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Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation helps make homeownership more affordable for eligible front-line workers such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans. The program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time, income qualified homebuyers in an eligible occupation to assist them in the purchase of a primary residence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Qualifying Options
Mortgage FAQ

Conventional

  • HFA Preferred Heroes (Fannie Mae) – Offers eligible borrowers a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. This mortgage also offers borrowers a reduced Private Mortgage Insurance premium for borrowers below 80% AMI. Standard PMI applies to borrowers above 80% AMI.
  • HFA Advantage Heroes (Freddie Mac) – Offers eligible borrowers a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. This mortgage also offers borrowers a reduced Private Mortgage Insurance premium for borrowers below 80% AMI. Standard PMI applies to borrowers above 80% AMI.

FHA, USDA and VA

  • AMI does not impact MI rate.
Eligibility
Mortgage FAQ
  • Borrowers must not exceed the maximum income limit requirements for the county in which property is being purchased
  • Hometown Heroes Loan Limit and Income Limit Lookup
  • All borrowers must be considered a first-time homebuyer
  • At least one borrower must be employed in an approved occupation
  • VVOE indicating full time employment of 35 hours or more a week required Borrower Attestation Form indicating eligible occupation is required
  • First-time homebuyer counseling is required to be complete by all borrowers utilizing income from an approved occupation
  • Veterans and active-duty military members are exempt from all first-time homebuyer requirements unless participating in HFA Preferred Heroes program
Loan Parameters
Mortgage FAQ
  • Florida ONLY
  • Conventional, FHA, USDA and VA loan types 30-year fixed
  • Primary purchases ONLY
  • 1-unit single family residences and PUDs 2-4 units
  • Borrower must occupy 1 unit as their primary and property must be at least 5 years old Condos
  • Follow agency requirements
  • FHA loans are ineligible for single unit approvals Manufactured homes
  • Not eligible on VA or Freddie Mac loans Mixed-use properties
  • No more than 15% of a property can be used for business purposes and must follow agency requirements
  • Min FICO = 640
  • Min FICO = 660 (manufactured homes) Max DTI = 50% with Approve/Eligible findings Max DTI = 45% (manufactured homes)
  • Borrower(s) cannot own any other properties – excluding veterans or active military members Conforming loan limits ONLY
  • No High-Balance
  • Loan must be originated in the broker channel – no correspondent
  • Cannot waive the UW fee
  • No non-occupying co-borrowers or co-signors No escrow waivers
  • No co-ops, single-wide manufactured homes or land trusts
  • No temporary rate buydowns
  • No standalone or piggyback HELOCs
Approved Occupations
Mortgage FAQ

The following is a list of all approved occupations that would qualify for the program:

  • 911 Public Safety Communicator
  • Active-Duty Military Personnel
  • Acupuncturist
  • Adult Protective Services' Enforcement (DCF)
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
  • Anesthesiologist
  • Anesthesiologist Assistant
  • Assistant Public Defender
  • Assistant State Attorney
  • Assisted Living Facility (ALF)
  • Administrator Athletic Trainer
  • Basic X-Ray Machine Operator (Radiologic)
  • Blood Gas Analyst (Laboratory)
  • Career Specialist (Educator)
  • Child Protective Services' Enforcement (DCF)
  • Childcare Instructor
  • Childcare Operator
  • Chiropractic Physician
  • Chiropractic Physician's
  • Assistant Classroom Teacher
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Clinical Social Worker
  • CMA
  • CNA
  • Correction Officer
  • Correctional Probation Officer
  • Dental Assistant
  • Dental Hygienist Dentist
  • Dietetic Technician Dietician
  • Electrologist
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  • Federal Sworn Law Enforcement Firefighter
  • General Radiographer (Radiologic)
  • Genetic Counselor
  • Hearing Aid Specialist
  • Hearing Aid Specialist Trainee
  • Home Health Aide
  • Juvenile Detention Officer
  • Juvenile Probation Officer
  • Laboratory Director
  • Laboratory Supervisor
  • Laboratory Technologist
  • Laboratory Testing Technician
  • Librarian/Media Specialist (Educator)
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Massage Therapist
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Physicist
  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Naturopathic Physician
  • Nuclear Pharmacist Nurse
  • Anesthetist
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Nursing Home Administrator
  • Nutrition Counselor
  • Nutritionist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist Aide
  • Occupational Therapist Assistant
  • Optician
  • Optometrist Orthotic Fitter
  • Orthotic Fitter Assistant
  • Orthotist
  • Osteopathic Physician
  • Paramedic
  • Pedorthist Pharmacist
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Phlebotomist Physical Therapist
  • Physical Therapist Assistant Physician
  • Physician Assistant
  • Podiatric Physician
  • Podiatric X-Ray Assistant
  • Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • Prosthetist
  • Prosthetist
  • Orthotist Psychiatrist
  • Psychologist
  • Radiologic Specialty Technologist
  • Radiologic Technologist
  • Radiology Assistant
  • Registered Dietician Or Nutritionist Registered Nurse (RN)
  • Registered Nurse Anesthetist
  • Registered Respiratory
  • Therapist Respiratory Care Practitioner
  • Respiratory Therapist
  • School Counselor
  • School Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • Specialty Technologist (Radiologic)
  • Speech Language Audiologist
  • Speech Language Audiologist Assistant
  • Speech Language Pathologist
  • Speech Language Pathology Assistant
  • Sworn Law Enforcement Officer
  • Veteran or Surviving Spouse of Veteran
  • Veterinarian
  • Veterinarian Assistant
  • Veterinarian Technician

Product Details

Florida Hometown Heroes allows borrowers to receive up to 5% of the loan amount (capped at $25,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance.

It can be paired with additional assistance programs to maximize amount of received assistance Down payment and closing cost assistance is available in the form of a 0% interest, non-amortizing, 30-year repayable second mortgage.

This second mortgage becomes due and payable in full upon sale of the property, refinancing of the first mortgage, transfer of deed or if the homeowner no longer occupies the property as their primary residence. The Florida Hometown Heroes loan is not forgivable.

The down payment and closing cost assistance can be used to satisfy the following:

  • Borrower’s down payment.
  • Any down payment exceeding the minimum borrower requirement
  • Reasonable and customary closing costs.

NOTE: The down payment and closing cost assistance cannot be used to cover commission for real estate agents, the cost difference between the sales price and the appraised value or to pay off borrower debt.