Down Payment Assistance Florida — FHA DPA & FL Assist Programs for Florida Home Buyers
Down payment assistance in Florida gives qualified buyers the funds to cover their down payment and closing costs so they can purchase a home with little or nothing out of pocket. Whether you are a first-time buyer in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or Jacksonville, or a repeat buyer who meets the guidelines anywhere in the state, Florida home buyer assistance programs pair an FHA first mortgage with a forgivable or deferred DPA second lien. Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225, FL License MLB 1987) is a licensed Florida mortgage broker with access to wholesale FHA DPA programs through multiple loan programs as well as FL Assist state programs — and we compare both to find the highest DPA benefit you qualify for.
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Down payment assistance in Florida can cover your down payment and closing costs through Florida Housing and other programs. Below is every Florida down payment assistance option and who qualifies.
What Down Payment Assistance Programs Are Available in Florida?
Florida home buyers have two strong paths to down payment assistance: wholesale FHA DPA programs available through licensed mortgage brokers and Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FL Assist) state programs designed for income-qualified first-time buyers. Knowing the difference between them is the fastest way to find out what you qualify for before you ever meet with a lender.
The FHA DPA programs available through Mortgage-World.com pair a 30-year fixed FHA first mortgage with a second lien worth either 3.5% or 5% of the purchase price. That second lien covers your FHA minimum down payment requirement in full, and in many cases it extends to closing costs as well. There is no income cap on these programs — any borrower in Florida who qualifies for FHA financing can use them — and the minimum credit score is 580. The 3.5% second lien can be structured as a forgivable lien that disappears after 36 consecutive on-time payments. Alternatively it can be structured as a repayable second at the first mortgage note rate plus 2%, amortized over 10 years.
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation FL Assist program provides up to $10,000 as a 0% deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment, due only upon sale, refinance, transfer, or payoff of the first mortgage. FL Assist pairs with Florida Housing’s first mortgage products and requires first-time buyer status — defined as no primary residence ownership in the past three years. Income limits and purchase price caps apply by county across Florida. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation publishes its current income and purchase price limits on their official website. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also maintains a complete directory of approved DPA programs and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies for Florida buyers.
A free mortgage review with Mortgage-World.com shows you both options side by side. Call 888.958.5382 or apply online and we will pull your Florida DPA options from our network of multiple loan programs.
Program Comparison
FHA DPA vs FL Assist — Florida Program Comparison at a Glance
Compare the main Florida home buyer assistance programs available through Mortgage-World.com (NMLS #1630225, FL License MLB 1987).
| Program | DPA Amount | Min FICO | Income Limit | DPA Structure | First-Time Buyer Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA 3.5% DPA | 3.5% of purchase price or appraised value | 580 | None | Forgivable after 36 payments or repayable 10-yr | No |
| FHA 5% DPA | 5% of purchase price or appraised value | 580 | None | Repayable over 10 years at Note Rate + 2% | Yes |
| FL Assist | Up to $10,000 deferred second mortgage | 640 | Yes — varies by county | 0% deferred, due on sale/refi/transfer | Yes |
| FL HFA Preferred Grant | 3% or 4% of first mortgage amount | 640 | Yes — income-qualified | Grant (no repayment required) | Yes |
How It Works
How the Second Lien Structure Works for Florida Buyers
When you use an FHA DPA program in Florida, two loans close on the same day. The first is a standard FHA mortgage at 96.5% LTV. The second is the DPA lien covering the 3.5% minimum FHA down payment. Together they reach a CLTV of 100% on the 3.5% program, or up to 101.5% on the 5% program — meaning you can buy a Florida home with no down payment out of pocket. Before closing, at least one borrower on the loan must complete a course from a HUD-approved Florida housing counseling agency. After closing, 36 consecutive on-time first mortgage payments qualifies you to request the forgivable DPA second lien be discharged with no remaining balance. The repayable DPA adds a second monthly payment for 10 years at the Note Rate plus 2%, then drops off entirely.
South Florida, Orlando, and Tampa: What to Know About Purchase Price Caps
Florida is a large and varied real estate market. Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County buyers face higher home prices, and the wholesale FHA DPA program has no purchase price ceiling beyond the current FHA conforming loan limit for each Florida county. For buyers in South Florida or the Orlando metro whose target purchase price exceeds the FL Assist county cap, the FHA DPA program delivers the higher dollar benefit without income limits. In more affordable markets across North Florida and the Panhandle, FL Assist’s $10,000 deferred second can be an excellent fit for income-qualified buyers looking to minimize out-of-pocket costs at closing.
Who Qualifies in FL
Qualifying for Florida Home Buyer Assistance: Credit, Income & Property
- Minimum 580 FICO for AUS-approved FHA DPA loans (3.5% and 5%)
- Minimum 600 FICO if using manual underwriting on the 3.5% DPA
- First-time and repeat home buyers are both eligible on FHA DPA
- U.S. Citizens and Permanent Resident Aliens
- Non-occupant co-borrowers allowed on FHA DPA programs
- No income cap on qualifying income for FHA DPA programs
- At least one borrower must complete HUD-approved housing counseling
- First-time home buyer (no primary residence ownership in past 3 years)
- Minimum 640 FICO for FL Assist and FL HFA Preferred programs
- Income at or below Florida Housing income limits for county and household size
- Purchase price must fall within Florida Housing county purchase price caps
- Must purchase and occupy the property as primary residence in Florida
- Homebuyer education completion required before closing
- Owner-occupied primary residence in Florida
- Single family detached and attached homes (1 unit)
- Two-unit (duplex) properties with FHA DPA program
- Planned Unit Developments and townhouses
- FHA-approved condominiums without active litigation
- Manufactured homes (double-wide): 620 FICO, 20-yr repayable DPA term
- Investment properties and second homes are not eligible
- FHA first mortgage: 96.5% LTV, 30-year or 25-year fixed rate
- Standard and high-balance Florida FHA loan limits both eligible
- Forgivable DPA: no monthly payment; forgiven after 36 on-time payments
- Repayable DPA: Note Rate + 2%, amortized over 10 years
- 2-1 buydown allowed on 3.5% DPA (seller/builder paid only)
Related Resources
Related Mortgage Pages
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Down Payment Assistance Florida
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