Down Payment Assistance Programs in Florida

What Assistance Actually Is

Much down payment assistance comes as a second mortgage layered behind your main loan. Some are deferred, meaning you owe nothing monthly and repay later, for example when you sell or refinance. Some are forgivable over a set number of years of continued occupancy, and a few are grants. The structure matters, because it determines what happens if you move in three years.

State Programs Through Florida Housing

Florida Housing Finance Corporation runs the statewide programs, and buyers apply through participating lenders. A widely reported state program is Hometown Heroes. WFLA reported that it reopened on July 13, 2026 with $50 million in additional funding, gives 5 percent of the first mortgage in assistance, and ranges from $10,000 to $35,000, on a first-come, first-served basis until the money is committed. We have not confirmed how much of that funding remains as of September 24, 2026, so ask a participating lender whether it is still accepting reservations. The program has eligibility requirements, including eligible occupations, so check the current list and terms with a participating lender.

Florida Housing also offers other assistance products paired with a first mortgage. Their terms and funding change, so ask a participating lender for the current details rather than relying on an article.

SHIP and HOME: Where County and City Money Comes From

County and city programs can draw on two kinds of public funding. The City of Orlando's 2026 draft annual action plan says its housing department receives state funding through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program, known as SHIP, and that the HOME Investment Partnerships Program is funded through federal resources. It adds that SHIP funds are used to leverage HOME funds for affordable housing, including down payment assistance programs. In short, SHIP is state money and HOME is federal money.

Because the money depends on annual funding, local programs open and close during the year.

Where Central Florida County and City Programs Stand

As of September 24, 2026, the programs we checked on official pages were mostly closed to new applicants.

Orange County's down payment assistance program lists $70,000, $40,000, or $10,000 depending on income tier, and requires a first mortgage and a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Its page says new applications are closed from September 6 through November 15, 2026, with reopening anticipated on November 16, 2026, and that applications stay open for new construction on county-donated lots and non-profit developed properties.

Osceola County's SHIP purchase assistance lists up to $80,000, $60,000, or $40,000 depending on income as a 10-year deferred payment loan, and requires a first mortgage of at least 15 years. Its page says the county is not accepting applications for this program because of funding availability.

The City of Orlando's program lists up to $45,000 and says lenders submit the application. Its page says it is not accepting new applications at this time and gives no reopening date.

352today reported in early September 2026 that Marion County's purchase assistance closings continue but new applicants cannot currently apply until the state's next quarterly deposit. Other counties, such as Polk, Lake, and Seminole, may offer their own programs, so ask each county's housing office for its current status.

Low Down Payment Loans Are Separate

Assistance and low down payment loans are different things that can often be combined, and the loans stay available when local programs are closed.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says FHA loans allow down payments as low as 3.5 percent and that all FHA loans require mortgage insurance. The Department of Veterans Affairs says nearly 90 percent of VA-backed loans are made with no down payment, and that you need a Certificate of Eligibility. A VA funding fee applies to many borrowers, with exemptions for some, such as veterans who receive VA disability compensation.

Freddie Mac's Home Possible allows a 3 percent down payment with flexible sources such as gifts and employer assistance, and caps income at 80 percent of area median income. Ask your lender about similar conventional options as well. USDA also offers a loan program for eligible rural areas and income levels, and its eligibility site shows whether an address qualifies.

First-Time Home Buyer Programs in Florida: Who Counts as a First-Time Buyer

Definitions vary by program, so read each one. Osceola County and the City of Orlando both describe it as not having owned a home in the past three years, and the City of Orlando lists exceptions. Previous owners can therefore re-qualify, and some programs may not require first-time status at all, so ask before you rule yourself out.

The Fine Print Worth Reading

Watch for occupancy requirements, repayment or recapture if you sell early, whether the assistance is truly forgivable and on what schedule, and the required homebuyer education and own-funds contributions. For example, Osceola County lists a $1,000 own-funds contribution and post-purchase counseling.

Also ask whether the first mortgage that pairs with the assistance is priced differently from one you could get without it. Assistance is often the right choice, but it should be a comparison rather than an assumption, so run both scenarios with your lender.

Do Not Self-Disqualify

Some buyers assume they earn too much, or that their credit is too weak, and never apply. Income limits are set by county and household size, and each program lists its own. A conversation with a lender who works these programs regularly settles the question. We can also tell you which programs are open when you start looking, and watch for announced reopening dates.