Broward Down Payment Assistance 2026

By Jason L. Esposito, Senior Loan Officer | NMLS #308764 | LoKation Mortgage NMLS #2682974 | Updated October 3, 2026

The short answer: most Broward first-time buyers can use one Florida Housing second mortgage (Hometown Heroes up to $35,000, FL Assist up to $10,000 or FL HLP at $12,500) and, where funds are open, add a local program behind it, like Broward County HPA or a city program. You can't combine two Florida Housing programs, and county HPA can't be mixed with an entitlement city's funds.

As of October 3, 2026, Hometown Heroes still showed over $25 million available. County HPA money was open in Hollywood and (limited) Pembroke Pines, with new allocations expected in November 2026.

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Broward County down payment assistance programs at a glance

Program	Amount	Type	Who qualifies	Can it stack?
Florida Hometown Heroes	5% of first mortgage ($10,000 min, $35,000 max)	0%, 30-year deferred second; not forgivable	Eligible Florida workers, servicemembers and employed veterans; first-time buyers (veterans exempt); 640+ credit; Broward income limits apply	Not with FL Assist/HLP. Yes with Broward HPA or a city program (third position)
FL Assist	Up to $10,000	0% deferred second; not forgivable	First-time buyers; 640+ credit; county income and price limits	One Florida Housing program only; local help can sit behind it
FL HLP	$12,500	3%, 30-year second ($52.70/month)	Same as FL Assist	Same as FL Assist
Broward County HPA	Hollywood up to $50,000; Pembroke Pines up to $75,000 (limited); most other areas paused until new funds (expected Nov. 2026)	0%, 15-year deferred; satisfied after 15 years as your homestead	No ownership in 3 years; income up to 80% AMI (Hollywood 120%); price up to $679,324	Yes, behind Florida Housing. Not with an entitlement city's funds
City of Fort Lauderdale Purchase Assistance	Up to $90,000 (City's 2025–2028 SHIP plan maximum)	0%, 15-year deferred; forgiven at end of term	First-time buyers in city limits; very-low to moderate income	Not with Broward HPA
City of Pompano Beach First Time Home Buyer	Up to $80,000	0%, 20-year deferred; reduced 20% a year in final 5 years	First-time buyers; income up to 80% AMI; 640+ credit; price up to $451,000	Call to confirm

Verified from official sources (listed below) on October 3, 2026. Funding changes often.

The programs, explained

Florida Hometown Heroes (Hometown Heroes Broward)

Hometown Heroes is the biggest piece for most of my Broward buyers. Florida Housing reopened it on July 13, 2026 with $50 million, and the administrator's rate sheet still showed "Over $25 Million Available" on October 2, 2026. Funds can't be reserved until you have a signed purchase contract, so pre-approval alone doesn't hold your spot.

Who: full-time employees of a Florida-based employer in health care, schools, first responder, public safety, court or child care roles, plus servicemembers and veterans employed full-time in Florida. Fully remote workers aren't eligible.
Terms: repaid when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage or move out. It is not forgiven.
Broward limits (2026 Bond guide): income up to $126,800 (1–2 people) or $145,820 (3+), higher in targeted areas; price up to $697,889 ($852,976 in targeted areas).

More on my Hometown Heroes page. Veterans, see my Florida VA loan page.

FL Assist and FL HLP

Not in a Hometown Heroes field? Florida Housing's standard programs come next. Both require a Florida Housing first mortgage, a 640 credit score, an approved homebuyer course, first-time buyer status and county limits. FL Assist is up to $10,000 at 0%, deferred. FL HLP is a $12,500 second mortgage at a 3% fixed interest rate repaid over 30 years (360 payments of about $52.70) per Florida Housing's current term sheet; the APR may be higher than the interest rate, and terms may change or may not be available at commitment or closing. That payment counts in your debt-to-income ratio. You pick one: Florida Housing doesn't allow its programs to be combined.

Broward County HPA (Homebuyer Purchase Assistance)

HPA is the big local layer: a 0% deferred loan with a 15-year term and no monthly payment, satisfied if the home stays your homestead for all 15 years. Your lender applies and reserves the funds for you. The county's August 2026 flyer shows:

Hollywood: up to $50,000, income up to 120% AMI
Pembroke Pines: up to $75,000, limited funds, 80% AMI
Coral Springs, Davie, Plantation, Weston and most other areas: no funds now; new allocations expected November 2026

You'll also need income at or below 80% AMI ($101,400 for a family of four), a South Florida HUD-approved class, and at least 3% of the price in non-borrowed funds, with at least 1% from you (VA may differ). The county's separate Trust Fund program (up to $100,000) showed every commission district fully reserved as of July 30, 2026. Buying in Hollywood or Coral Springs? Those pages cover local costs.

Down payment assistance in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale runs its own Purchase Assistance program instead of HPA. The City's state-approved SHIP plan for 2025–2028 lists a maximum award of $90,000 as a 0%, 15-year loan forgiven at the end of the term. You'll need a two-year HUD counseling certificate before applying and at least $1,000 of your own money, and applications go through the City's partner nonprofits. Funds are limited, so call me to check current availability. See my Fort Lauderdale mortgage page.

