Don't Let Down Payment

Down payment assistance (DPA) refers to grants, forgivable loans, or deferred second mortgages that help homebuyers cover their down payment and closing costs. In Florida, multiple state and county programs exist to reduce the upfront cash you need. Some programs provide grants that never need to be repaid, while others offer zero-interest loans that are forgiven over time or deferred until you sell or refinance.

It depends on the specific program. Some options, like the Miami-Dade HOPE grant, do not require repayment at all. Others, like FL Assist, are structured as deferred second mortgages at 0% interest — you only repay when you sell, refinance, or transfer the home. The FL HLP and Hometown Heroes programs offer forgivable loans, meaning the balance is forgiven entirely after you meet occupancy requirements for a set number of years.

Income limits vary by program and county. Most Florida Housing programs cap household income at 80% to 140% of the area median income (AMI). For Miami-Dade County, the 2025 AMI for a family of four is approximately $72,300, so limits typically range from $57,840 to $101,220. Broward County limits are slightly higher. The Hometown Heroes program has more generous income caps. We can run your numbers to determine exactly which programs you qualify for.

Yes, and this is one of the most popular combinations in South Florida. You can use Florida Housing DPA programs with an FHA first mortgage to reduce your out-of-pocket costs significantly. For example, you could pair an FHA loan (3.5% down) with FL HLP assistance ($15,000) to cover most or all of your down payment. Many of our Miami-Dade and Broward buyers close with less than $1,000 out of pocket using this strategy.

The amount depends on which programs you qualify for, and you can often combine multiple sources. FL HLP offers up to $15,000, FL Assist provides $10,000, and the Hometown Heroes program goes up to $35,000 for eligible community workers. Miami-Dade County HOPE provides additional local grant funding. In some cases, stacking programs can cover your entire down payment and most of your closing costs on a home in the $300,000 to $450,000 range.

The process starts with getting pre-approved through a participating lender like Society Mortgage. During your pre-approval, we evaluate your income, credit, and purchase goals to determine which DPA programs fit your situation. We then include the assistance in your loan package so everything is coordinated from the start. There is no separate application — we handle the DPA paperwork alongside your primary mortgage. Most buyers can get a full eligibility assessment within 24 hours of providing their financial documents.