Florida Hometown Heroes • NMLS #303217

Florida Hometown Heroes Down Payment Assistance Program

Up to $35,000 toward down payment and closing costs for Florida’s frontline workers — teachers, nurses, first responders, and more.

Get Pre-Approved Call Keith: 352-619-4959

Written by Keith Meredith·NMLS 303217·Division President, Black Rock Mortgage

Program Update

Hometown Heroes funds are currently exhausted — The state approved $50 million in the May 29 budget — new funds are available July 1, 2026. Apply early to lock in your reservation.

Up to $35K

In down payment and closing-cost assistance for eligible Florida workers buying a primary residence

50+ Jobs

Eligible professions including teachers, nurses, firefighters, police, military, EMTs, and many more

$0 Monthly

Zero monthly payment on the assistance loan. Deferred until you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage

Up to $35,000

5% of mortgage amount toward down payment and closing costs, with a $10,000 minimum. Loans under $200K get an automatic $10,000.

Below-Market Rate

Rate is set lower than current market and published by eHousingPlus. No origination points, no discount points needed.

Doc Stamps Waived

Florida state doc stamps and intangibles are waived — making your offer stronger when sellers normally absorb these costs.

About the Hometown Heroes Program

The Hometown Heroes mortgage program, effective July 2025, will no longer be available for all first-time home buyers who work for a Florida-based employer full time. The eligible occupations are listed below, and the employer must still be Florida-based.

They include: healthcare worker, school staff member, first responder, public safety employee, court employee, childcare worker, an active service member of the United States Military, military reserves, and the United States Coast Guard or its reserves and the Florida National Guard. Also any veteran employed by a Florida-based employer will qualify even if they are not a first-time home buyer.

Summed up, the Hometown Heroes mortgage program is designed to help reduce interest rate, closing costs, and out-of-pocket expenses when purchasing a home. This is huge news for the state of Florida — this program makes buying a home more affordable in a time when home affordability is a serious issue.

Up to $35,000 in Down Payment Assistance for Florida Heroes

Florida Hometown Heroes provides up to $35,000 in down payment and closing-cost assistance to eligible Florida workers buying their primary residence. The assistance comes as a zero-interest, deferred second mortgage – no monthly payments while you live in the home, repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. Combined with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages, this program often turns a “maybe in a year or two” into a “we can close this month” for first-time buyers who serve their communities.

So What’s the Benefit to the Hometown Heroes Program?

In short: the Hometown Heroes first-time home buyer program saves you money. 5% of the mortgage amount, up to $35,000, can be applied toward your closing costs and down payment with a minimum of $10,000. If your loan amount is less than $200,000, you receive an automatic $10,000.

Seller concessions for closing costs and pre-paids aren’t needed
The rate is lower than current market rates and published by eHousingPlus
Discount points to lower the rate are not allowed
No origination points are allowed
The program can be used on a 30 or 15 year fixed mortgage
State doc stamps and intangibles are waived — making your offer stronger when sellers usually absorb these costs
If you are a Veteran, the first-time home buyer qualification is waived
Only one of the borrowers must have a qualifying occupation
Conventional financing at or below 80% AMI gets special mortgage insurance rates

Income Limitations

The program does have income limitations. However, the limitations are based on the area median income (AMI). The max income limit ranges from $95,300 to $182,420 depending on which county you live in. When using Hometown Heroes in conjunction with USDA financing, the USDA income limits apply instead.

Hometown Heroes Guidelines You Need to Know

640 minimum credit score for all loan programs (FHA, VA, Conventional, USDA) for single-family homes and manufactured homes
Max debt ratio is 50% (total monthly debt can’t exceed 50% of monthly income)
For manual underwrites, the minimum credit score is 660 with a max debt ratio of 43%
The term of the mortgage will be 30 years
As a first-time home buyer, you nor a non-borrowing spouse can have owned a primary residence in the last 3 years — unless buying in a federally designated area
Manufactured homes built in 1994 or newer qualify; for USDA, the home can’t be more than 20 years old
Modular homes are permitted
Co-signers are allowed but can’t be on the deed
At least one borrower must complete a first-time home buyer’s course or a pre-purchasing course
Lender fees can’t exceed $1,750
Hometown Heroes funds cannot be used to pay real estate agent commissions — the borrower must use their own funds if there is a charge

Eligible Occupations

You must be employed full-time in one of the occupations listed below to qualify for the Hometown Heroes program. The employer must also be Florida-based — they need a physical location in the state. Working remotely for an out-of-state company doesn’t qualify.

Scanning tip: Florida Housing covers 50+ specific job titles across 8 categories below. If your role appears here — or anything close — there’s a real chance you qualify. We confirm exact eligibility against the current FL Housing rules during your pre-approval.

Healthcare Workers

50+ ROLES

Nursing

Advanced Practice RN (APRN)
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Midwife
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Nursing Technician
Registered Nurse (RN)

Medical Technicians

Anesthesia Support Technician
Cardiology Technician
Clinical Technician
CT Technician
ER Technician
Laboratory Technician (incl. Phlebotomist)
Monitor Technician
Music Technician
Neurology Technician
Nuclear Medicine Technician
Orthopedic Technician
Pharmacy Technician
Radiation Technician
Rehabilitation Technician
Sonographer
Surgical Technician
X-ray Technician

Medical Therapists

Audiology Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Respiratory Therapist
Speech Therapist

Mental Health Workers

Behavioral Health Specialist
Behavioral Health Technician
Behavioral Health Therapist
Case Manager
Mental Health Specialist
Mental Health Technician
Mental Health Therapist
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Social Worker

Doctors, Physicians & Pharmacists

Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Dentist
Nuclear Pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
Physician
Physician Assistant

Other Healthcare

Dental Assistant
Dental Hygienist
Medical Assistant (CMA / MA)
Patient Care Assistant
Patient Transporter (Orderly)
Phlebotomist

School Staff

11 ROLES

Full-time employees of any Florida-based K-12 public, private, charter, or magnet school.

