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Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program

The FL Hometown Heroes Loan Program makes housing affordable by providing down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified homebuyers. Hometown Heroes offers a lower first mortgage rate AND additional special benefits.

Who is eligible for the Program?

  • First-Time Homebuyers: any Florida based worked who has not owned a primary residence in the past 3 years or a buyer who is purchasing a home for the first time.
  • Self-Employed Homebuyers: eligible with a Florida business license.
  • Veteran Homebuyers: first-time buyer requirement is waived for qualified veterans. 

First Mortgage Programs

  • The Florida First Heroes (FL First) (GOVT – FHA, VA, USDA-RD) for TBA offers eligible borrowers a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage. Borrowers who qualify for this mortgage program will automatically qualify for down payment assistance.
  • The HFA Preferred & Advantage Heroes for TBA (CONV – Fannie Mae Offering) offers eligible borrowers a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. This first mortgage also offers borrowers a reduced Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premium for borrowers below 80% AMI. Standard PMI applies to borrowers above 80% AMI. Borrowers who qualify for this mortgage program will automatically qualify for down payment assistance.

Second Mortgage Programs

The FL Hometown Heroes offers lower first mortgage rates, TBA first mortgage loans, and a generous down payment and closing cost option:

  • Florida Hometown Heroes 5% Second Mortgage – 5% of the loan amount capped at $25,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance offered as a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year, repayable second mortgage. However, if any of the following occur, the borrower(s) refinance, pay off the first mortgage, transfer deed or no longer occupy the property as their primary residence, any unpaid principal balance will be required to be repaid, in full.

For more information about these programs: *Fidelity is not an administrator of this program

https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/homebuyer-overview-page/hometown-heroes

Income and purchase price limits apply. Must be a full-time employee working 35+ hours a week. 

Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC)

1. Florida Assist Program (FL Assist): Borrowers purchasing in eligible counties selected may also be eligible to receive down payment and closing cost assistance (DPA) offered as a second mortgage.
2. Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP): Borrowers purchasing in eligible counties selected may also be eligible to receive down payment and closing cost assistance offered as a second mortgage.
3. Salute our Soldiers Military Loan Program: Military Service personal and veterans may be eligible to receive down payment and closing cost assistance offered as a second mortgage.

For more information about these programs: *Fidelity is not an administrator of this program https://www.floridahousing.org/programs/homebuyer-loan-program-wizards/down-payment-assistance-programs

Escambia County Housing Finance Authority

1. Single Family Government Program
2. Classic DPA Program
3. Forgivable DPA Program
As a participating lender for Escambia County Housing Finance Authority we can help you find the loan assistance program that fits your needs such as loans with down payment and/or closing cost assistance, forgivable second mortgage loans and much more.

For more information about these programs: *Fidelity is not an administrator of this program https://www.escambiahfa.com/lenders/homeownership-program-for-lenders

City of Pensacola / Escambia County

1. State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
2. HOME Program
Designed to assist families obtain affordable housing. Includes down payment and/or closing cost assistance.

For more information about these programs: *Fidelity is not an administrator of this program https://www.cityofpensacola.com/183/Home-Buyers-Programs

Santa Rosa County

1. State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) : First-time home buyer program is designed to assist families obtain affordable housing for low and moderate-income families. Includes down payment and/or closing cost assistance.
2. HOME Program: Designed to assist families obtain affordable housing for low-income families. Includes down payment and/or closing cost assistance.

For more information about these programs: *Fidelity is not an administrator of this program https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/341/Housing-Programs

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