What Hometown Heroes actually is
Hometown Heroes is Florida Housing Finance Corporation's down-payment assistance program. It provides up to $35,000 toward your down payment + closing costs when you buy a home in Florida. The funds come as a 0% deferred second mortgage — you don't pay it back monthly. It's only repaid when you sell, refinance, or pay off your primary mortgage.
It launched in 2022 and has been re-funded by the Florida Legislature every year since. As of spring 2026, the program is active and accepting applications.
We've had clients walk into closing with $30K-$35K of Hometown Heroes money covering their down payment, plus a builder offering 6%+ Flex Cash on top. That's a brand new home for less out-of-pocket than most renters spent on a security deposit.
Who qualifies (the actual rules)
To qualify in 2026, you need to meet ALL of these:
- First-time homebuyer — defined as not having owned a primary residence in the last 3 years. Veterans are exempt from this rule (you can have owned before).
- Florida-based employer — you must work for a company physically located in Florida, and you must be employed full-time (35+ hours/week).
- Income under 150% of county AMI — Polk County AMI varies by household size; for a family of 4 in 2026 the cap is around $123,000. (We'll verify your specific cap when we connect you with a lender.)
- Credit score of 640 or higher.
- Buying a primary residence in Florida — single-family homes, townhomes, and condos all eligible. Investment properties are not.
- Completing a HUD-approved homebuyer education course — usually 6-8 hours, online, around $75. We provide the link.
The math: why this matters
On a $300,000 home in Winter Haven:
- Conventional 5% down = $15,000 down + ~$8,000 closing costs = $23,000 cash needed.
- With Hometown Heroes covering $25,000 of that = $0 cash needed at closing. The DPA actually has change left over to cover prepaids.
Stack that with builder Flex Cash on new construction, and many of our first-time buyers walk in with negative cash to close — meaning the seller/builder is paying THEM at the table.
💰 Check your eligibility free
We'll match you with a Hometown Heroes-approved lender in 24 hours.
Check Eligibility Call (863) 288-1772How to apply (the actual steps)
- Get pre-qualified with a Florida Housing-approved lender. Not every lender is in the program — we'll connect you with one that is.
- Complete the homebuyer education course. Online, 6-8 hours, around $75.
- Find your home with The Lewis Team. We'll write the offer to include the Hometown Heroes terms so the seller knows what to expect.
- Underwriting verifies eligibility. The lender pulls income, credit, employment, AMI calculations.
- Close. The Hometown Heroes funds appear at closing as a second mortgage, covering your down payment + closing costs.
Common mistakes that disqualify buyers
- Working for an out-of-state employer remotely. Even if you live in Florida, your employer must be Florida-based. (Self-employed = your business must be registered in FL.)
- Going over income limits in the year leading up to closing. If your income spiked, talk to us before applying.
- Letting credit drop below 640 between pre-approval and closing. Don't open new credit lines, don't carry high balances, don't finance furniture before you have keys.
- Trying to use it on an investment property or second home. Hometown Heroes is for primary residences only.
What the funds CAN'T do
Hometown Heroes covers down payment and reasonable closing costs. It won't:
- Pay off your existing debts
- Cover renovation costs (look at FHA 203k or HomeStyle for that)
- Cover earnest money deposit (you still need that out of pocket — usually 1-3% of price)
- Be combined with every other DPA program (some stack, some don't — we'll verify)