By Carrie Liotta, Space Coast REALTOR® | June 4, 2026 When my clients tell me they can’t afford to buy a home on the Space Coast, the conversation usually shifts the moment I walk them through what’s actually available. Down payment assistance in Brevard County in 2026 is not a rumor — it’s real money, often tens of thousands of dollars, that most first-time buyers have no idea exists. This post breaks down every current program you can actually use: how much you can get, who qualifies, whether it’s a grant or a loan, and how to combine them. I’ve helped buyers in Brevard County access these programs firsthand, and I’ll give you the honest picture — including the one program that just ran out of funding. What Counts as a First-Time Buyer in Brevard County? Every program on this list uses the same federal definition: you have not held an ownership interest in a primary residence during the past three years. That means if you owned a home four years ago and rented since then, you likely qualify again. Divorced buyers who haven’t been on a deed recently often qualify. Recent graduates, military families relocating to Patrick Space Force Base, and move-here-from-out-of-state buyers are among the most common first-time buyer profiles I work with on the Space Coast. Program 1: Brevard County Purchase Assistance Program (SHIP) This is the county’s own program, funded through the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP). It is designed specifically for Brevard County buyers purchasing homes within the county — new construction or existing homes, but not manufactured homes. How much can you get? Very low income households: up to $75,000 Low income households: up to $60,000 The actual amount is capped at what is needed to make the purchase affordable — you won’t receive more than necessary to close the gap between the purchase price and what you can afford on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Is it a grant or a loan? It is structured as a second mortgage at 0% interest, deferred — meaning no monthly payment is required. Repayment is triggered when you sell the home, refinance, or no longer occupy it as your primary residence. For most buyers, that means the money stays invisible until they sell or move. What are the requirements? First-time buyer (no ownership interest in the past three years) Must qualify for and obtain a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage — conventional, FHA, and VA loans are all acceptable Liquid assets cannot exceed $15,000 at the time of closing Must complete a five-hour homebuyer education workshop through Brevard County’s approved provider, Community Housing Initiative Property must be located within Brevard County Program 2: Brevard Housing Finance Authority (HFA) Down Payment Assistance The Brevard Housing Finance Authority runs its own program separate from the county SHIP program. It pairs a 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage with up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, structured as a 0% deferred second mortgage. The HFA also offers a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), which gives eligible buyers a federal tax credit of up to $2,000 per year for the life of the loan. That adds up — over a 30-year loan, that’s potentially $60,000 in tax savings on top of the down payment help. How this differs from the county SHIP program The HFA program typically has slightly higher income limits and focuses on moderate-income buyers who may not qualify for the county’s means-tested SHIP assistance. It’s worth checking both programs because they serve overlapping but distinct income tiers. Program 3: Florida Hometown Heroes — Know the Current Status Florida’s Hometown Heroes program made headlines for a reason: it provides eligible full-time Florida workers — including teachers, nurses, law enforcement, first responders, and active-duty military — with down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, with a minimum of $10,000 and a cap of $35,000. The assistance is structured as a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. It is not forgivable — repayment is due when you sell, refinance, transfer the deed, or stop occupying the home as your primary residence. Current funding status — important update As of February 28, 2026, Florida Housing announced that all available Hometown Heroes funding for the 2025–2026 cycle had been committed. The $50 million round launched August 18, 2025, and was fully spoken for within months. A new legislative funding round is possible but not yet confirmed as of this writing. If you’re counting on Hometown Heroes, verify with your lender whether new funding has been released before building it into your purchase plan. I wrote a full breakdown of this program earlier this year: Florida’s Hometown Heroes Program: What Brevard County Buyers Can Get in 2026. Can You Stack These Programs? In some cases, yes — and that’s where things get interesting. Combining the Brevard County SHIP program with a Brevard HFA first mortgage, for example, is a structure I’ve seen work for buyers in the low-to-moderate income range. Similarly, the Brevard HFA DPA can sometimes be layered with an MCC for additional tax benefit. The key is that your first mortgage lender must approve and process the combination. Not every lender participates in every program, so it’s worth asking upfront: “Are you a Brevard HFA-approved lender? Do you originate SHIP-assisted purchases?” Stacking Hometown Heroes on top of SHIP is more complex — each program has its own second mortgage guidelines, and not all combinations are permitted. When Hometown Heroes funding reopens, confirm with your lender whether the combination works for your specific transaction. Income Limits: Who Qualifies? Each program uses HUD’s area median income (AMI) for Brevard County as its benchmark. The limits adjust annually. As of 2026, the approximate income thresholds are: Very low income: up to approximately 50% of AMI Low income: up to approximately 80% of AMI Moderate income (HFA program): up to approximately 120% of AMI For a household of two in Brevard County, 80% AMI in 2026 is