Florida's Hometown Heroes program helps eligible workers cover the down payment and closing costs that keep people renting. If you live and work in SW Florida, you may be closer to owning than you think — Mike will check your eligibility and reserve assistance while it's available.
The single biggest barrier for most first-time buyers isn't the monthly payment — it's coming up with the down payment and closing costs. Florida's Hometown Heroes program exists to bridge exactly that gap for eligible Floridians who live and work in their communities.
The assistance comes as a second mortgage that helps cover your down payment and closing costs, paired with a competitive first mortgage. Combined with low-down loan programs like FHA or conventional, it can turn 'someday' into a closing date.
Generally means you haven't owned a primary home in the last three years — with some exceptions.
Built for people employed by a Florida-based employer across a wide range of jobs.
You'll need to fall within the income limit for your SW Florida county.
A short approved homebuyer education course is part of qualifying.
Down payment assistance is funded in cycles. When a round is active, assistance can be reserved as buyers get under contract; when a round runs low, it may pause until it's replenished. That means timing genuinely matters — the same buyer can qualify one month and face a waitlist the next.
Because the numbers and availability change with each program cycle, the most useful thing Mike does is tell you what's available right now, confirm your eligibility, and — if it's a fit — move quickly to reserve assistance before that round is exhausted.
Hometown Heroes is a Florida Housing down payment assistance program that helps eligible workers buy a primary home. It provides down payment and closing-cost assistance through a second mortgage, paired with a competitive first mortgage. It's designed to make homeownership reachable for Floridians who live and work in their communities.
Eligibility generally requires that you're a first-time homebuyer (haven't owned in the last three years in most cases), meet income limits for your county, work for a Florida-based employer, and complete a homebuyer education course. The program has broadened over time — many full-time Florida workers qualify. Mike can quickly check your specific eligibility.
The assistance is structured as a second mortgage that can cover a meaningful portion of your down payment and closing costs, up to program caps. Exact amounts and terms change with each program cycle and funding round, so the right step is to confirm current figures — Mike stays on top of the active guidelines.
Program funding is allocated in cycles and can run low or pause between rounds, then replenish. Because availability moves, timing matters — if you're interested, it's worth checking current status right away rather than waiting. Mike can tell you what's available now and whether to move quickly.
Yes — the assistance pairs with a first mortgage, and depending on the current program that first mortgage can be FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional. Mike matches the assistance to the loan type that gives you the best overall payment for your situation in SW Florida.
You apply through an approved loan originator — you can't get it directly from the state. Mike is set up to originate the pairing loan, confirm your eligibility, get you through the required homebuyer education, and reserve assistance while funds are available. Starting is as simple as a quick conversation.
Mike will check your Hometown Heroes eligibility and tell you what assistance is available right now in SW Florida — no cost to ask.