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Hometown Heroes: Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance
Buying a home takes planning. Florida Hometown Heroes may help eligible homebuyers cover part of the down payment and closing costs for a primary residence in Florida.
Up to $35,000 in assistance, subject to eligibility and funding availability.
Assistance is calculated based on the first mortgage amount, within program limits. It is provided as a second mortgage that must be repaid. It is not a grant or a forgivable loan.
Could Hometown Heroes be right for you?
Eligibility depends on your employment, income, credit history, property and selected mortgage program.
Eligible employer categories may include K-12 education, healthcare, childcare, public safety and emergency services, along with certain military categories.
Your job title alone does not determine eligibility. Your employer, full-time status and applicable in-person or hybrid work requirements also matter. Specific rules apply to military borrowers.
Generally, applicants must:
- Purchase a primary residence in Florida.
- Meet income limits and applicable property or loan limits.
- Meet first-time homebuyer requirements unless a permitted exception applies.
- Meet credit, repayment ability and documentation requirements.
- Complete homebuyer education when required.
How does the assistance work?
Funds may be applied toward the down payment and eligible closing costs.
Payments on the second mortgage are deferred under its terms. This does not eliminate your first mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance or other homeownership obligations.
The assistance balance must be repaid at maturity or sooner if a repayment-triggering event occurs, such as selling or transferring the property, refinancing or paying off the first mortgage, or no longer occupying the home as your primary residence.
Assistance cannot be used to pay personal debts, cover a gap between the purchase price and appraised value, or pay the real estate agent’s commission.
Take the first step with clear information
Tell us where you want to buy, your employment situation and where you are in the homebuying process. We can help you identify the documents needed and your next steps.
Request an Initial ReviewFor general informational purposes only. This is not a loan approval or commitment to lend. Subject to funding availability, eligibility, credit review, lender approval and program requirements. Amounts, limits and terms may change. Assistance is a repayable, non-forgivable second mortgage. Confirm current terms before applying.
Based on published Florida Housing Finance Corporation Hometown Heroes program guidelines and reference materials available through eHousingPlus. This independently prepared summary is not an official program publication or evidence of program endorsement. Program and lender requirements apply.
Source: eHousingPlus – Florida Housing program information and guidelines
Source page checked October 16, 2026.
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Explore eligible employer categories
Hometown Heroes eligibility starts with your employer, not just your job title. Full-time employees of qualifying Florida-based employers may be eligible, including certain support staff. Only one borrower needs to meet the eligible-employer requirement; all applicable program and loan requirements still apply.
Healthcare
Examples include nurses, medical assistants, technicians, therapists and other staff employed directly by a qualifying Florida healthcare provider, hospital, assisted living facility, mental health facility or patient-care facility.
A healthcare job title at an unrelated or non-patient-care business does not establish eligibility.
K-12 education
Teachers, counselors, principals, teacher aides, cafeteria employees and maintenance staff may qualify through eligible Florida public, private, charter or magnet K-12 schools.
College, university and school-district administrative office employment does not qualify under this category. The guide separately recognizes teachers paid directly by Florida Virtual School.
First responders
Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics are representative examples. The borrower must work full-time for a qualifying Florida fire department, ambulance service or hospital.
A similar role with an ineligible employer does not meet this category.
More ways you serve Florida
Public safety and court employees
Examples include 911 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, correctional and juvenile detention personnel, and qualifying court employees. Eligible employers include designated law enforcement departments, correctional or juvenile detention facilities, emergency operations centers, courts, court administrators, State Attorney offices and Public Defender offices. Private security companies and private law firms do not qualify under these categories.
Childcare
Full-time staff at qualifying licensed or license-exempt Florida childcare facilities may be eligible. Facility registration and required program designations must be verified; working with children alone does not establish eligibility.
Military and veterans
Active-duty service members have an eligible-occupation exemption with required documentation. Veterans and Reserve members, including the Florida National Guard, may meet the employer requirement through full-time work for a Florida-based employer outside the listed civilian categories. Applicable work-location and other program requirements still apply.
Not sure whether your employer qualifies?
We can review your employer, work location and employment documentation. The roles shown are examples, not a complete list or a guarantee of eligibility. Ask about applicable hybrid-work rules and specific exceptions.
Review My Employer Eligibility