Florida Hometown Heroes Program (2026)

What Is the Hometown Heroes Program?

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program is the state's most generous down payment assistance program for frontline workers, servicemembers, and veterans. Administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, it pairs a competitive 30-year fixed first mortgage with a second mortgage that covers your down payment and closing costs - up to $35,000.

In Southwest Florida, where a median-priced home in Lee County runs around $385,000, Hometown Heroes assistance can cover the entire FHA down payment plus most closing costs - often the difference between buying now and saving for several more years.

What You Get

• 5% of the first mortgage amount in assistance - minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000
• 0% interest, 30-year deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments
• Pairs with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages at competitive rates
• No 1% origination fee, saving thousands in upfront closing costs

How Much Assistance Would You Get?

*Assistance is 5% of the loan amount, never less than $10,000 or more than $35,000. Loans of $200,000 or less receive the automatic $10,000 minimum.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility narrowed for the current funding round: the program is back to serving the frontline workers it was named for, and qualification is based on your employer and worksite, not just your job title. To qualify, you must:

• Be a first-time buyer (no home ownership in the past 3 years) - veterans and active-duty military are exempt from this requirement
• Work full-time (35+ hours per week) at an eligible Florida-based employer: a healthcare facility, K-12 school, first responder or public safety agency, court, or licensed child care provider
• Have household income at or below 150% of your county's area median income (verify the current Lee County limit with a participating lender)
• Have a credit score of 640 or higher
• Purchase a primary residence in Florida and complete an approved homebuyer education course

How Repayment Works

Hometown Heroes assistance is a loan, not a grant. There are no monthly payments and no interest, but the full balance becomes due when you sell the home, refinance the first mortgage, transfer the deed, pay off the first mortgage, or stop using the home as your primary residence. If you stay in the home, the balance simply sits at 0% interest for the life of the first mortgage.

How to Apply

1. Get pre-approved with a Hometown Heroes participating lender - the program is only available through approved lenders, and many national banks do not offer it
2. Have your lender confirm funds are available and reserve your assistance - reservations lock in your spot in the current funding round
3. Complete an approved homebuyer education course (required before closing)
4. Shop for your home and close - the assistance is applied to your down payment and closing costs at the closing table

Why Timing Matters

Hometown Heroes funding runs out - every round so far has been fully committed ahead of schedule. The 2025-2026 round closed to new reservations in roughly six months after helping more than 3,000 Florida families. The current round opened in July 2026, and the only number that matters is whether funds are available the day your lender submits your reservation. If you are planning a purchase in Southwest Florida in the next 6-12 months, getting pre-approved now helps you move quickly - but only a lender-submitted reservation actually locks in funds, so nothing is secured until that step is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions