The details
Start with the statewide programs. Hometown Heroes assistance is up to 5 percent of the first mortgage, capped at $35,000 with a $10,000 floor, structured as a 0 percent, non amortizing, 30 year deferred second mortgage that is explicitly not forgivable and comes due on sale, refinance, transfer, or move out. Florida Assist offers up to $10,000 on the current Florida Housing list, structured historically as a 0 percent deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. HFA PLUS works differently: it provides 3 percent, 4 percent, or 5 percent of the loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage, forgiven 20 percent per year over 5 years, paired with HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage conventional first mortgages. The percentage structure means the dollar amount scales with the loan, and the forgiveness schedule means the balance can shrink over time in a way Hometown Heroes never does.
County programs show how wide the range runs. Palm Beach County SHIP offers a maximum award of $105,000 including project delivery costs, commonly quoted as up to $100,000 in assistance, as a 0 percent deferred payment loan over 30 years that is forgiven at the end of the term, but due if the home is sold, transferred, rented out, loses homestead status, or stops being a primary residence. Miami-Dade County SHIP down payment assistance offers up to $35,000 as a 0 percent deferred loan over 30 years with no forgiveness, the unpaid balance due on sale, transfer, or maturity. HFA Miami is a separate program from Miami-Dade SHIP and should not be merged with it: it offers up to $15,000 as a deferred 0 percent second mortgage, with a stated minimum credit score of 660, 24 months in the same line of work, and 8 hours of homebuyer education.
Broward County is the hardest to quote as a single number, and this page does not pretend otherwise. Its Homebuyer Purchase Assistance is a 0 percent deferred loan over 15 years with no monthly payment, satisfied after 15 years of primary residence occupancy, but the dollar cap varies by city and funding source, with a recent county record showing up to $80,000 per household. A borrower comparing all of these should weigh three things together: the dollar amount, whether the balance is forgiven or must be repaid in full, and how long the borrower must stay and occupy the home. The largest amount with full repayment can cost more in the end than a smaller forgivable amount, so the right program is the one whose amount and terms fit the borrower's actual plans.
Related loan programs
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest down payment assistance amount in Florida?
Among the programs listed here, Palm Beach County SHIP has the largest maximum award at $105,000 including project delivery costs, but it is a county program with its own eligibility and occupancy rules, not a statewide amount every buyer can claim.
Is a larger assistance amount always better?
Not necessarily. A larger amount that must be repaid in full can cost more over time than a smaller forgivable amount. Compare the dollar amount together with the repayment or forgiveness terms.
Can I combine two programs to get more total assistance?
Sometimes, with approval from the first mortgage lender and each program administrator. A combination is never automatic and must be confirmed for the exact programs involved.
More answers
- Is there such a thing as a free mortgage?
- Can you get an interest-free mortgage?
- What is a no-closing-cost mortgage?
- What is the difference between lender-paid and borrower-paid compensation?
- What does “lender-backed” mean on a mortgage?
- Mortgage broker or bank: which is better?
- How is DSCR calculated for a mortgage?
- What DSCR ratio do I need to qualify?
More in this series
- First-Time Homebuyers in Florida: Programs, Assistance, and First Steps
- Can down payment assistance programs be stacked in Florida?
- What are the qualifications and income limits for Florida down payment assistance?
- Does Hometown Heroes have to be repaid?
- Do I need to be a teacher or nurse to qualify for Hometown Heroes?
- Can I use down payment assistance with an FHA, VA, or USDA loan?
- Can I get down payment assistance with a 580 to 640 credit score?
- What credit score do I need to buy a house in Florida?
- How long does pre-approval take?
- Florida Hometown Heroes Guide
- Florida Assist Guide
- HFA Preferred and Advantage in Florida
- Salute Our Soldiers in Florida
Sources
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation: Hometown Heroes
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation: homebuyer programs
- Broward County: Purchase Assistance
- Palm Beach County: SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan, FY 2025-2028
- Miami-Dade County: SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan, FY 2025-2028
- Housing Finance Authority of Miami-Dade County: homebuyers