Florida Hometown Heroes Program 2026 | Up to $35,000 Down Payment Assistance | Jhenesis Mortgage

Florida Hometown Heroes Program 2026 | Up to $35,000 Down Payment Assistance | Jhenesis Mortgage
Florida Hometown Heroes Program Benefits — down payment assistance, 0% interest, no origination fee
Program Eligibility

Who Qualifies for the Florida Hometown Heroes Program?

Over 50 professions are eligible. If you work full-time for a Florida-based employer in one of these fields — and you haven’t owned a home in the past 3 years — you may qualify for up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.

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Education
Teachers, aides, counselors, administrators, cafeteria staff — K-12 public, private, charter & magnet schools
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Healthcare
Nurses, physicians, therapists, technicians, aides, pharmacists, healthcare facility staff
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Fire & Rescue
Firefighters, fire marshals, EMTs, paramedics — employed by a Florida fire department or hospital
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Law Enforcement
Police officers, sheriffs, corrections officers, juvenile justice staff, 911 dispatchers, court personnel
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Childcare
Licensed childcare workers and instructors at Florida-licensed facilities
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Court & Legal
Attorneys, court reporters, and staff employed by Florida courts
Florida Hometown Heroes eligibility requirements — income limits, credit score, occupation checklist
The Process

How the Hometown Heroes Program Works

From first call to keys in hand, here’s exactly what to expect when you apply for Hometown Heroes through Jhenesis Mortgage.

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Verify Eligibility

Submit the short form above. We confirm your occupation, income, and county — no credit pull needed at this stage. Takes about 24 hours.

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Full Pre-Approval

We run your full application — first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional) plus the Hometown Heroes second mortgage reservation. This takes 1–3 business days.

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Find Your Home

Shop with confidence knowing exactly what you can afford. Need an agent? Stacy is also a licensed Florida Realtor — one call handles both sides of your transaction.

04
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Homebuyer Education

At least one applicant takes a HUD-approved homebuyer education course — available online, usually a few hours, and valid for 2 years. Veterans using VA loans are exempt.

05
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Close & Get Your Keys

At closing, your Hometown Heroes funds are applied directly — reducing or eliminating your down payment and closing costs. No monthly payment on the second mortgage.

Program Details

Hometown Heroes Program Requirements for 2026

Here are the core eligibility requirements and income limits you need to know before you apply.

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    Assistance Amount Up to 5% of your first mortgage loan amount — maximum $35,000, minimum $10,000. Applied to down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes, insurance escrows, or upfront MIP.
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    Interest Rate on Assistance 0% — no interest, no monthly payment. Repayment is deferred until you sell, refinance, or transfer the property.
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    Eligible Loan Types Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. Competitive first mortgage rates. No origination fee. No discount points.
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    Eligible Properties Single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and manufactured homes on permanent foundations. Primary residence only — all 67 Florida counties qualify.
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    Credit Score Minimum 640 (660 for manufactured homes). We also help buyers who need to improve their score to qualify.
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    Employment Full-time (35+ hours/week) with a Florida-based employer in an eligible occupation. Only ONE borrower must meet this requirement.
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    First-Time Homebuyer No ownership interest in a primary residence within the past 3 years. Waived for veterans and active military.
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    Funding Status Funding is limited and first-come, first-served. The 2025–26 cycle committed $50M within 6 months. New 2026–27 funding is expected — contact us for current availability.
2026 Income Limits by Region
Region / CountyIncome Limit
Miami-Dade County~$170,250–$185,850
Palm Beach County~$166,950–$182,100
Broward County~$166,950–$182,100
Orange / Orlando Area~$143,250–$156,450
Osceola County~$143,250–$156,450
Seminole County~$143,250–$156,450
Tampa / Hillsborough~$143,250–$156,450
Jacksonville / Duval~$140,700–$153,750
⚠️ Income limits are revised periodically. Limits shown are approximate 2026 figures — verify your county’s current limit with us before applying. Income is calculated on the gross annual income of all applicants on the loan.
Why Work With Us

You Deserve an Actual Lender — Not a Lead Form

Most Hometown Heroes websites are aggregator sites that capture your information and sell your lead to multiple lenders. When you apply here, you’re working directly with a Florida-licensed mortgage broker who is approved to originate Hometown Heroes loans — not an out-of-state call center.

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Approved HTH Participating Lender

Stacy Ann Stephens, NMLS #1933745, is a Florida-licensed mortgage broker approved to originate Florida Hometown Heroes loans through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

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One Agent. One Lender.

Stacy is also a licensed Florida REALTOR® with Keller Williams. She can help you find the right home AND originate your Hometown Heroes loan — one trusted advisor, fewer surprises, faster closings.

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24 Years in Real Estate

Stacy immigrated from Jamaica and built her life in real estate — first in Connecticut, now in Central Florida. She knows what it means to work hard for a home, and she brings that into every client relationship.

