🏡✨ Florida Hometown Heroes Program – Making Homeownership Possible! ✨🏡
Are you a first-time homebuyer working in Florida’s essential workforce? The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program is here to help you achieve your dream of homeownership—with up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance! 💸
✅ Who Qualifies?
- Full-time Florida-based employees in eligible occupations:
- 🩺 Healthcare workers
- 👮 First responders & public safety
- 🍎 Teachers & school staff
- ⚖️ Court employees
- 👶 Childcare professionals
- 🇺🇸 Active duty military, veterans, and National Guard
📌 Program Highlights
- Must be a first-time homebuyer (no primary residence ownership in past 3 years)
- Minimum credit score of 640
- Assistance is a 0% interest, 30-year deferred second mortgage
- Funds become due only if you sell, refinance, or move out
- No upfront fees–beware of scammers asking for payment to apply!
💬 Why It Matters: This program helps Florida’s hometown heroes live in the communities they serve. Whether you’re a nurse, teacher, firefighter, or veteran, this is your chance to own a home with financial support tailored to your role.
Program Details:
- Eligible full-time workforce (35+ hours/week), employed by a Florida-based employer (brick-and-mortar), can receive lower than market interest rates on an FHA, VA, USDA RD, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac first mortgage, reduced upfront fees, no origination points or discount points, and down payment and closing cost assistance.
- Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance.
- Down payment and closing cost assistance is available in the form of a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. This second mortgage becomes due and payable, in full, upon sale of the property, refinancing of the first mortgage, transfer of deed, or if the homeowner no longer occupies the property as his/her primary residence. The Florida Hometown Heroes loan is not forgivable.
BE AWARE: There is no cost to apply for Hometown Heroes Down Payment Assistance. Scammers often target homebuyers who are in need of assistance or trying to purchase a home. A common tactic scammers use is requiring you to pay an upfront fee before providing any services. They may also try to charge you to apply for the program. Avoid any company or individual that does this and report them to the Inspector General’s Office at the Florida Housing Finance Corporation 850-488-4197.
Qualifications of First-Time Buyers
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a first-time homebuyer is defined as someone who meets any of the following criteria:
- If you haven’t owned a primary residence for the past three years, you qualify as a first-time homebuyer. However, if your spouse has never owned a home before, you can still purchase a property together and be considered first-time homebuyers.
- A single parent who has only owned a home with a former spouse while married.
- A displaced homemaker who has only owned a home with a spouse.
- An individual who has only owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable regulations.
- An individual who has only owned a property that was not in compliance with state, local, or model building codes—and that cannot be brought into compliance for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure.
The broad definition of a first-time buyer may help you qualify for benefits that come with purchasing a home for the first time.