First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
Down Payment & Closing Cost Programs for South Florida Buyers
Real programs. Real numbers. Let’s find out what you actually qualify for.
$100K
Max assistance available (Broward)
0%
Interest on most 2nd mortgages
5+
Programs that can stack together
640
Min. credit score, statewide programs
Buying your first home in South Florida? Between the state, your county, and even your city, there are real down payment and closing-cost assistance programs that can put homeownership within reach. Here’s an honest rundown of what’s currently available — and I’m happy to help you figure out which ones you actually qualify for.
Florida Statewide Programs
Administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, these programs pair with a first mortgage and require an approved homebuyer education course, a minimum 640 credit score, and that you meet the IRS definition of a first-time buyer (haven’t owned and occupied a primary residence in the last 3 years).
FL Assist
Up to $10,000 as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. Not forgivable — repaid when the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer your primary residence.
FL HLP Second Mortgage
$12,500 second mortgage at 3%, fully amortizing over 30 years, with its own monthly payment (factored into your debt-to-income ratio).
HFA Preferred / Advantage PLUS
3%, 4%, or 5% of your loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage, forgiven 20% per year over 5 years — available only with Florida Housing’s conventional first mortgage products.
Florida Hometown Heroes
For healthcare workers, school staff, first responders, public safety and court employees, childcare workers, and military/veterans: up to 5% ($10,000–$35,000) toward down payment and closing costs, plus a reduced first mortgage rate. 0% deferred second mortgage, not forgivable.
Your first home is closer than you think.
County-Level Assistance
Broward County
Up to $100,000 as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage with a 15-year term, for households earning below 120% of Area Median Income. Allocated by commission district, first-come first-qualified.
- Max sales price: $679,324
- Buyer contributes 3% of purchase price (waived for VA loans)
- HUD-approved education course + home inspection required
- Eligible: single-family, condos, villas, townhomes
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade’s Department of Housing and Community Development administers SHIP locally, plus its own homeownership assistance loans for income-eligible buyers. A HUD-approved education course is required. Funding rounds change throughout the year — best to check current availability directly.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County’s Department of Housing and Economic Development offers purchase assistance for first-time buyers through its Mortgage and Housing Investments division. Program terms and funding cycles shift, so it’s worth a direct check for what’s currently open.
City-Level Programs
On top of state and county assistance, many South Florida cities — including Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, and Miramar — run their own SHIP-funded or Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) down payment and closing-cost assistance for buyers purchasing within city limits. These programs tend to have smaller budgets and stricter service-area rules, and funding availability changes throughout the year, so the right move is checking with that specific city’s housing or CRA office once you know where you’re buying.
How It Works
Check Eligibility
We review your income, credit, and first-time buyer status against each program’s requirements.
Get Pre-Approved
Connect with a Florida Housing approved lender to lock in your first mortgage.
Apply for Assistance
Layer in state, county, or city down payment programs your lender confirms you qualify for.
Close On Your Home
Combine your mortgage and assistance funds at closing — keys in hand.
Not Sure Where to Start?
These programs stack in different ways depending on your income, the property, and which city or district it’s in — and eligibility rules and funding levels change throughout the year. If you’re a first-time buyer in South Florida, let’s talk through your situation and figure out what you actually qualify for.
Program details above reflect publicly published guidelines as of 2026 and are subject to change by the administering agency. This is general information, not financial or legal advice — always confirm current terms, funding availability, and eligibility directly with the program administrator or your lender.