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Expert in DPA Stacking

Hometown Heroes can sometimes be combined with county SHIP funds for even more savings. We know which counties allow stacking and how to structure your loan to maximize every dollar available to you.

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VA Loan Specialist

Freshly trained at UWM’s VA loan certification program, Stacy helps veterans navigate both their VA benefit and Hometown Heroes eligibility — two programs that can work powerfully together.

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You Talk to the Broker

No 1-800 numbers. No being bounced between processors. You talk directly to Stacy — the licensed broker who knows your file and your goals from the first conversation.

Florida Hometown Heroes Program impact — 25,000 families helped, $386 million in down payment assistance
Common Questions

Florida Hometown Heroes FAQ

Everything you need to know about how the program works, who qualifies, and what to expect.

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program is a state-funded down payment and closing cost assistance program administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. It provides eligible first-time homebuyers in qualifying occupations with up to $35,000 in assistance — structured as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. No monthly payments are required; repayment is triggered only when you sell, refinance, or transfer the home.
Up to 5% of your first mortgage loan amount, with a maximum of $35,000 and a minimum of $10,000. For example, on a $300,000 loan you would receive $15,000. The funds can be applied to your down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes, homeowners insurance escrows, upfront MIP (for FHA loans), or principal reduction.
Yes — but not right away, and not with interest. The assistance is a 0% interest, non-amortizing second mortgage. You make no monthly payments on it. Repayment is only required when you sell the home, refinance your mortgage, transfer ownership, or stop using the property as your primary residence. It is not a grant — it is a deferred, interest-free loan.
To qualify you must: (1) be employed full-time (35+ hours/week) by a Florida-based employer in an eligible occupation such as healthcare, education, public safety, childcare, or the court system; (2) be a first-time homebuyer — meaning you have not owned a primary residence in the past 3 years; (3) meet the income limits for your county (generally up to 150% of Area Median Income); (4) have a minimum 640 credit score; and (5) purchase a primary residence in Florida. Veterans and active military are exempt from the first-time buyer and employer requirements.
Yes. The employer must be a Florida corporation or have a physical brick-and-mortar location in the state of Florida. Only one of the occupying borrowers needs to meet the occupation and employer requirement — so if two people are on the loan, only one needs to qualify occupationally. Veterans are completely exempt from the employer requirement.
Hometown Heroes can be paired with FHA, VA, USDA, or Conventional (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac) first mortgage loans. The program also offers competitive first mortgage interest rates and waives the standard 1% origination fee — saving borrowers thousands in upfront costs. Jhenesis Mortgage can originate all eligible loan types.
The 2025–26 funding cycle opened in August 2025 with $50 million and fully committed all funds within six months. The Florida Legislature is considering $50–75 million for the 2026–27 fiscal year, which typically opens around mid-year. Funding goes fast — it is first-come, first-served. Contact us today to confirm current funding availability and get your application ready the moment new funds open.
Yes — at least one applicant on the loan must complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Most courses are available online, take a few hours to complete, and cost between $0–$100. Your certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of completion. Veterans using a VA loan are exempt from this requirement.
In some cases, yes. Certain Florida counties allow Hometown Heroes to be layered with local SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) funds, potentially adding $10,000–$100,000 depending on the county. Hometown Heroes cannot be combined with the Florida Assist program — you choose one. Contact us to find out what stacking options are available in your specific county.
Pre-approval typically takes 1–3 business days. The full process from application to closing generally takes 30–45 days. The Hometown Heroes layer adds approximately 5–10 business days to a standard mortgage timeline due to additional state-level approval steps. Starting your eligibility check early puts you in the best position when funding is available.
Both are Florida Housing programs, but Hometown Heroes is occupation-specific and offers up to $35,000. Florida Assist offers up to $10,000 but is open to any qualifying first-time buyer regardless of occupation. You can only use one state-level program — you cannot combine Hometown Heroes and Florida Assist. For most essential workers, Hometown Heroes is the stronger option because of the higher assistance amount. We can help you determine which program gives you the best outcome.
Yes — contact us immediately. As long as you haven’t closed yet, you can still apply. The sooner we start, the better, since processing takes time and funding reservations are made during the loan process. Do not wait. Call or submit the eligibility form above right now.

You Serve Florida Every Day.
Let This Program Serve You Back.

Funding is limited and first-come, first-served. The best time to check your eligibility was six months ago. The second best time is right now.

Check My Eligibility — It’s Free Or call Stacy directly: 407-603-1664 Stacy Ann Stephens | NMLS #1933745 | Jhenesis Mortgage NMLS #2532705
Jhenesis Mortgage
Stacy Ann Stephens | Mortgage Broker | NMLS #1933745 | Jhenesis Mortgage NMLS #2532705
Email: stacyann@jhenesismortgage.com | Phone: 407-603-1664
This is not a commitment to lend. Loan approval is subject to applicant creditworthiness, income verification, property appraisal, and program availability. The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program is administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Funding is limited and subject to availability. Rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Equal Housing Lender. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.