Assistance program · Florida
Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program
Miami-Dade County loan of up to $35,000, with no interest or monthly payments, for the down payment of first-time buyers who already live in the county; repaid when you sell, refinance or at the end of the term
At a glance
- Most it gives, per the source
- Up to $35,000
- What its page says; your amount depends on the price and the loan.
- Kind of help
- Deferred
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
- First-time buyer?
- Yes
- First-time buyers only
- Checked
- November 5, 2026
- Against the program's official page.
Type of help
What it is
- Second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance
Only in: Miami-Dade County
What it gives
Up to $35,000
Source text
Qualifying homebuyers can receive an interest-free loan of up to $35,000 dollars to cover the down payment for their first home. … The maximum award is $35,000. … Term: Up to 30 years deferred loan with no interest, unpaid principal balance due at maturity … Payments: No monthly payment required. Unpaid principal balance due upon sale, transfer of title, refinance or death during the term of the down payment loan … If property is sold, shared equity period percentage of profit from resale to be paid to the County: 100% if sold within 1-3 years, 50% is sold between 4-6 years, 0% after 6 years. A summary of what the program publishes; not a loan offer or advice. Amounts, limits and funding change without notice.
At a glance
Who qualifies
Each answer comes from the program's page. "Not stated — ask" means its page doesn't make it clear: ask before you apply.
Source text
Individuals earning less than $95,620; couples making less than $109,200; three person households earning less than $122,920; and households of four making less than $136,500 may be eligible for homebuyer down payment assistance. … an individual or spouse who has had no ownership in a principal residence during the three year period ending on the date of purchase of the property … The program also requires potential homebuyers to receive homebuyer counseling from a HUD certified agency and to complete approved homebuyer education training. … Borrower must have 1% of the purchase price from their own funds for the down payment … Fixed rate mortgages only … Must be a Miami-Dade County resident at time of application and loan closing. - First-time buyers only Yes
- Homebuyer course required Yes
- Minimum credit score Not stated — ask
- Income limit Per the program table (by county and household size)
- Price limit Per the program table
- Mortgages it works with Not stated — ask
- Immigration requirement Not stated — ask
- Accepts ITIN? Not stated — ask
- Spanish materials Not stated — ask
- Program status The source does not say whether it is open — ask
- Where it applies Miami-Dade County
What its page says about being open
Its page does not say whether the program is open or has funds. Ask the lender or the agency before counting on it. Read on the official page on November 5, 2026.
Your area in numbers
What buying costs in Miami-Dade County
These are the official figures for the area the program covers. Use them to compare the price of the home you want and your household income with the program's limits.
The typical home value ($463,000) fits within Miami-Dade County's FHA limit ($667,000).
The program sets its income limit in its own table. For reference, HUD's low-income limit for 4 people in Miami-Dade County is $109,000.
| Figure | Miami-Dade County | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $463,000 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| FHA limit (one-unit home) | $667,000 | HUD |
| Conforming limit (one-unit home) | $832,750 | FHFA |
| HUD low income (80%), household of 4 | $109,000 | HUD |
Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024) · FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data) · Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data) · Income Limits (HUD) (Fiscal year 2026)
Step by step
How to use it, step by step
Each step comes from what the program's page says. What its page leaves out is further down, in the questions.
Find a participating lender-
Ask first whether it is open
Its page does not say whether it is open or still has funds. That is the first thing to ask.
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Confirm you count as a first-time buyer
The program requires it. Read on its page how it defines "first-time buyer" and whether there are exceptions.
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Find your county in the income table
The limit changes with the county and the number of people in your household. Count the income of everyone the program asks you to add.
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Take the homebuyer course
The program requires it. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach courses. Florida has 98 agencies on HUD's list, and 57 serve people in Spanish.
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Apply with Miami-Dade County Housing and Community Development. Its page explains whether you apply directly or through a participating lender.
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Compare the total cost before you sign
Ask about the total cost. The mortgage with assistance may carry a higher rate than without it, and some programs charge for the course or a fee.
Before you call
What to ask
Its page leaves 7 points unclear. Write them down for when you talk to Miami-Dade County Housing and Community Development.
What its page does not say
- Is it open now, and does it still have funds?
- Is there a maximum price for the home?
- What minimum credit score do you require?
- Which mortgage types does it work with: FHA, VA, USDA or conventional?
- Which immigration status or residency documents do you ask for?
- Do you accept an ITIN?
- Do you have materials or staff in Spanish?
Worth asking for this kind of help
- When is the second loan repaid: when I sell, refinance or pay off the mortgage?
Against the others
How it compares with Florida's other programs
The 5 programs we checked in Florida, with the same fields from their official pages. "Doesn't say" means its page does not make it clear.
It is one of 5 programs in Florida, out of 5, that require being a first-time buyer. It is one of 4 out of 5 that publish an amount with the figure in their own wording. 2 more programs in the state give "deferred" help: Florida Assist (FL Assist) and Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program. It is the only local program on the list; the others cover the whole state. 4 of the 5 require a homebuyer course, this one included.
Swipe the table to see every column.
| Program | Kind of help | Published amount | First-time buyers only | Course required | Accepts ITIN | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Programthis program | Deferred | Up to $35,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Miami-Dade County |
| Florida Assist (FL Assist) | Deferred | Up to $10,000 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage | Repayable | $12,500 | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage | Forgivable | Not published | Yes | Yes | Doesn't say | Statewide |
| Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program | Deferred | Up to 5% of the loan, capped at $35,000 | Yes | Doesn't say | Doesn't say | Statewide |
Sources
How we checked this program
We read the program's official pages on November 5, 2026 and copied their text as it appears on them. We add no amounts or requirements those pages do not state, and a program is listed as open or closed only when its page says so.
We check every program again. If more than 180 days pass without a check, the page says so.
Get free help applying
A HUD-approved housing counselor explains the program's requirements, goes over your numbers and tells you what to ask the lender. They do not sell loans.
Find a counselor (HUD)Read before you apply
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Help and programs
Down payment assistance: how it works
What down payment assistance is, the types that exist (grant, forgivable or deferred second loan, tax credit), who qualifies and where to find it.
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Help and programs
Homebuyer education courses: when you need one
What a homebuyer education course is, when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and assistance programs require one, and where to take it for free or in Spanish.
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Help and programs
HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
What a HUD-approved housing counselor does, what they help with (buying, renting, missed payments, credit), what they may charge and how to find one.
Your county
Price and income limits depend on the county. Your county page has the typical value, the FHA limit and the counseling agencies that can walk you through the application.