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Florida Hometown Heroes

Florida Hometown Heroes is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Florida.

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The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Qualified veterans exempt from FTHB requirement
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • A minimum 640 credit score
  • A completed homebuyer education course
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Must be employed full-time (35+ hrs/week) by a Florida-based employer in an eligible frontline occupation: law enforcement, firefighters, educators, healthcare workers, childcare employees, or active military/veterans.
  • A home in Florida

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

Where it applies

Florida’s homes

  • 54.7% single-family
  • 6.7% townhouse
  • 5.9% 2–4 units
  • 24.5% 5+ units
  • 8.2% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$359,000

Florida median home value

34%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year.

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program before funds are reserved.

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved with the provider and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is Florida Hometown Heroes?

Florida Hometown Heroes is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Florida. Florida Hometown Heroes provides up to $35,000 (5% of first mortgage) in down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% interest, non-amortizing deferred second mortgage for eligible frontline workers purchasing their primary residence in Florida. Upto$35,000(5%offirstmortgage)indownpaymentandclosingcostassistance0%interest,non-amortizingdeferredsecondmortgagewith30-yeartermexclusivetoFloridafrontlineworkersincludingeducators,healthcareworkers,firstresponders,andmilitary.

How much assistance does it provide?

Florida Hometown Heroes offers up to $35,000 in assistance. Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — the administering agency determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Florida Hometown Heroes is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Sale, Refinance, and Transfer of Title. The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Florida Hometown Heroes is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: Qualified veterans exempt from FTHB requirement. The program lists a minimum credit score of 640. A homebuyer education course is required. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. Must be employed full-time (35+ hrs/week) by a Florida-based employer in an eligible frontline occupation: law enforcement, firefighters, educators, healthcare workers, childcare employees, or active military/veterans.

What are the income limits?

Florida Hometown Heroes sets its income limit as follows: Income limits vary by county, ranging from $132,900 to $178,950 gross annual income. All household member incomes counted. Check current limits at floridahousing.org. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Florida Hometown Heroes caps the purchase price as follows: Purchase price limits vary by county and property type; set by Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Check current limits at floridahousing.org. Eligible property types include Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, and 2-4 Unit.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Florida Hometown Heroes names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Florida Hometown Heroes serves homebuyers purchasing anywhere in Florida.

How do you apply?

Applications for Florida Hometown Heroes go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Also for Florida homebuyers

Whether two programs can be combined is up to each agency. Ask before you apply.

All 88 programs for Florida

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.