Down payment assistance available in every Florida county
🌟 THE NERD’S BIGGEST PICKS
The two headlines this week
Sarasota County's $75,000 program reopened Tuesday, September 1 and is taking applications now. Up to $75,000 as a zero-percent deferred loan, no payments while the home stays your primary residence, first-qualified first-served. Straight from the county's own program sheet: first-time buyers (no ownership in the last three years) under the 2026-27 income limits, which are higher than most people expect: $63,950 for one person, $73,050 for two, $82,200 for three, $91,300 for a family of four. Purchase price capped at $568,292, and single-family homes, townhomes, and condos all qualify (manufactured homes don't). Property must be in Sarasota County but not the City of Sarasota, which runs its own program. Two things to have ready before you apply: a lender pre-approval, because the lender submits the application for you and any licensed lender may participate, and a homebuyer-education certificate or a scheduled class appointment, without which the application is considered incomplete. One honest note: the loan carries a shared-appreciation provision, so selling or moving out early means repaying the remaining balance plus a share of your home's appreciation. Stay put and it's excellent money; treat it as a long-term commitment, not free cash. County help sessions run at the Jacaranda Library in Venice (Sept 10, 24, Oct 8) and the Betty J. Johnson Library in Sarasota (Sept 15, 29, Oct 13). Source: Sarasota County HERO program documents, verified Aug 30.
Hometown Heroes is open with over $30 million left. The state's flagship: 5% of your loan up to $35,000, zero-percent deferred, and currently pricing roughly three-quarters of a percent below the standard state programs. The state projects funds lasting into early 2027; last cycle committed everything in about six months. When it runs dry you lose the award and the better rate together. Source: eHousingPlus (the administrator), Aug 28.
🚨 FUNDING ALARM — LIKELY TO RUN OUT
- Key West ($100,000) — this funding round ends September 30.
- Hometown Heroes ($35,000) — last cycle, every dollar was committed in about six months.
- Sarasota County ($75,000) — first-qualified, first-served, and the window opened September 1.
Statewide programs (any Florida county)
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
 Florida Hometown Heroes | $35,000 | Open — $30M+ remaining | Sept 1 |
| FL Assist | $10,000 | Open | Aug 28 |
| FL HLP | $12,500 | Open | Aug 28 |
Suncoast & my home counties
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sarasota County SHIP 🏠 | $75,000 | Open | Sept 1 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $82,200/yr (the program’s documented low-income tier) → max housing payment ≈ $2,740/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $325,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Manatee County SHIP/CDBG | $15,000 | Closed — county says it is not accepting applications; the $15,000 cap is not finalised (confirmed by phone) | Aug 31 |
| Marion County Purchase Assistance | up to $100,000 | Closed — not accepting applications; county will announce any change on its own channels (confirmed by phone) | Aug 31 |
| City of Ocala DPA | $10,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Hernando County SHIP | up to $50,000 | Open per county; confirming funds | Aug 29 |
| Citrus County | none | No county DPA exists — state programs only | Aug 29 |
| Charlotte County SHIP (incl. Punta Gorda) 🏠 | $15,000 | Open — via lender consortium | Aug 30 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $69,500/yr (80% AMI — the county’s plan allows moderate-income buyers only on a limited basis, 2 per funding cycle) → max housing payment ≈ $2,317/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $275,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Pinellas County DPA 🏠 | up to $75,000 | Open (reopened Dec 2025) | Sept 1 |
| 🏠 Rough 4-person buying power: income cap $91,750/yr, the county's own published limit for a 4-person household ($64,250 for one person) → max housing payment ≈ $3,058/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $359,000, and the program's own $394,000 price cap applies on top. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| City of St. Petersburg | up to $75,000 | Split: open inside South St. Pete CRA to 140% AMI; limited outside | Aug 15 |