Assistant Principal
Career Specialist / Counselor
Classroom Teacher
Food Service / Cafeteria
Librarian / Media Specialist
Maintenance / Janitorial
Principal
School Counselor
School Psychologist
Social Worker
Teacher Aide

First Responders

3 ROLES

Full-time employees of a Florida-based fire department, ambulance service, or hospital.

Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Certified Paramedic
Firefighter

Public Safety

6 ROLES

Full-time at a Florida-based law enforcement department, juvenile detention, correctional facility, or emergency operations center.

911 Operator / Dispatcher
Correctional Officer
Correctional Probation Officer
Juvenile Detention Officer
Juvenile Probation Officer
Sworn Law Enforcement

Court Employees

5 ROLES

Full-time at a Florida-based county, state, or federal court, court administrator’s office, State Attorney’s Office, or Public Defender’s Office.

Assistant State Attorney
Assistant Public Defender
Court-employed Attorney
Court Clerk
Court Stenographer / Reporter

Childcare Workers

2 ROLES

Full-time at a Florida-licensed childcare facility (S.402.301–402.305) or licensure-exempt facility (S.402.313 / 402.316).

Any worker at a licensed childcare facility
Any worker at a licensed or registered home daycare

Military & Veterans

ALL BRANCHES

Active duty or reserve service members — all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Florida National Guard
Veterans employed full-time with a Florida-based employer (discharged under other-than-dishonorable conditions)

See your role above — or something close enough? Send us your scenario and we’ll verify Hometown Heroes eligibility against current FL Housing rules and handle the application alongside your mortgage.

Why Hometown Heroes Works for Florida Workers

Up to $35,000 in down payment and closing-cost assistance for eligible Florida workers.

50+ eligible professions – check the FL Housing eligibility list; if your job appears, you qualify.

Combined with FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages – works on whichever loan type fits your scenario.

Zero-interest, deferred second mortgage – no monthly payment on the assistance funds.

Repaid only at sale, refinance, or payoff of the first mortgage – you keep the assistance interest-free as long as you live there.

Income limits apply – generally up to 150% of area median income for your county.

First-time buyer OR no homeownership in the last 3 years – both pathways qualify.

Florida primary residence only – must be your owner-occupied home in the state of Florida.

Teachers, nurses, firefighters, police, military, EMTs, social workers, and many other essential professions included.

We handle the FL Housing Hometown Heroes application alongside your mortgage – one process, one closing.

FAQ About the Florida Hometown Heroes Program

5% of your mortgage amount, capped at $35,000, with a $10,000 minimum. If your loan is under $200,000, you receive an automatic $10,000. The funds go toward your down payment and closing costs.

No — only one borrower needs a qualifying occupation. Your spouse or co-borrower can work in any field.

You still qualify. The first-time home buyer requirement is waived for veterans employed by a Florida-based employer with an other-than-dishonorable discharge.

640 across all loan types (FHA, VA, conventional, USDA) for single-family and manufactured homes. Manual underwrites bump that up to 660 with a tighter 43% max DTI. Standard max DTI is 50%.

Income limits range from $95,300 to $182,420 depending on your county’s AMI. We can check your specific county. If you’re using Hometown Heroes with USDA financing, USDA’s income limits apply instead.

No. The employer must be Florida-based — meaning they have a physical location in Florida. Working remotely from Florida for an out-of-state company doesn’t qualify.

Hometown Heroes is funded annually by the Florida Legislature. Once the year’s allocation is reserved, no new applications can be accepted until next cycle. Demand has been consistently higher than funding, so apply early — reservations begin August 18, 2025.

Yes — Hometown Heroes layers onto FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages. If you’re using conventional with income at or below 80% AMI for your county, you also get special reduced mortgage insurance rates.

About the Author

Keith Meredith

Division President, Black Rock Mortgage
NMLS 303217 · 16+ years originating · $100M+ in mortgages closed

Keith Meredith is a 16 year mortgage industry expert who has originated over $100,000,000 in mortgages. Headquartered in Ocala, Florida, Keith runs Black Rock Mortgage as a division of Coast 2 Coast Mortgage, a lender licensed in 40 states. Keith specializes in manufactured home financing, self-employed mortgages, VA construction loans, and helping first-time buyers navigate FHA, USDA, and conventional programs. He creates written and video content to help borrowers understand their financing options.

Call or text directly: 352-619-4959 · Follow Keith on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Apply Today — Hometown Heroes Funds Dry Up Fast

By applying for a pre-approval we can confirm you meet the income and first-time home buyer status for Hometown Heroes. An application is not an obligation — and if you don’t qualify, we can guide you toward another loan program that meets your needs. New funds available July 1, 2026, with reservations beginning in August.

Get Pre-Approved in 24 Hours

Call Keith: 352-619-4959