Up to 5% of your loan amount — a maximum of $35,000 — toward your down payment and closing costs. Built for the Florida workforce that keeps our communities running.
Check My Eligibility →The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, helps the people who serve Florida communities buy their first home. It provides down-payment and closing-cost assistance of up to 5% of the first mortgage amount — capped at $35,000 — as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage.
Originally created for teachers, first responders, and other frontline roles, the program has expanded to cover Floridians employed full-time by a Florida-based employer across a wide range of professions. Divito Lending is a participating lender — we will confirm your eligibility, pair the assistance with the right first mortgage, and walk you through every step.
Receive up to 5% of your first mortgage amount (maximum $35,000) toward down payment and closing costs.
The assistance is a 0% interest second mortgage with no monthly payment — repaid only when you sell, refinance, or move out.
Teachers, nurses, first responders, military, and full-time employees of Florida businesses across many fields may qualify.
Hometown Heroes can be combined with conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA first mortgages.
Keep more of your savings at closing — assistance can cover the down payment and a large share of closing costs.
As a participating lender, we confirm eligibility, coordinate the homebuyer education, and manage the program steps for you.
To use Hometown Heroes you generally need to be a first-time homebuyer (you have not owned a primary residence in the last three years), be employed full-time by a Florida-based employer, purchase a primary residence in Florida, and meet your county's income limit. A minimum 640 credit score and a completed homebuyer education course are also required.
Income limits, funding availability, and exact terms are set by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and can change. The fastest way to know where you stand today is a quick eligibility check with a licensed Divito Lending advisor — we will confirm current limits for your county and county-by-county program details.
It is a state down-payment and closing-cost assistance program from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. It provides eligible Florida workers up to 5% of the first mortgage amount (capped at $35,000) as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage to help buy a primary residence.
You generally must be a first-time buyer (no homeownership in the last three years), be employed full-time by a Florida-based employer, buy a primary residence in Florida, meet county income limits, have a minimum 640 credit score, and complete a homebuyer education course. Many professions qualify.
Eligible buyers can receive up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, with a maximum of $35,000, applied toward the down payment and closing costs.
The assistance is a 0% interest, non-amortizing second mortgage. It is deferred and becomes due when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage, or stop using the home as your primary residence.
You apply through a participating, approved lender. Divito Lending can check your eligibility, pair the program with the right first mortgage, and guide you through the required homebuyer education and paperwork.
Get a free, no-obligation eligibility check, or talk with a licensed Florida mortgage advisor who knows the Hometown Heroes program inside and out.