| Hillsborough (HFA "Home Sweet Home") | $25,000 | Open — confirming details | Aug 29 |
| City of Tampa "Dare to Own the Dream" | $50,000 | Confirming (conflicting reports) | Aug 29 |
| Pasco County DPA 🏠 | $65,000 | Open — accepting applications | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $123,840/yr (120% AMI) → max housing payment ≈ $4,128/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $485,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
Central Florida & Orlando metro
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County Gap Financing 🏠 | $38,000 combined | Open — fresh $4.7M, opened July 1 | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $94,320/yr (120% AMI) → max housing payment ≈ $3,144/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $370,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| City of Lakeland 🏠 | $40,000 | Open — "funding available" | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $94,320/yr (120% AMI) → max housing payment ≈ $3,144/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $370,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| City of Winter Haven SHIP 🏠 | up to $60,000 | Open year-round | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $94,320/yr (120% AMI) → max housing payment ≈ $3,144/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $370,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Orange County SHIP 🏠 | up to $70,000 (tiered) | Accepting — live portal | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $124,200/yr (120% AMI) → max housing payment ≈ $4,140/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $490,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| City of Orlando DPA | up to $45,000 | Reported paused since April — confirming | pending |
| Osceola County SHIP (incl. Kissimmee) | up to $100,000 | Window-based — confirming | pending |
| Seminole County Purchase Assistance | up to $145,000 | Closed — waitlist closed | Aug 29 |
| Lake County SHIP | $30,000–$50,000 | Open — accepting applications; award is income-based (confirmed by phone) | Aug 31 |
| Sumter County DPA | $20,000 | Closed — cycle closed | Aug 29 |
| Brevard County SHIP | varies | Window reportedly open to 6/30/27 — confirming | pending |
| City of Palm Bay | up to $67,400 | Confirming (conflicting waitlist reports) | pending |
| City of Melbourne (via CHI) | ~$40,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Volusia County | up to $75,000 | Paused since Aug 6, through at least 12/31/26 | Aug 30 |
| City of Daytona Beach | up to $50,000 (tiered) | Active in 2025; confirming 2026 funds | Aug 30 |
| City of Deltona SHIP | up to $60,000 (tiered) | Waitlist | Aug 30 |
Southeast Florida
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade PHCD DPA | $35,000 | Listed — confirming funds | Aug 30 |
| City of Miami FTHB | up to $70,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| City of Hialeah SHIP 🏠 | up to $150,000 combined | Open — accepting online | Aug 30 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $147,120/yr (120% AMI — verified in the city’s housing plan; moderate-income awards cap at $50,000) → max housing payment ≈ $4,904/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $580,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Miami Gardens 🏠 | $20,000 | Open — accepting pre-applications | Aug 30 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $122,520/yr (the city’s own published limit — verified Aug 31) → max housing payment ≈ $4,084/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $480,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Broward County HPA | $80,000 ($120,000 high-cost areas) | Open by area — county publishes fund balances; confirming latest | Aug 30 |
| Fort Lauderdale FTHB | up to $75,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Pembroke Pines | up to $75,000 | Open per city page — confirming caps | Aug 30 |
| Hollywood FTHB | up to $50,000 | Call-for-funding per the city itself | Aug 30 |
| Miramar (two programs) | $50,000 / $30,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Coral Springs | up to $80,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Pompano Beach FTHB | $80,000 | Closed since June 8 (many websites still say open — they're wrong) | Aug 30 |
| Palm Beach County SHIP | up to $100,000 | Listed — confirming current cycle | Aug 29 |
