October 6, 2026 Update
You care for our families, teach our children, protect our neighborhoods, and show up when your community needs you. When your shift ends, you deserve a place to call your own.
If you have been hoping to buy a Florida home but wondering how to get past the upfront costs, we have news worth celebrating: Florida Hometown Heroes funding is still available!
As of October 6, the program administrator reports more than $20 million available in Hometown Heroes down payment assistance. Eligible buyers still have an opportunity to explore help with one of homeownership’s biggest hurdles.
At Team Tina, we love helping people turn “maybe someday” into a clear plan. If homeownership is on your wish list, let’s find out what this opportunity could mean for you.
Saving for a down payment and closing costs can feel like a moving target. You put money aside, then the car needs repairs, the rent goes up, or another expense gets in the way.
Florida Hometown Heroes provides qualifying buyers with assistance toward their down payment and closing costs. Assistance is based on up to 5% of the total first mortgage amount, with a $10,000 minimum and a $35,000 maximum, subject to program requirements.
That could make a meaningful difference in your path to buying a home. Your actual assistance and remaining cash needed will depend on your loan, eligible expenses, and financial circumstances.
Imagine having a clearer picture of what you can afford, what help you may qualify for, and what it will take to get to closing. That is where we start.
Florida Housing’s 2026 program includes qualifying full-time workers employed by Florida-based employers in:
It also includes eligible military servicemembers and qualifying veterans; veterans must meet the program’s full-time Florida-based employment requirement. The program generally serves income-qualified first-time homebuyers purchasing a primary residence. Military and veteran exceptions may apply to the first-time buyer requirement.
Unsure whether your job qualifies? Just ask Tina. Bring us your questions so we can help you understand the current requirements and your next steps.
There is a real reason to act while funds remain: previous allocations have been fully committed. Florida Housing announced that the 2025–2026 funding cycle helped more than 3,000 families before all available funding was committed in approximately six months.
Those are thousands of new beginnings worth celebrating - and a reminder that available assistance does not last indefinitely.
You do not have to have every detail figured out before you call us. Starting now gives you time to review your finances, understand your options, and prepare for the home search.
A consultation or pre-approval does not reserve Hometown Heroes funds.
A fully executed purchase contract is required before the lender can lock the loan and reserve assistance under current program requirements.
Hometown Heroes assistance is a loan, not a grant. It is a 0% interest, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments. It is not forgivable and becomes repayable in full when you sell, refinance the first mortgage, transfer the deed, or stop using the home as your primary residence.
We will help you look at how that obligation fits your plans, alongside your first mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and other ownership expenses. The goal is a home and financing you feel comfortable with.
Your first step is simple: reach out to Team Tina at The Mortgage Firm Florida Mortgage Specialists.
We can help you:
Whether you are hoping to put down roots in Port Orange, Daytona Beach, or another Florida community, we are ready to help you move forward with confidence.
Call (386) 756-0301, email teamtina@tmf.mortgage, or visit TMFFMS.com to get started. tmffms.com
Program availability and terms are subject to change. Eligibility, assistance amounts, and loan approval are subject to applicable program and lender requirements. Funding is not guaranteed until properly reserved. The Mortgage Firm, NMLS #189233. Equal Housing Lender.
We hope this article was of value to you. For more great tips, bookmark our site and for all your mortgage needs, visit Team Tina at TMFFMS.
Always dedicated to you.
