Hometown Heroes is a Florida Housing Finance Corporation program that pairs a first mortgage with down payment and closing-cost assistance for income-qualified homebuyers working full time for a Florida-based employer in an eligible occupation. The assistance is a deferred second mortgage that is repaid rather than forgiven, and funding is limited.
The strongest option depends on the complete financial profile, desired payment, property and plans for the future.
Full-time employees of Florida-based employers in eligible occupations
First-time buyers within county income and purchase-price limits
Active military members and veterans, who may qualify under different requirements
Buyers purchasing a Florida primary residence they intend to occupy
RFG compares eligible paths and explains the tradeoffs so the decision is based on more than a headline feature.
Hometown Heroes assistance is structured as a deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. The balance generally becomes due when the home is sold or transferred, the first mortgage is refinanced or paid off, or the property is no longer the primary residence.
The program is funded in cycles by the Florida Legislature and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis through participating lenders. Availability at the time of a contract cannot be assumed, and the program pauses between funding rounds.
Eligibility depends on full-time employment with a Florida-based employer in an occupation on the current approved list, along with county income and purchase-price limits, credit and first-time-buyer requirements. Requirements are revised between program cycles.
Assistance is paired with a program first mortgage. The rate, mortgage insurance, term and total cost of that first mortgage should be compared against other eligible financing before the assistance amount decides the transaction.
A disciplined process creates room for better decisions and fewer preventable surprises.
Confirm occupation, employer, income and first-time-buyer eligibility
Compare the program first mortgage against other eligible options
Complete required homebuyer education
Obtain a documented preapproval before funds are needed
Reserve assistance and close within program deadlines
Every mortgage is specific to the borrower, property and current program requirements. These answers are educational starting points.
No. The assistance is a deferred second mortgage rather than a grant. It carries no monthly payment, but the balance is generally repaid when the property is sold or transferred, when the first mortgage is refinanced or paid off, or when the home is no longer the primary residence.
Eligibility generally requires full-time employment with a Florida-based employer in an occupation on the current approved list, income within the applicable county limit, a purchase price within program limits and a Florida primary residence. First-time-buyer, credit and homebuyer-education requirements also apply. Only one occupying borrower typically needs to hold the eligible occupation.
No. Funding is appropriated in cycles and reserved first come, first served through participating lenders. Prior rounds have been fully committed well before the end of a fiscal year, after which the program pauses until it is funded again. Preapproval in advance is the practical way to be ready when a cycle opens.
They may. The program has historically provided exemptions from certain requirements for eligible veterans and active-duty service members, and those exemptions have varied by funding cycle and by the first-mortgage option selected. Current rules should be confirmed rather than assumed.
Generally not with another Florida Housing down payment assistance program, and participation in a Florida Housing homebuyer program is typically limited to one time. The assistance pairs with an eligible program first mortgage, and compatibility must be confirmed for the current cycle.
Generally yes. At least one borrower is typically required to complete an approved pre-purchase homebuyer education course, which is often available online. Certain borrowers may be exempt depending on the first-mortgage option.
Last reviewed August 5, 2026. This page provides general education and is not a commitment to lend or a guarantee of assistance. Hometown Heroes is administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation; RFG does not control program funding, eligibility rules or reservation availability. Program terms can change without notice and must be confirmed for the borrower, property and transaction.
Tell us what you are planning. We will help you understand the available paths and decide what makes sense next.
