Help covering your down payment and closing costs, from programs across Florida.
Saving for a down payment is often the biggest hurdle between renting and owning a home in Florida. Down payment assistance programs are designed to help close that gap, working alongside a first mortgage such as FHA, VA, conventional, or USDA financing rather than replacing it. At Hyve Financial, we help you find out which programs you may qualify for and walk you through applying for the assistance alongside your loan.
Down payment assistance is help, offered through state, local, or nonprofit programs, that can cover some or all of a homebuyer’s down payment and sometimes closing costs. It commonly comes as a grant, a forgivable second mortgage, or a deferred second mortgage that must be repaid later. Down payment assistance is not a stand-alone loan: it layers on top of a first mortgage, such as an FHA, VA, conventional, or USDA loan, and eligibility, structure, and availability vary by program.
Down payment assistance can lower the cash you need to bring to closing, which can make homeownership feel reachable sooner.
Many programs are designed to work alongside an FHA, conventional, or USDA first mortgage rather than replacing it.
Assistance can come as a grant, a forgivable second mortgage, or a deferred second mortgage that is repaid later. The structure depends on the specific program.
Availability depends on program funding, your eligibility, and the property you are buying, so it is worth checking early rather than assuming a program applies.
Florida offers several down payment assistance programs, each with its own funding source, rules, and administrator. Here is a general overview of the main ones; we will help you figure out which, if any, fit your situation.
A Florida Housing Finance Corporation program aimed at eligible full-time Florida workers in fields such as healthcare, education, and public safety, plus eligible service members and veterans. Funding is limited and the program can pause between funding rounds. See our Florida Hometown Heroes page for the full program details.
Many Florida counties and cities administer their own assistance using State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds. Availability, funding, and rules vary significantly by location, so what applies in one county may not apply in another. Hyve Financial is currently an Affordable Housing Partner for the Volusia County Homebuyer Assistance Program.Please Note: As of August, 8th 2026, Volusia County has temporarily paused the acceptance of new First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program applications. The pause will remain in effect through at least December 31, 2026, depending on funding availability.
Additionaly, as a mortgage brokerage, Hyve Financial works with multiple wholesale lenders directly that offer their own Down Payment Assistance programs. These programs very by lender and are subject to availability and eligibility.
Programs, funding, and terms are set by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Lenders, and local housing agencies, not by Hyve Financial. Visit Florida Housing Finance Corporation for current program details, or reach out and we will help you check what may currently apply to your situation.
Every program has its own rules, but a few patterns are common across most Florida down payment assistance options. Here is generally what to expect:
The fastest way to know what you may qualify for is to let us check. We will walk you through every option side by side with your first mortgage.
Tell us your homebuying goal and the Florida area you are considering.
We check which down payment assistance programs you may qualify for and get you pre-approved on a first mortgage.
We help you apply for the assistance program alongside your loan application.
We coordinate final approvals on the homebuyer assistance and the first mortgage through the full to closing process.
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