Pompano Beach and other Broward cities

Pompano Beach's 2026 flyer offers first-time buyers up to $80,000 in HOME funds, with a 640 minimum credit score, a $451,000 price cap and 3% down (at least 1.5% your own). More on my Pompano Beach page. Buying somewhere else? Call me and I'll check what's open.

Can you stack them?

Yes, in a specific order:

One Florida Housing program, maximum. Hometown Heroes, FL Assist and FL HLP can't be combined.
Local money goes in third position. Florida Housing allows another agency's stand-alone help behind its second mortgage, and Broward's guidelines allow HPA in third position behind Florida Housing.
County or city, not both. HPA can't be used with an entitlement city's purchase assistance funds, such as Fort Lauderdale's.

The strictest income and price limit wins, and Broward caps combined loan-to-value at 105%, so structure matters.

Worked example (illustrative example numbers)

Illustrative example numbers only. Not a quote, loan offer or approval; your numbers will differ.

Maria, a Hollywood hospital nurse with a household of three earning $120,000, is under both the Hometown Heroes limit ($145,820) and Hollywood's HPA limit ($136,800 for three). She buys a $400,000 Hollywood townhome and needs about $414,000, assuming roughly $14,000 in closing costs and prepaids:

Broward HPA (Hollywood): $50,000

Hometown Heroes (5% of first mortgage): about $16,800

Maria's funds (3% minimum; part can be a gift): $12,000

First mortgage: about $335,200

Combined financing is about 100.5%, under the 105% cap. Without help, 3% down plus closing costs would be about $26,000 out of pocket; with the stack it's about $12,000, on a first mortgage about $52,800 smaller than a 97% loan. In Fort Lauderdale, HPA would be off the table, but the City's program could sit behind Hometown Heroes if funds are open.

Want me to run your stack?
Tell me your job, household size and target city. No cost, no obligation.
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How to apply for Broward first time home buyer programs in 2026

Apply or call me. I'll match programs to your job, income, household and city.
Take homebuyer education early. Broward HPA needs a South Florida HUD-approved class within 12 months of closing; Fort Lauderdale needs its two-year certificate before you apply.
Get pre-approved. I structure the first mortgage to fit every program's rules.
Find a home within the limits and sign a purchase contract.
I reserve the funds. Broward's income certification and funding take about 5–6 weeks after it gets my package, so plan your closing date around it.
Close and move in, and keep it your primary residence.

New to buying? Read my Florida first-time home buyer guide or try my mortgage calculator.

Broward down payment assistance FAQ

How much down payment assistance can I get in Broward County in 2026?

It depends on your job, income and city. Hometown Heroes pays 5% of the first mortgage ($10,000 to $35,000), FL Assist up to $10,000 and FL HLP $12,500. On top of one of those, Broward HPA currently lists up to $50,000 in Hollywood and up to $75,000 in Pembroke Pines (limited funds). Call 954-817-0999 to check current availability.

Can I combine Hometown Heroes with Broward County HPA?

Yes. Broward's HPA guidelines allow HPA in third position behind a Florida Housing second mortgage such as Hometown Heroes. You must meet both programs' rules, and HPA funds must be open in your city.

Can I use FL Assist and Hometown Heroes together?

No. Florida Housing does not allow its down payment programs to be combined, so you choose one: Hometown Heroes, FL Assist or FL HLP.

Do I have to pay the assistance back?

Hometown Heroes and FL Assist are 0% deferred loans repaid when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage or move out. FL HLP has a small monthly payment. Broward HPA is satisfied if the home stays your homestead for 15 years.

Is Broward County HPA available in Fort Lauderdale?

Fort Lauderdale isn't on the county's current HPA list. The City runs its own Purchase Assistance program, and county rules don't allow HPA with an entitlement city's purchase assistance funds.

Do I have to be a first-time home buyer?

Generally, yes: no home ownership in the past three years. Veterans with a qualifying DD-214 are exempt from that rule for Hometown Heroes.

Ready to see what you can stack?

Hometown Heroes money is still available, and Broward expects new HPA funds in November 2026. Getting pre-approved now lets you move quickly when the right home and funding line up.

Start your Broward DPA application
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Official sources

Jason Esposito and LoKation Mortgage are not affiliated with Florida Housing, Broward County, or any city government; program terms, funding and eligibility are set by those agencies and can change. Jason L. Esposito, Senior Loan Officer, NMLS #308764 | LoKation Mortgage, NMLS #2682974 | Licensed by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Loan Originator License #308764 (NMLS #308764). Equal Housing Opportunity. Not a commitment to lend; programs subject to change and funding availability; subject to credit approval. Program details verified from the official sources above on October 3, 2026.

Broward County Down Payment Assistance 2026: How to Stack Hometown Heroes, HPA & City Programs