18 Florida First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Programs

Struggling to buy a house? A Florida first-time home buyer grant may be able to help. These city or county programs provide money you can put toward a down payment, closing costs and other expenses that are typically part of the homebuying process.

What is a first-time home buyer grant?

First-time home buyer assistance is available throughout the Sunshine State. A variety of entities offer these grants, including local governments, community development organizations and nonprofits.

Some are true grants that don’t have to be repaid. Others are forgivable loans that don't have to be paid back if you reach a certain threshold, like having lived in the home for 10 years. Many are deferred, zero-interest loans. These loans don't accrue interest, but they do have to be repaid when you sell, refinance or finish paying off the primary mortgage. Even though they don't have required payments, it's a good idea to pay a little over time so you aren't stuck having to pay back a deferred loan all at once.

Each assistance program has its own terms, conditions and eligibility requirements, but generally, you must:

• Be a first-time home buyer, as defined by the program.

• Take a home buyer education course.

• Stay within income limits.

• Stay within purchase price limits.

• Buy a property in an approved location.

• Use the home as your primary residence.

In addition to the grants listed here, you may qualify for other Florida programs designed to make homebuying more affordable. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation offers mortgages packaged with assistance in the form of zero-interest deferred loans and forgivable loans that you might find helpful.

» MORE: How down payment assistance programs work

First-time home buyer grants across Florida

1. State Housing Initiatives Program (statewide)

The FHFC manages the State Housing Initiatives Program, known as SHIP. SHIP money goes to all Florida counties and dozens of cities. Local governments use those funds to provide down payment and closing cost assistance, homeownership counseling and other beneficial programs. Contact your city or county government to learn more about SHIP grants in your community.

2. Own a Home Opportunity Program (multiple counties)

This program offers up to $7,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time home buyers in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Lee and Sarasota counties, as well as $10,000 in assistance to buyers in Palm Beach County. Funds are distributed as a zero-interest, deferred loan. Borrowers must get a mortgage through a program-approved lender.

3. Own a Home Opportunity Grant Program (multiple counties)

The OAHO grant program offers buyers up to 5% of their total loan amount to be used for a down payment or to defray closing costs. Buyers in Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Lee, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Johns and Volusia counties are eligible. In addition to conforming to income and purchase price limits, borrowers must have a credit score of at least 640 and get their primary mortgage through an approved lender. The funds are a grant that does not have to be repaid.

» MORE: Tips for first-time home buyers

Programs in the Florida Panhandle

4. HOME Homebuyers Program (Pensacola and Escambia County)

This grant program gives up to $12,500 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Funds are provided as a zero-interest deferred loan, meaning you don't have to repay the loan right away and it isn't accruing interest in the meantime.. To qualify, the home must be built after 1978, not exceed the HOME price limit and be located within Escambia County or the city of Pensacola.

5. SHIP First Time Homebuyers Program (Pensacola and Escambia County)

Through state funding, the city of Pensacola and Escambia County offer up to $25,000 worth of down payment and closing cost assistance, with the amount of assistance based on borrower income. The funds come as a zero-interest deferred loan, so the loan doesn't accrue interest while awaiting repayment. One notable qualification is that a borrower can count as a first-time home buyer if they haven't had an ownership stake in a home in at least three years, so even if you used to own a home, you could still be eligible.

6. Pensacola Homebuyer Incentive Program (Pensacola)

This program provides up to $30,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a zero-interest, deferred payment loan. These funds are reserved for low- to moderate-income families. The home must be located within Pensacola, and purchase price limits apply.

7. Purchase Assistance Program (Panama City)

Panama City offers first-time home buyers up to $50,000 toward closing costs, down payment and defraying the cost of mortgage payments. The funds are distributed as a second mortgage. A variety of home types are accepted, though the property's price can not exceed $300,000.

8. Down Payment Assistance Program (Tallahassee)

Offered through the Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium, this program lends qualified applicants up to 20% of down payment and closing costs. Buyers must pay at least $500 out of pocket and have around $2,000 to cover other home purchase costs. The assistance is provided as a zero-interest second mortgage. Income limits and property price limits must be met to qualify.

