Florida Hometown Heroes 2026:
Who Qualifies, How Much You Get, and How to Apply
Up to $35,000 toward your down payment. Zero interest. No monthly payment. If you’re an essential worker in Florida, this program was built for you — but the funding moves fast.
Check Your Eligibility Now — Free CallThe down payment is the wall that stands between most working Floridians and homeownership. You can afford the mortgage. You can cover insurance and taxes. But coming up with $15,000 to $35,000 in cash upfront while also paying rent? That’s where the dream stalls.
The Florida Hometown Heroes program was built specifically to knock down that wall — for teachers, nurses, firefighters, veterans, and more. In 2026, it’s still one of the most powerful down payment assistance programs in the country. And it’s still free to use, zero-interest, and requires no monthly payment on the assistance.
Here’s everything you need to know about qualifying, applying, and moving fast before the money is gone.
⚡ Funding Alert: The 2025–2026 budget is $50 million — significantly less than prior years. Based on demand patterns, this funding may be exhausted months before the end of the fiscal year. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis after a fully executed purchase contract. Do not wait to start your pre-approval.
Who Qualifies? Eligible Occupations in 2026
The program was updated in 2025 to require employment in specific frontline professions. Previously, any full-time Florida worker could qualify — but that broad eligibility has been narrowed. Here’s who’s currently eligible:
Important: Only one borrower on the loan needs to work in an eligible profession. If you’re buying with a partner who doesn’t have a qualifying job, that’s fine — as long as you do and you both meet the other requirements.
Veterans — special note: Active-duty service members qualify automatically. Veterans who are not currently employed must still meet the occupation requirement through a Florida-based employer and must have been discharged under anything other than dishonorable conditions. Veterans using a VA loan through this program are also exempt from the homebuyer education requirement.
Full Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligible Occupation | Must work full-time (35+ hrs/week) in an approved profession for a Florida-based employer |
| First-Time Homebuyer | Must not have owned a primary residence in the past 3 years (veterans may be exempt) |
| Household Income | Must not exceed 150% of county AMI (varies by county — see income limit table below) |
| Minimum Credit Score | 640 for most loans; 660 for manufactured homes |
| Primary Residence | Must occupy home as primary residence within 60 days of closing |
| Property Types | Single-family, townhouse, condo, 2–4 unit (owner-occupied), manufactured home on permanent foundation |
| Loan Types Allowed | Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA |
| Homebuyer Education | Primary borrower must complete approved HUD course (veterans using VA loan are exempt) |
| Purchase Contract Required | Must have executed contract before funds can be reserved |
How Much Assistance Do You Get?
The Hometown Heroes benefit is calculated as 5% of the total loan amount, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum cap of $35,000.
| Loan Amount | HTH Assistance (5%) | Minimum Applied |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $10,000 → receives $10,000 minimum | $10,000 |
| $300,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| $400,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| $500,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| $700,000 | $35,000 (capped) | $35,000 |
The assistance can be used for down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, and upfront mortgage insurance premiums. For many buyers, this covers the entire out-of-pocket cost of getting to the closing table.
Income Limits by County (2026)
Income limits are set at 150% of Area Median Income for each county and update periodically. Below are examples for Central Florida’s most active counties:
| County / Region | 2026 Income Limit (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Orange County (Orlando) | ~$144,750 |
| Seminole County | ~$144,750 |
| Osceola County | ~$144,750 |
| Brevard County | ~$137,400 |
| Volusia County | ~$131,400 |
| Miami-Dade County | ~$170,250 |
| Hillsborough / Tampa | ~$156,450 |
| Duval / Jacksonville | ~$153,750 |
| Palm Beach County | ~$170,250 |
Note: Income limits are based on total household income from all borrowers. These figures reflect 2025–2026 program estimates — always confirm current limits before applying. Call or text 407-630-9766 for the latest figures in your county.
✅ Hometown Heroes Quick Eligibility Check
Answer four questions to get a fast read on whether you’re likely eligible for the program.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
Start with your mortgage pre-approval
The Hometown Heroes program layers on top of a standard FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgage. Your path starts with getting pre-approved for that first loan — everything else follows from there.
Confirm your occupation and income eligibility
We’ll verify your profession and household income against the current county limit. This takes about 15 minutes on a call.
Complete the required homebuyer education course
The primary borrower must complete an approved HUD-certified homebuyer education course. Most are online and take 4–8 hours. Veterans using a VA loan are exempt from this requirement.
Get a fully executed purchase contract
This is the trigger. Funding cannot be reserved until you have a signed purchase agreement with a seller. You can’t hold a spot in line without a contract.
Reserve your funds and lock your rate
Once the contract is in hand, we submit your file and reserve your Hometown Heroes funds. Because funding is limited and first-come-first-served, speed matters here.
Close in 30–45 days
The typical timeline from contract to closing is 30–45 days. The HTH layer adds about 5–10 business days to a standard mortgage timeline for additional approval steps.
Ready to find out exactly what you qualify for — and how much assistance you can get?
Book Your Free Hometown Heroes ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
Yes — it’s a deferred second mortgage, not a grant. But here’s what makes it so powerful: there is zero interest, no monthly payment, and you only repay the original amount borrowed (not a penny more). Repayment is triggered when you sell the home, refinance, pay off the first mortgage, or stop living there as your primary residence. If you received $20,000 in assistance and sell 10 years later, you repay exactly $20,000 — no interest accrual.
Yes — and it’s one of the most powerful combinations in mortgage financing. A veteran using a VA loan with zero down payment stacks Hometown Heroes assistance on top to cover closing costs. This can get an eligible veteran into a home with literally nothing out of pocket. Veterans using the VA loan are also exempt from the homebuyer education course requirement.
That’s completely fine. Only one borrower on the loan needs to hold an eligible occupation. Your partner can work in any field — or even be unemployed — as long as you (the qualifying borrower) meet the occupation requirement, and your combined household income stays within the county income limit.
Funding status changes frequently — sometimes weekly. The 2025–2026 budget is $50 million, which is significantly less than prior years’ $100 million allocations. Based on past demand, funds can be exhausted within 2–3 months of each new allocation. The best way to know current status is to call us directly at 407-630-9766 — we track this in real time.
No. The program is strictly for primary residences. You must intend to occupy the home within 60 days of closing as your primary place of residence. Using it for an investment property or vacation home is not permitted and would constitute fraud against the program.
Refinancing triggers repayment of the Hometown Heroes second mortgage. The balance will be paid from your refinance proceeds at closing. This is worth factoring into your refinancing math — if rates drop significantly and you’re planning to refinance, you’ll need to account for the HTH payoff in the breakeven calculation. In many cases it’s still worth it, but run the numbers first.
You Serve This Community. Let This Program Serve You.
Hometown Heroes moves fast and so should you. Let’s pull your pre-approval, check current funding availability, and map out exactly what you’re entitled to.
Start Your Hometown Heroes ApplicationCall or text: 407-630-9766
Stacy Ann Stephens | Mortgage Broker | NMLS #1933745 | Jhenesis Mortgage NMLS #2532705
Jhenesis Mortgage is an approved Hometown Heroes participating lender. Program details, income limits, and funding availability subject to change. Information current as of June 2026. This is not a commitment to lend or a guarantee of program availability. Contact us to verify current status before making any real estate decisions.