Down Payment Assistance in Florida and Lee County

How does down payment assistance work in Florida?

Most help here is a second mortgage, not a cash gift. Some loans are deferred at 0% and paid back when you sell or refinance. Some are forgiven over time, and one has a monthly payment. How you pay it back matters as much as the amount.

Your lender sets up the help, usually after you have a signed purchase contract. Start with a participating lender so the first mortgage and the assistance are approved together.

What statewide help does Florida Housing offer?

Florida Assist gives up to $10,000 as a 0% deferred second mortgage with no monthly payments. You pay it back when you sell, transfer or refinance. The Florida Homeownership Loan Program gives $12,500 as a 3%, 30-year second mortgage. You pay it off over time, so it adds a monthly payment.

The HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS second mortgage gives 3%, 4% or 5% of the total loan amount. It is forgiven at 20% a year over five years and pairs only with conventional first mortgages. See the first-time home buyer programs in Florida for the first mortgage rules that come with these loans.

Is Hometown Heroes down payment help open?

Hometown Heroes offers up to 5% of the first mortgage amount, from $10,000 to $35,000. It is a 0% deferred second mortgage that you pay back when you sell or refinance. It is open to eligible workers in fields such as health care, schools, public safety and child care, plus service members and veterans. On September 24, 2026, the program's manager listed funds available for the 2026 round.

What down payment help does Lee County offer?

Lee County Human & Veteran Services runs HOME Down Payment Assistance, which covers homes more than one year old anywhere in Lee County, including inside cities. It gives up to 10% of the price, capped at $34,200, toward down payment and closing costs. The maximum purchase price is $342,000, effective December 1, 2025.

The help is a second mortgage with a 10-year term. It is forgiven at 10% per year, and the amount is based on need. Buyers must finish a homebuyer class with a HUD-approved counseling agency. Your lender sends in the application once you have a signed contract, since buyers cannot apply on their own.

Lee County also resells repaired foreclosed homes through its Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Qualified buyers get a soft second mortgage. Income limits and a homebuyer class apply.

What about Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Bonita Springs?

City programs were limited on September 24, 2026. The City of Fort Myers listed its Home Purchase Assistance program as suspended. The City of Cape Coral's housing page showed no funding available. No separate Bonita Springs program to help buyers was found. Lee County's HOME program covers homes inside those cities, so it is the main local option today.

How do I use assistance when I make an offer?

Tell your lender at pre-approval that you want help, and ask which programs it can close. Local programs can add inspection and paperwork steps. Build extra time into your contract. Check the payment with the mortgage calculator. Then search homes for sale within the price limits.

Mariela Lovo Ol is a REALTOR®, not a lender, and she does not approve or fund assistance. She can help you write an offer with real dates for your program. Contact Mariela to get started.

Programs change, and funding can run out. Check amounts, limits and funding with the program's manager and a lender in the program before you sign.

Statewide

Florida Assist (FL Assist), Florida Housing Finance Corporation
Up to $10,000 as a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments. You repay it when you sell, transfer or refinance. You use it with a Florida Housing first mortgage through a participating lender.
Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
$12,500 as a 3%, 30-year second mortgage. You make a monthly payment on it. Any balance left is due when you sell or refinance.
HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
3%, 4% or 5% of the total loan amount. It is forgiven at 20% a year over five years. It only works with Florida Housing's conventional first mortgages.
Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
Up to 5% of the first mortgage ($10,000 minimum, $35,000 maximum). It is a 0% second mortgage with no payments, and it is not forgiven. It is for first-time buyers who meet income limits and work in eligible jobs, plus service members and veterans. It is funded in rounds. 2026 funds were listed as available on September 24, 2026.

Lee County

HOME Down Payment Assistance, Lee County Human & Veteran Services
Up to 10% of the price, capped at $34,200. The home must be more than one year old and anywhere in Lee County. The top price is $342,000 (effective December 1, 2025). It is a 10-year second mortgage, forgiven at 10% a year. The lender sends in the application.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) home sales, Lee County Human & Veteran Services
Lee County sells repaired foreclosed homes to qualified buyers. It adds a soft second mortgage (easy terms) and help with closing costs. There are income limits. You need a homebuyer class and a mortgage commitment from a lender.

Common questions

Is Florida down payment assistance free money?

Usually not. Most Florida Housing and Lee County help is a second mortgage that is deferred, forgiven over time, or paid monthly. Read how each loan is paid back before you choose it.

How much can Lee County's HOME program provide?

Up to 10% of the price, capped at $34,200. Homes can be priced up to $342,000 as of December 1, 2025. The amount is based on need, and the loan is forgiven at 10% per year over 10 years.

Can I combine state and county assistance?

Sometimes, but each program sets its own rules on combining help. Ask a lender in the program which programs can close together on your loan.

Does Cape Coral have its own down payment program right now?

On September 24, 2026, the City of Cape Coral's housing page showed no funding available. Lee County's HOME program covers homes in Cape Coral. Check that program and Florida Housing's options.

How much house can I afford? Contact

Sources

Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), Freddie Mac (read 2026-09-24)
Loan Estimate explainer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
What is a Loan Estimate?, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
What's a lock-in or a rate lock?, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
What is the difference between a mortgage interest rate and an APR?, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (read 2026-09-24)
Selling Guide B4-2.1-01, General Information on Project Standards (08/05/2026), Fannie Mae (read 2026-09-24)
Homebuyer Programs overview, Florida Housing Finance Corporation (read 2026-09-24)
Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, Florida Housing Finance Corporation (read 2026-09-24)
Press Releases 2026 (Florida Hometown Heroes Program 2025, Feb. 27, 2026), Florida Housing Finance Corporation (read 2026-09-24)
Florida Housing Finance Corporation Program Highlights (Hometown Heroes 2026), eHousingPlus (read 2026-09-24)
42 U.S. Code § 12704 — Definitions (first-time homebuyer), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (read 2026-09-24)
Loans (FHA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (read 2026-09-24)
VA-backed purchase loan, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (read 2026-09-24)
Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, USDA Rural Development (read 2026-09-24)
Financial Assistance — Home Purchase Assistance (HOME Program, NSP), Lee County Human & Veteran Services (read 2026-09-24)
Housing and Grants, City of Cape Coral (read 2026-09-24)
Home Purchase Assistance, City of Fort Myers (read 2026-09-24)

For illustration only. This is not a loan offer, a commitment to lend, or an advertisement of credit terms. Actual rates, payments and eligibility depend on your lender, credit, and the property. Talk to a licensed loan officer for a quote.

Down payment assistance in Florida