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Florida program

Florida Hometown Heroes Program

Florida route through Florida Housing Finance Corporation. This page stays free for the core public facts. Open paid access only when you need the full state board, related paths, and the decision layer around this program.

Deferred second mortgage Check official rules 2026-04-12
Agency Florida Housing Finance Corporation
Support type Deferred second mortgage
Amount highlight Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000/minimum of $10,000) in funds towards down payment and closing cost assistance.
Last verified 2026-04-12

Decision-ready public facts

What stays free on this program page

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Amount

Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000/minimum of $10,000) in funds towards down payment and closing cost assistance.

Type

Deferred second mortgage

Repayment

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.

First-time buyer

Required

Program guide

What to know before you click through

This is still the free fact layer. Open the official source when a detail affects eligibility, repayment, lender choice, or whether this path should stay on your shortlist.

Who qualifies?

Health care workers, School staff members, First responders, Public safety employees, Court employees, Child care workers, Veterans and active-duty military

What support do you get?

Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000/minimum of $10,000) in funds towards down payment and closing cost assistance.

Do you repay it?

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.

How do you apply?

Apply through a Florida Housing participating loan officer using the official lender locator.

Official source evidence

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing (HTH) Program makes homeownership affordable for eligible workforce occupations. This program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time, income-qualified homebuyers so they can purchase a primary residence in the community in which they work and serve. Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000/minimum of $10,000) in funds towards 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. Eligible Borrowers who meet the occupational requirements, work full time, and are currently employed by a Florida-based employer can receive competitive market interest rates on an FHA, VA, RD, and Conventional first mortgage, reduced upfront fees, no origination points or discount points and down payment and closing cost assistance.

View official source

Last verified

2026-04-12

HTH 2025 Program

Paid preview

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Comparison preview

Florida Hometown Heroes Program

Amount: Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000/minimum of $10,000) in funds towards down payment and closing cost assistance.

Repayment: 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.

First-time buyer: Required

Timing: Official timing is not published clearly enough yet; confirm before relying on a closing schedule.

Risk checks preview

What gets flagged before you call a lender

  • Florida Hometown Heroes Program requires a participating lender.
  • Florida Hometown Heroes Program must be paired with a specific first mortgage.

Lender questions preview

Questions tied to this exact path

  • Is your team approved to originate Florida Hometown Heroes Program for this household and loan setup?
  • Which first-mortgage product must be paired with Florida Hometown Heroes Program, and what breaks eligibility?

Action checklist preview

What you would do next

  • Confirm the first-time buyer definition before you apply
  • Review the official Program guide for Florida Hometown Heroes Program
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Paid research preview

What paid research already covers in Florida

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What unlocks after payment

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2 tracked

city and county programs

City and county down payment or closing-cost programs that never make it into the free statewide layer.

3 tracked

specialty and conditional paths

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