What is the Florida Hometown Heroes program and who qualifies in 2026?

It's Florida Housing's down payment and closing cost help for first-time buyers who work full time in health care, schools, law enforcement, fire and EMS, the courts, child care or the military. It gives 5% of the loan, $10,000 to $35,000, at 0% interest with no monthly payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or stop living in the home. The 2026 round opened July 13, and on October 27 it still had more than $20 million available.

Florida Hometown Heroes 2026, up to $35,000 for your down payment

Where the program stands

The 2026 round opened July 13, 2026 with $50 million from the 2026-27 state budget.
On October 27, 2026, eHousingPlus, the company that runs the program for Florida Housing, showed more than $20 million available.
Money goes first come, first served, and a lender can only reserve it once you have a signed purchase contract. The 2025 round ran out in about six months.

So if you're interested, start preparing now and confirm with a participating lender that funds remain before you count on them.

How much it gives

5% of the first mortgage, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000, for down payment and closing costs.
Example: on a $300,000 loan, the help would be $15,000.
It's a second mortgage at 0% interest, with no monthly payments, over 30 years.
It isn't forgiven. You repay it in full when you sell, refinance the first mortgage, transfer the deed or stop living in the home as your main residence.
The first mortgage can be FHA, VA, USDA or conventional, at a market rate, with reduced fees and no origination or discount points.

Who qualifies

Your job: full-time work for a Florida-based employer in health care (hospitals, doctor's offices, pharmacies, assisted living and mental health facilities), K-12 schools (teachers, aides, counselors, cafeteria and maintenance staff), fire and EMS, law enforcement and public safety (including corrections and 911 dispatch), courts, State Attorney and Public Defender offices, or licensed child care.
Military and veterans: active duty or reserve members of the armed forces, the Coast Guard or the Florida National Guard. Veterans qualify if they work full time for a Florida employer.
Only one borrower needs the qualifying job.
First-time buyer: generally, no ownership of a main home in the past three years. There are exceptions for veterans and certain areas.
Main residence: the home is for you to live in, not to rent out.
Credit: a minimum score of 640.
Class: an approved homebuyer education course before closing.
Income: under your county's limit (see below).

According to reports on the reopening, fully remote workers don't qualify and you must move in within 60 days of closing. Your lender confirms these rules for your case.

Limits in Polk and Osceola (2026)

These are the figures in Florida Housing's guide for reservations from May 6, 2026, revised July 13, for the loan option called TBA:

Polk County: household income up to $148,050 with an FHA, VA or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage loan, and $119,850 with USDA. FHA loans can go up to $541,287, and VA or HFA Advantage loans up to $832,750.
Osceola County: income up to $172,350 with FHA, VA or HFA Advantage, and $119,850 with USDA. The same loan limits: $541,287 (FHA) and $832,750 (VA or HFA Advantage).

A second financing option (bond loans) has its own limits. Your lender tells you which fits and how your income is counted.

How to apply, step by step

Take a homebuyer education course with an approved agency. Some are in Spanish.
Find a lender that participates in the program with Florida Housing's locator. Not every bank does.
Get preapproved with the help included, so you know your real budget. You can try numbers in the buyer simulator.
Look for a home within the limits and make your offer. With a signed contract, the lender reserves the funds.
Close and move in.

Applying is free. Florida Housing warns that scammers ask for upfront fees. If it happens, report it to its Office of Inspector General at 850-488-4197.

If you don't qualify

Florida Housing has other help, such as Florida Assist (up to $10,000 at 0% interest, repaid when you sell or refinance) and 3% to 5% second mortgages that are forgiven over five years with certain conventional loans. See also the down payment help guide and the Polk County help guide.

This guide is general information, not a loan approval. Rules and funds change. Confirm everything with a participating lender before you sign. If you'd like, I can help you find homes in Polk or Osceola that fit the program's limits.