| West Palm Beach FTHB | up to $100,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Boca Raton SHIP 🏠 | need-based | Open — "funding very limited," waitlist possible | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $161,980/yr (140% AMI — verified in the city’s funding notice; very-low/low-income buyers get priority) → max housing payment ≈ $5,399/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $635,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Boynton Beach SHIP | ~$100,000 | Listed — confirming allocation | Aug 29 |
| Delray Beach FTHB | up to $75,000 | Likely closed (March window lapsed) — confirming | Aug 29 |
| Monroe County SHIP | up to $65,000 | Listed — confirming funds | Aug 30 |
| City of Key West | $20,000 | Open — but the round ends Sept 30 or when funds run out | Aug 30 |
Treasure Coast & Southwest
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian River County SHIP (incl. Vero Beach) | $10,000 | FY26-27 window opened Aug 1 — confirming | Aug 29 |
| St. Lucie County | ~$50,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Port St. Lucie | up to $100,000 | Confirming (lending-consortium program) | pending |
| Fort Pierce 🏠 | $10–15,000 | Opens Oct 1 — mandatory orientation Sept 3 or Sept 17 | Aug 29 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $110,640/yr (120% AMI — verified in the city’s housing plan; moderate-income awards cap at $10,000) → max housing payment ≈ $3,688/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $435,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Martin County SHIP (incl. Stuart) | not published | DPA not currently listed as accepting — confirming | Aug 29 |
| Okeechobee County SHIP | not published | Conflicting reports — confirming | pending |
| Lee County SHIP (unincorporated + Bonita, Estero, FMB, Sanibel) | up to $35,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| City of Cape Coral | — | Websites claim $75,000; the city's own page says individuals aren't eligible applicants — confirming | Aug 30 |
| City of Fort Myers | $35,000 | Suspended (since July 2024) | Aug 30 |
| Collier County SHIP (incl. Naples) | up to $50,000 (tiered) | Cycle active — confirming current amounts | Aug 30 |
| Glades County SHIP | reported up to $100,000 | Confirming by phone (very limited awards) | pending |
| Hendry County SHIP | not published | Closed — not accepting applications | Aug 30 |
| Hardee / DeSoto / Highlands (incl. Sebring) | varies | Hardee & DeSoto confirming; Highlands closed | Aug 29-30 |
Northeast & North Central
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau County SHIP | up to $102,747 (tiered) | Terms current — confirming funds | Aug 29 |
| Jacksonville "Headstart to Homeownership" (Duval) | $25,000 | Open subject to funding — confirming | Aug 29 |
| St. Johns County SHIP (incl. St. Augustine) | up to $100,000 | Waitlist — demand exceeds funding | Aug 30 |
| Clay County SHIP | up to $30,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Baker County | unclear | Possibly rehab-only — confirming | pending |
| Alachua County SHIP | $10–15,000 | First-qualified first-served — confirming amounts | Aug 30 |
| City of Gainesville DPA | $30,000 | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Levy County SHIP | reported $30,000 | Window may have reopened Aug 1 — confirming | pending |
| Flagler County + Palm Coast SHIP | up to $50,000 | Confirming (two published figures being reconciled) | pending |
| Putnam County SHIP | not published | Active as of March — confirming | Aug 30 |
| Columbia / Union / Bradford | $10–35,000 tiered | Columbia & Union confirming; Bradford waitlist | Aug 29-30 |
| Suwannee / Gilchrist / Dixie / Hamilton / Lafayette / Madison / Taylor (regional consortium) | $20–25,000 where funded | Small allocations; Taylor closed; others confirming | Aug 29-30 |
Panhandle
| Program | Max help | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon County SHIP (via Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium) | $7,500–$25,000 | Confirming current cycle | Aug 29 |
| City of Tallahassee DPA | 20% of purchase price | Presented open — confirming | Aug 29 |
| Regional bond DPA (Leon/Gadsden/Jefferson/Wakulla/Jackson/Gulf area) 🏠 | $7,500–$10,000 | Open — parameters current as of June 2026 | Aug 30 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $107,520/yr (120% AMI (Leon County)) → max housing payment ≈ $3,584/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $425,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Jefferson County SHIP 🏠 | up to $15,000 | Active — application posted this month | Aug 30 |
