, FHA, USDA, or Conventional loan?
Yes. Hometown Heroes layers on top of all four first-mortgage types. Eligible veterans can combine $0-down VA financing with up to $35,000 in assistance, often closing with virtually zero out-of-pocket cost and no monthly PMI. FHA buyers pair it with 3.5% down, and Conventional buyers with as little as 3% down.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?
For most occupations, yes — but 'first-time buyer' simply means you have not owned a primary residence in the past 3 years, so prior homeowners often still qualify. Active-duty military members and veterans are exempt from the first-time-buyer requirement entirely.
Is a homebuyer education course required?
Yes. Most borrowers must complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course before closing. Veterans using VA financing are typically exempt. The course is inexpensive, can be done online, and Mortgage Capital will point you to an approved provider when you apply.
Is Hometown Heroes funding still available, and what if it runs out before I close?
Hometown Heroes is funded in rounds by the Florida Legislature and can pause when a round is exhausted, then reopen with new appropriations. Funds are reserved at the time your file is locked, not at application — so getting pre-approved and locked quickly matters. Contact Mortgage Capital for the current funding status and, if needed, comparable down payment assistance alternatives such as SHIP or other FL Housing programs.
Can I buy new construction or a manufactured home with Hometown Heroes?
Yes to both. New construction is eligible, and manufactured homes qualify with a slightly higher 660 minimum credit score. The property must be your primary residence — investment properties and second homes are not eligible.
How quickly can I close with Hometown Heroes?
Most Hometown Heroes closings with Mortgage Capital take 21–30 days. Because we are an approved FL Housing originator, we handle the certification in-house rather than routing through a third party, so our timeline is typically faster than the industry average.
Can I combine Hometown Heroes with county SHIP funds or other assistance?
In some cases, yes — depending on your county and the specific programs involved. Layering Hometown Heroes with county SHIP grants or other down payment assistance can further reduce your out-of-pocket cost, but eligibility and stacking rules vary. Mortgage Capital will map out every program you qualify for across your county.
Check Your Hometown Heroes Eligibility
Free consultation · No obligation · Licensed FL mortgage broker NMLS# 1859012
Rates are illustrative only. APR and payments vary by credit score, loan amount, and market conditions. Subject to credit approval. Not a commitment to lend. NMLS# 1859012. Equal Housing Lender.