Florida Hometown Heroes: who qualifies

Florida runs a state down-payment assistance program called Hometown Heroes for full-time public-service workers buying a primary residence. If you qualify, it can mean closing on a Northeast Florida home with little to no money out of pocket. We close Hometown Heroes files every month.

Who qualifies by occupation

The list is broad. Common eligible occupations:

• Teachers (full-time, public or charter)
• Law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics
• Military (active-duty, reserves, veterans)
• Healthcare workers (nurses, technicians, certified support staff)
• Childcare workers (licensed)

There's a longer official list. If you work full-time for a Florida employer in any service-oriented role, it's worth checking eligibility.

What you get

Up to 5% of the loan amount, capped at a state-set ceiling, toward your down payment + closing costs. Structured as a 0% second mortgage with deferred payment, you pay it back when you sell or refinance, not month-to-month.

Stacked with the Florida first-mortgage program (typically a Fannie or Freddie product through approved lenders), the result is a real shot at zero-down or near-zero-down on a NE Florida primary purchase.

Other eligibility checks

• Income at or below 150% of area median income for the county (higher than most DPA programs)
• Credit score 640+
• Buying a primary residence (not investment, not second home)
• HUD-approved homebuyer education class (online, ~6 hours)
• Property within Florida

What it doesn't do

• It doesn't pay off existing debt for you. Closing costs and down payment only.
• It doesn't waive lender requirements. You still qualify on income, credit, and DTI for the underlying first mortgage.
• It can't be used on a USDA or VA loan stack. Pick one DPA pathway.

How to actually apply

Run the file through a broker who runs the program regularly. Hometown Heroes adds extra paperwork and timing requirements; lenders that don't routinely use it will quote slowly or get the structure wrong.

Check Hometown Heroes eligibility for your file →

Cross-references:

• Florida down payment assistance overview
• First-time homebuyer guide for North Florida