The main first-time home buyer programs in Florida are run by Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing): 30-year fixed-rate first mortgages plus down payment help such as Florida Assist, HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS, and the Hometown Heroes program for essential workers. In Texas, TDHCA offers My First Texas Home, My Choice Texas Home and a Mortgage Credit Certificate, and TSAHC offers its own loan and down payment programs. You apply through a participating lender.
These programs do not hand you money directly. You get a regular mortgage from an approved loan officer, and the state program adds a lower-cost loan, a forgivable second mortgage or a tax credit on top. Income limits and purchase price limits vary by county, and funding, rates and rules change often, so always check the official page before you plan around a program.
- First-time buyer usually means you have not owned your primary home in the last three years.
- Income and price limits are set by county; check the agency’s current limits.
- Homebuyer education is usually required before closing.
- You apply through a participating lender, not directly with the state agency.
What “first-time home buyer” means
You may count as a first-time buyer even if you owned a home years ago. HUD’s definition says a first-time homebuyer is someone who has had no ownership in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase. If either spouse meets that test, both are considered first-time buyers. HUD also includes a single parent who only owned with a former spouse while married, and a displaced homemaker who only owned with a spouse.
State programs use similar rules. Florida Housing says borrowers cannot have owned and occupied a primary residence in the prior three years. TDHCA uses the same three-year test for My First Texas Home and waives it for veterans and for homes in certain targeted areas.
Florida first-time home buyer programs
Florida Housing is the state’s housing finance agency. Its homeownership loans are 30-year, fixed-rate first mortgages offered through participating lenders across the state, and most down payment programs must be paired with one of those first mortgages.
Down payment and closing cost help
- Florida Assist (FL Assist): up to $10,000 as a 0%, non-amortizing, deferred second mortgage on FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans. You repay it when you sell, transfer or refinance.
- Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP): $12,500 as a 3% second mortgage with a 30-year term and a monthly payment.
- HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS: 3%, 4% or 5% of the total loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage, forgiven at 20% a year over five years. Only available with specific conventional first mortgages.
Who qualifies (Florida Housing)
According to Florida Housing, borrowers need a minimum credit score of 640, must be first-time homebuyers (with the three-year rule), must have income and a purchase price below the county limits, must complete an approved homebuyer education course and must work with a participating lender. Florida Housing has a lender and real estate agent locator on its website.
Florida Hometown Heroes
Hometown Heroes is for first-time, income-qualified buyers who work full time for a Florida-based employer as a health care worker, school staff member, first responder, public safety or court employee, or child care worker, as well as service members, reservists and veterans employed full time by a Florida employer. It offers up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000) as a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage.
Funding comes in rounds. Florida Housing reported that the 2025 program opened on August 18, 2025 with $50 million and had committed all available funding for the 2025-2026 fiscal year by February 2026. The program page lists 2026 income and loan limits, but it does not show a funding status. Before you count on Hometown Heroes, ask a participating lender or check the official page to see whether funds are available right now.
Texas first-time home buyer programs
Texas has two state-level providers: the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC). Both work through approved lenders.
TDHCA: My First Texas Home, My Choice Texas Home and the Texas MCC
- My First Texas Home: a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage (FHA, VA or USDA) for first-time buyers, with down payment assistance of up to 5%. The first-time rule is waived for veterans and for homes in qualified targeted census tracts.
- My Choice Texas Home: similar loans with down payment assistance of up to 5%, but with no first-time homebuyer requirement. It also allows a conventional loan option.
- Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC): a certificate that lets you claim a federal mortgage interest tax credit each year (the IRS handles it on Form 8396), available on its own or combined with a TDHCA first mortgage. It follows the same first-time rule and waivers.
TDHCA’s program chart says purchase price and income limits apply. Its homebuyer site asks you to take an eligibility quick check, get connected with a TDHCA-approved loan officer and complete a homebuyer education course.
TSAHC: Homes for Texas Heroes and Home Sweet Texas
TSAHC runs Homes for Texas Heroes, aimed at professions such as teachers and other school staff, police officers, firefighters and EMS, corrections officers and veterans, and Home Sweet Texas, for low- and moderate-income buyers regardless of profession. It also offers a mortgage credit certificate. Amounts and rules change, so check the official TSAHC website or ask a TSAHC participating lender for current terms before you plan around them.
