Florida buyers often hear several program names at once: Florida First, HFA Advantage, HFA Preferred, Florida Assist, Hometown Heroes, SHIP and local county programs. They are not interchangeable. Some provide a first mortgage, some add a second mortgage for down payment, some target occupations, and some funding pools can be fully committed before the fiscal year ends.
Start with the statewide Homebuyer Program
Florida Housing says its Homebuyer Program offers 30-year fixed-rate first mortgages through approved participating lenders. The published baseline includes a minimum 640 credit score, approved homebuyer education, county income and purchase-price limits and a first-time-buyer test. The agency defines that test around not owning and occupying a primary residence during the prior three years, with program-specific exceptions.
Miami-Dade has its own assistance layer
Miami-Dade’s current page describes a zero-interest deferred loan of up to $35,000 for qualifying first-time buyers. It requires county residency at application and closing, at least 1% of the purchase price from the borrower’s own funds, fixed-rate financing, homebuyer education and income qualification. The loan is not free cash: repayment and shared-equity conditions can apply when the home is sold or transferred.
Hometown Heroes needs a live funding check
Florida Housing reported that the 2025–2026 Hometown Heroes allocation became fully committed in February 2026. The agency also publishes a 2026 program page and limits. That is exactly why a buyer should ask an approved lender to confirm the active funding window and lock status in writing rather than relying on an old social post or search snippet.
Build the offer without wishful money
Ask for a program worksheet showing the first mortgage, any second mortgage, interest rate, fees, assistance amount, repayment trigger and estimated cash to close. Keep a backup plan that does not depend on unreserved funding. A counselor or approved lender can help, but the purchase contract should reflect the program’s actual timeline and conditions.