9. Down Payment Assistance Program (Leon County)

The Tallahassee Lenders' Consortium also offers assistance to first-timers looking to buy homes outside of Tallahassee in Leon County. Depending on income, borrowers may be eligible for up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Borrowers need to put at least $500 of their own money toward the purchase, as well as have roughly $2,000 for other purchase-related expenses. Funding is provided as a no-interest second mortgage, and the property's purchase price can't exceed $349,525.80.

Programs in north Florida

10. Down Payment Assistance Program (Gainesville)

This grant program provides first-time home buyers with up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Funding is provided as a forgivable loan; if the homeowner maintains the home as their primary residence for at least five years, the loan is forgiven. Only properties under program price thresholds and within the city limits of Gainesville are allowed.

11. SHIP Down Payment Assistance (Alachua County)

First-time home buyers purchasing a home that's within Alachua County but outside Gainesville can apply for down payment and closing cost assistance, as well as funds for necessary home repairs. Funds are provided as a 10-year second mortgage.

12. Homebuyer Assistance Program (Volusia County)

Volusia County Community Assistance Division’s Homebuyer Assistance Program offers substantial assistance to lower-income first-time home buyers, providing up to $44,000 for a down payment and up to $6,000 for closing costs. Funds come in the form of a deferred subordinate loan with no interest. The home must be below the program's price threshold and be located in Volusia County but outside the city limits of Daytona Beach or Deltona. Assistance is limited in Edgewater, Pierson, Port Orange and Oak Hill.

13. Affordable Home Ownership Assistance Program (Daytona Beach)

This program helps qualified applicants purchase a home within the city limits of Daytona Beach. Up to $50,000 in assistance is available as a forgivable loan, with the amount depending on program funding and applicant income. Money may be used for a down payment, closing costs and the rehabilitation of the home. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, you must also contribute at least $500 toward the purchase and occupy the home as your primary residence.

Programs in central Florida

14. Down Payment Assistance Program (Orange County)

First-time home buyers can receive up to $45,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through this program, depending on their income. Funds are provided in the form of a 10-year deferred loan that must be repaid if the borrower sells, rents, refinances or moves out of the property before the loan period expires. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, applicants also need to contribute up to $1,000 and be a resident of Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, Volusia or Brevard County. Property requirements also must be met, with a price limit of $300,000.

15. Dare to Own the Dream (Tampa)

Tampa's DARE program gives qualified buyers up to $40,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. Funds are provided in the form of a deferred-payment loan that’s fully forgiven if the borrower owns and occupies the house for at least 10 years. Potential borrowers must work with one of Tampa's three city-approved counseling agencies, as well as working with a city-approved loan officer and real estate agent. In addition to meeting general eligibility requirements, applicants must contribute some of their own funds toward the purchase. The home must be located within Tampa city limits and must pass a city inspection.

16. East Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program (Tampa)

First-time home buyers looking to purchase in the East Tampa community reinvestment area can receive up to $50,000 in down payment assistance. The funds are provided as a zero-interest loan that's forgiven after seven years of owner occupancy. Eligibility criteria and requirements are the same as the DARE program, except that the property must be within the East Tampa CRA.

Programs in south Florida

17. Homeownership Assistance Program (Miami-Dade County)

Provided through the Miami-Dade Advocacy Trust, this grant program gives first-time home buyers up to $28,500 for down payment and closing costs, depending on their income. The funds are provided as a no-interest, no-payment loan forgiven after 20 years as long as the borrower still occupies the home. In addition to meeting other eligibility requirements, applicants must contribute some of their own money toward the purchase and work with an approved mortgage lender.

18. First-Time Home Buyer Program (Hallandale Beach)

Offered through the Hallandale Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, this program provides first-time home buyers with up to $100,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to buy homes in the Hallandale Beach community reinvestment area. Funds are provided in the form of a no-interest loan that can be forgiven if the house is the borrower’s primary residence for at least 10 years. In addition to other eligibility requirements, applicants must contribute $2,000 toward the down payment.

Your next step

If one of the first-time home buyer programs listed above seems like a good fit, contact the program administrator directly to get additional details about eligibility requirements and the application process. These administrators can also help you locate an approved home buyer education class and a participating lender if the program requires them. Make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions of any assistance program before you apply.

» MORE: See the top FHFC mortgage lenders