| 🏠 Rough 3-person buying power: income cap $71,650/yr (80% AMI in practice — the county’s plan budgets zero moderate-income awards) → max housing payment ≈ $2,388/mo → rough max purchase price ≈ $280,000. Illustration with stated assumptions (see note above the tables) — not an offer or approval. | |||
| Wakulla County SHIP | $10,000 | Closed (regional bond DPA is the live fallback) | Aug 30 |
| Franklin County SHIP | not published | Paused since May 1, no reopen date | Aug 29 |
| Liberty County | none | No purchase program — repair/disaster only; state programs are the DPA | Aug 29 |
| Gulf County SHIP | $50,000 | Published — confirming window | Aug 30 |
| Calhoun / Jackson / Gadsden SHIP | $10–25,000 tiered | Confirming by phone (records conflict for Jackson) | Aug 29-30 |
| Santa Rosa County SHIP | $25,000 ($50,000 very-low via Habitat) | 2025-26 cycle open since Sept — confirming balance | Aug 29 |
| Escambia / Pensacola SHIP + HFA | $10,000 (+stacking) | Confirming by phone | pending |
| Okaloosa County SHIP (incl. Fort Walton Beach) | reportedly $65,000 | Closed — despite the advertised cap | Aug 29 |
| Walton / Holmes / Washington (regional) | varies | Waitlists closed in all three | Aug 29 |
| Bay County | $50–75,000 reported | Confirming by phone (avoid the old "ReHouse Bay" website — it's no longer the county's) | pending |
| City of Panama City | $50,000 + $10,000 closing | Published — confirming availability | Aug 29 |
Watch out for these (things other websites get wrong right now)
- Pompano Beach: closed since June 8, still listed as open almost everywhere.
- Cape Coral's "$75,000": the city's own page says individuals are not eligible applicants for those funds.
- Okaloosa's "$65,000": the program is closed; the cap is real, the money isn't currently.
- City of Orlando: multiple reports of a pause since April that most sites don't mention.
- Fort Myers: suspended since July 2024; the page is still up.
- Printed tiers aren't funded tiers: several counties print income tiers to 140% AMI but only fund 80% and below. The table above reflects what actually pays where we could verify it.
How to actually get this money
Almost every program above requires a lender pre-approval before or alongside your application, most are first-come first-served, and several require the lender to be certified with the county. That's the whole game: when a window opens, the buyers who win are the ones whose pre-approval already exists. I work with these programs across Florida, I'm certified where certification is required in my home counties, and where a status above says "confirming," I can usually get you the live answer in one phone call.
If you're buying in the next year, anywhere in Florida: get pre-approved now, so you're first in line instead of starting paperwork when the window opens. Call or text me at (941) 269-8365, or reach out here.
How this page works & the fine print
Last verified: September 1, 2026. This page covers all 67 Florida counties and the major city programs, and it gets re-checked continuously; every status shows the date it was confirmed. Why it exists: down payment assistance is basically a race. Programs open, money runs out, and most of what Google shows you was written months ago about funding that no longer exists. I checked over 80 programs against their own official sources to build this, and I keep it current because I use these programs for real buyers every week.
How to read the tables: "Open" means the administrator's own page or notice says applications are being accepted as of the date shown. "Confirming" means the published information is stale, contradictory, or the government site blocks verification, and we're confirming by phone; call me and I'll get you the live answer. Award amounts are program maximums, not promises, and most programs fund lower income tiers first.
🏠 Buying-power rows: hover (or tap) a row marked 🏠 for a rough estimate of the maximum purchase price for a 3-person household at that program’s income limit. Assumptions: 2026 SHIP income limits (eff. 5/1/26), 40% front-end housing ratio (achievable with automated-underwriting approval), 6.5% 30-year fixed, about 28% of the payment reserved for taxes, insurance, and mortgage insurance, 3.5% down. Every figure is an illustration with stated assumptions — not a rate quote, an offer, or an approval; your real number comes from a pre-approval.
Biology grad, former firefighter, and finance nerd who structures loans to save you money. NMLS #130562.