Federal options: FHA loans and housing counseling
FHA loans
FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, part of HUD. FHA does not lend the money; it insures the loan so your lender can offer better terms. HUD says your down payment can be as low as 3.5% of the purchase price. FHA financing is available on 1-4 unit properties, and many state programs, including those above, pair their down payment help with FHA loans. HUD also notes that state and local governments offer down payment programs.
HUD-approved housing counselors
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can walk you through budgeting, credit and the buying process, often at little or no cost. You can find one with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s search tool or by calling HUD at (800) 569-4287. Many state programs require a homebuyer education course, and a counselor can tell you which courses count.
Programs compared
| Program | Who it is for | Type of help | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Housing first mortgages | First-time buyers under county income and price limits | 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage | floridahousing.org, participating lenders |
| Florida Assist | Florida Housing borrowers | Up to $10,000, 0% deferred second mortgage | floridahousing.org |
| HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS | Florida Housing conventional borrowers | 3% to 5% forgivable second mortgage (5 years) | floridahousing.org |
| Florida Hometown Heroes | First-time buyers in eligible occupations, military and veterans | Up to 5% ($10,000 to $35,000), 0% deferred second mortgage; funded in rounds | floridahousing.org/hometown-heroes |
| My First Texas Home (TDHCA) | First-time buyers (waived for veterans and targeted areas) | First mortgage plus up to 5% down payment help | TDHCA homebuyer site, approved loan officers |
| My Choice Texas Home (TDHCA) | Buyers who do not need to be first-time | First mortgage plus up to 5% down payment help | TDHCA homebuyer site |
| Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (TDHCA) | First-time buyers (same waivers) | Federal income tax credit | TDHCA homebuyer site |
| Homes for Texas Heroes / Home Sweet Texas (TSAHC) | Certain professions / low- and moderate-income buyers | Loans with down payment assistance | tsahc.org |
| FHA loan (HUD) | Eligible borrowers on 1-4 unit homes | Federally insured mortgage, as little as 3.5% down | hud.gov |
How to use these programs step by step
- Check the limits for your county on the agency’s site before house hunting.
- Talk to a participating lender and ask which state programs they offer and whether funds are available.
- Take the homebuyer education course early; you usually need the certificate before closing.
- Find a real estate agent who has closed program loans. Browse Florida and Texas brokerages, for example in Harris County, and read how to choose a real estate agent.
- Budget for closing costs and taxes. See closing costs in Florida, closing costs in Texas and the Florida homestead exemption and Texas homestead exemption guides.
Frequently asked questions
Who counts as a first-time home buyer?
Under HUD’s definition, anyone who has not owned a principal residence during the three years before the purchase. Florida Housing and TDHCA use a similar three-year rule, and TDHCA waives it for veterans and homes in certain targeted areas.
Is Florida Hometown Heroes still available?
It depends on the current funding round. Florida Housing reported that all 2025-2026 funding was committed by February 2026, so check the official Hometown Heroes page or a participating lender for the current status.
How do I apply for first-time home buyer programs in Florida?
You apply through a participating lender, not directly with Florida Housing. Florida Housing requires a minimum 640 credit score, income and price under county limits and an approved homebuyer education course.
What first-time home buyer programs does Texas offer?
TDHCA offers My First Texas Home, My Choice Texas Home and the Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate, and TSAHC offers Homes for Texas Heroes and Home Sweet Texas. All are accessed through approved lenders, and income and price limits apply.
How much do I need for a down payment with an FHA loan?
HUD says the down payment on an FHA loan can be as low as 3.5% of the purchase price. State down payment assistance programs in Florida and Texas can often be paired with FHA loans to cover part of that amount.
Sources
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation — Homebuyer Programs Overview
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation — Hometown Heroes Program
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation — Florida Hometown Heroes Program 2025 (press release, February 2026)
- Florida Housing Finance Corporation — Hometown Heroes Housing Program
- TDHCA — Texas Homebuyer Program
- TDHCA — Programs at a Glance (program chart)
- HUD — Homeownership Center Reference Guide, first-time homebuyer definition
- HUD — Loans (FHA)
- IRS — About Form 8396, Mortgage Interest Credit
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Find a Housing Counselor
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Amounts and rules change: confirm them with the official sources linked above or with a licensed professional before making decisions.
