Can down payment assistance be used for closing costs?

Some Florida Housing programs are designed to help with down payment and closing costs, subject to the loan product, program terms, and lender approval. Verify current details with a participating lender before relying on assistance.

Is Florida Hometown Heroes a grant?

The 2026 Florida Hometown Heroes assistance is a 0% deferred second mortgage, not a forgivable grant. It becomes due under program terms, including a sale, refinance, transfer of deed, or when the home is no longer the primary residence.

Are local assistance programs always available?

No. Local SHIP, HOME, city, county, and community land trust programs can have funding rounds, income and property rules, waiting lists, or limited reservations. Availability must be confirmed directly with the program administrator.

Buyer resources

Make assistance part of the plan—before you start shopping.

Explore Florida down-payment and closing-cost resources, then confirm the options that fit your income, financing, timeline, and target home on the Treasure Coast.

A useful starting point

Assistance is not all the same.

“Grant” is often used casually, but assistance can be a forgivable loan, deferred second mortgage, repayable second mortgage, lender credit, seller concession, or local funding program. Each has different eligibility, repayment, occupancy, and timing rules.

Joseph can help you connect the home search and offer strategy to your financing conversation. A licensed participating lender and the program administrator determine qualification, terms, and available funds.

Programs to explore

Florida and Treasure Coast starting points.

Details below were reviewed against official program resources in October 2026. Funding, rates, limits, eligibility, and availability can change; always verify before applying or writing an offer.

Florida Hometown Heroes

For eligible full-time Florida workforce occupations, qualifying service members, and certain veterans. The 2026 program offers up to 5% of the first mortgage amount toward down payment and closing costs, with a $10,000 minimum and $35,000 maximum.

Review Hometown Heroes details

Florida Assist

Florida Housing lists a 0% deferred second mortgage of up to $10,000 for eligible FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional borrowers. It is not forgivable and can become due under the program’s repayment terms.

Review Florida Assist

Florida HLP & PLUS options

Florida Housing also describes a $12,500 fully amortizing second mortgage and qualifying 3%, 4%, or 5% forgivable PLUS second-mortgage options. Product pairing and lender eligibility matter.

Compare state assistance options

Local SHIP & HOME help

City and county programs may offer purchase, down-payment, or closing-cost assistance for eligible households. Funding rounds, waitlists, area rules, and terms vary—so availability must be confirmed locally.

Find local housing programs

The financing conversation

Match the assistance to the home and the loan.

First-mortgage paths

Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loan options serve different borrowers and properties. Assistance may only be available with specific program loans and approved participating lenders.

Closing-cost strategies

Depending on the loan rules and negotiated contract, buyers may explore assistance programs, seller concessions, builder contributions, lender credits, gift funds, or their own funds. None is automatic, and every option should be evaluated with the lender before an offer is written.

Treasure Coast local opportunities

St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and nearby jurisdictions can have SHIP, HOME, Community Land Trust, or other local initiatives. Joseph will help you identify the areas and homes that fit the plan once a lender or program administrator has confirmed the path.

Official places to verify

Use the source—not a social-media summary.

Florida Hometown Heroes: use Florida Housing’s official 2026 page for eligible occupations, current limits, participating-lender direction, and fraud warnings. Florida Housing states there is no fee to apply for Hometown Heroes assistance.

Open the official Hometown Heroes page

Florida Housing Homebuyer Program: review the state’s first-mortgage programs, assistance structure, lender locator, and homebuyer-education requirements.

Open Florida Housing resources

Local assistance: use Florida Housing’s local-program directory to find the appropriate SHIP administrator for the county or city where you intend to buy.

Find local program contacts

Want a home search that respects your financing plan?

Tell Joseph what you have learned from your lender, your target area, and your timeline. He can help you build a practical search while you verify assistance eligibility directly with qualified professionals.

Talk with Joseph Explore buyer guidance

Important disclosure: Joseph Pollard and RE/MAX Gold are not lenders, loan originators, financial advisers, tax advisers, legal advisers, or program administrators. This page is general educational information, not an offer of financing, a program application, or a guarantee of eligibility, funding, terms, approval, or closing costs. Verify all information directly with a licensed participating lender and the applicable government or program administrator before making financial or contractual decisions.