Florida Hometown Heroes Program: How It Works, Income Limits, and How to Qualify

Florida's property prices have climbed well above the national median in most metro areas, and accumulating a down payment on a nurse's salary or a teacher's income while paying Florida rent is genuinely difficult. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program was built specifically for that situation.

Here's how it works, who qualifies, and how to use it effectively.

What Is the Florida Hometown Heroes Program?

The Florida Hometown Heroes (HTH) Housing Program is administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) and provides down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible workers in community-essential professions.

The program offers up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, with a minimum assistance of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000. The assistance is structured as a 0% interest, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. No monthly payments are required while you live in the home as your primary residence.

However, this is not a grant — the money must be repaid in full if you:

• Sell the property
• Refinance the first mortgage
• Transfer the deed
• Stop occupying the home as your primary residence

At that point, the entire principal balance comes due. It does not forgive over time.

Who Qualifies for the Hometown Heroes Program?

Occupational Requirements

The primary borrower must be employed full-time (at least 30 hours per week) by a Florida-based employer in one of more than 50 eligible workforce occupations. Qualifying categories include:

• Educators (teachers, school administrators, instructional coaches)
• Healthcare workers (nurses, physicians, paramedics, medical technicians)
• First responders (firefighters, police officers, EMTs)
• Law enforcement officers
• Child care professionals
• Military members and veterans (see below)

The list is broader than most people expect. Check the FHFC's official eligible occupation list to confirm your profession — the definition of "healthcare worker" covers a wide range of clinical and support roles.

Military and Veterans Exception

Active-duty military members, reservists, Florida National Guard members, and veterans are exempt from both the Florida-based employment requirement and the standard first-time homebuyer requirement. Veterans can participate regardless of where they currently work.

Credit and Income

Borrowers must have a minimum middle credit score of 640. The middle score is the median of the three bureau scores (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — not the highest, not the lowest.

Gross household income cannot exceed 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the county in which the property is located. The 2026 income limits by county:

Note that "gross household income" typically includes all borrowers and co-borrowers. The FHFC uses household income to determine eligibility, so a household with two incomes needs to verify that the combined gross does not exceed the county limit.

First-Time Homebuyer Requirement

Standard borrowers (non-military) must meet the IRS definition of a first-time homebuyer: they have not held an ownership interest in a primary residence at any point in the preceding three years. Renting, living with family, or owning a vacation or investment property that was not your primary residence does not disqualify you under this definition.

Homebuyer Education

All borrowers must complete an approved 8-hour HUD homebuyer education course before closing. This can typically be done online through HUD-approved providers. Allow a few weeks — some popular courses have waitlists, and your lender will need the completion certificate before funding.

How the Assistance Is Structured

The $10,000–$35,000 in assistance is applied at closing as a second mortgage. It reduces the cash you need to bring to the table — whether for the down payment, closing costs, or both. Your first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional) is originated through an approved FHFC participating lender, and the second mortgage is funded simultaneously.

The loan amount is capped at 5% of the first mortgage amount. On a $400,000 purchase with a 3.5% FHA down payment ($14,000 down), your first mortgage is $386,000. Five percent of $386,000 = $19,300. That's your maximum HTH benefit on that transaction.

Stacking the Hometown Heroes Program with Other Assistance

The FHFC programs are designed to be stackable. If you qualify for Hometown Heroes, you may also be able to stack:

• Local county or city SHIP grants — Florida's State Housing Initiatives Partnership program distributes funds to all 67 counties and 55 municipalities. Local SHIP programs often offer additional grants or deferred loans for very-low to moderate-income buyers.
• Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) — allows first-time buyers to claim up to 50% of annual mortgage interest as a direct federal tax credit (capped at $2,000 per year). The remaining interest still qualifies for the standard deduction. The MCC is issued by the FHFC through participating lenders.

In practice, a first-time buyer stacking HTH assistance + local SHIP grants + an MCC can dramatically reduce both the upfront cash required to close and the ongoing tax burden of ownership. Some buyers achieve near-zero out-of-pocket closings this way.

Other Florida Housing Finance Corporation Programs

If you don't qualify for Hometown Heroes (because your profession isn't on the list), the FHFC offers other down payment assistance options:

• Florida Assist (FL Assist): A flat $10,000 in deferred, 0% second mortgage assistance, no monthly payments, repayable on sale or refinance.
• Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP): Up to $10,000 (or $12,500 under some bond programs) at 3% interest, fully amortizing over 15 years. Monthly payments are required and factor into your DTI.
• HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS: Down payment grants of 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first mortgage amount, structured as a forgivable second mortgage — forgiven at 20% per year over 5 years if the home remains your primary residence.

All FHFC programs require use of an approved FHFC first mortgage and must be originated through a participating lender. Not every lender participates — confirm eligibility with your lender before proceeding.

Practical Notes on Timing

The Hometown Heroes program operates on a first-come, first-served basis and has funding limits set by the legislature each year. In prior years, funding ran out mid-year before being replenished. This means you can't assume the program will be available when you're ready to close — apply and get into the system as early in your home search as possible.

Your lender must reserve the assistance funds on your behalf through the FHFC's portal before you close. This is not something you do independently — the lender coordinates it. Confirm your lender has done this reservation before you finalize your closing date.

For a complete guide to using Florida down payment assistance programs together — including how to calculate whether you qualify at your income level — see the Florida First-Time Home Buyer Guide. It includes program comparison tables and a closing cost worksheet that accounts for the HTH second mortgage terms.

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