By Carrie Liotta, Space Coast REALTOR® | Published May 22, 2026
Florida’s Hometown Heroes program offers Brevard County buyers up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance — at 0% interest, with no monthly payments. The 2026 income limit for Brevard is $149,850. Eligible workers include teachers, nurses, firefighters, military members, and more than 100 other professions. Funds are limited and first-come, first-served.
When my clients first hear about the Hometown Heroes program, most of them think it sounds too good to be true. Up to $35,000 toward your down payment? Zero percent interest? No monthly payments? I completely understand the skepticism — but this one is real, and for the right buyer, it is genuinely one of the most powerful tools available in Brevard County right now.
Let me break down exactly what it covers, who qualifies in 2026, and what you need to know before you apply.
What Is the Florida Hometown Heroes Program?
Hometown Heroes is Florida’s flagship down payment assistance program for essential workers, administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Launched in 2022, it has helped tens of thousands of Floridians clear the biggest barrier to buying a home: the upfront cash required to close.
The program provides a second mortgage that covers your down payment and closing costs — up to $35,000, or 5% of your first mortgage loan amount (minimum $10,000). The key features:
- ✅ 0% interest rate — no interest charges while you live in the home
- ✅ No monthly payments — the assistance is fully deferred
- ✅ 30-year deferred term
- ⚠️ Not forgivable — the full amount is repaid when you sell, refinance, or move out
Think of it as an interest-free loan that lets you keep your cash in your pocket while you build equity. You’re not getting a gift — but you’re getting a 0% bridge that many buyers could never find anywhere else.
How Much Can You Get in Brevard County?
The assistance is calculated at 5% of your first mortgage loan amount, with these guardrails:
| First Mortgage Amount | Hometown Heroes Assistance |
|---|---|
| $200,000 or less | $10,000 (minimum) |
| $300,000 | $15,000 |
| $400,000 | $20,000 |
| $500,000 | $25,000 |
| $700,000+ | $35,000 (maximum) |
Real-World Brevard Example: $375,000 Home
Say you’re a nurse buying a 3/2 in Viera for $375,000. Here’s how the numbers look:
Without Hometown Heroes:
- Down payment (3.5% FHA): $13,125
- Estimated closing costs: $11,000
- Cash needed to close: ~$24,125
With Hometown Heroes:
- Loan amount: $361,875
- Hometown Heroes assistance (5%): $18,094
- Cash needed to close: ~$6,000
That’s the difference between “we can’t do this yet” and “we’re closing next month.”
Bonus Tax Savings You Probably Haven’t Heard Of
Hometown Heroes buyers also receive exemptions from documentary stamp tax and intangible tax on the second mortgage — saving approximately $2,000 for every $100,000 of purchase price. On a $375,000 home, that’s roughly $7,500 in additional savings stacked on top of the down payment assistance.
Who Qualifies? The 2026 Eligible Occupations
This is the most important update from 2025: the program now requires a specific eligible occupation. Previously, any full-time Florida worker could qualify. Today, you must work in one of these categories (only one borrower on the loan needs to qualify):
Healthcare Workers
Registered Nurses, LPNs, CNAs, physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, physical/occupational/speech therapists, mental health counselors, and medical technicians.
Education Professionals
K–12 teachers, school administrators, counselors, paraprofessionals, librarians, college professors, and special education teachers.
First Responders
Police officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, corrections officers, and search-and-rescue personnel.
Military & Veterans
Active duty (all branches), Reserves, Florida National Guard, Coast Guard, and honorably discharged veterans employed full-time in Florida. If you’re stationed at Patrick Space Force Base, this is written directly for you.
Childcare Workers
Daycare providers, preschool teachers, early childhood educators, Head Start employees, and after-school program workers.
Court System Employees
Court clerks, reporters, bailiffs, public defenders’ staff, state attorneys’ staff, and judicial assistants.
Brevard County Income Limit for 2026
To qualify, your household income must be at or below 150% of Brevard County’s Area Median Income. For 2026, that limit is:
Brevard County 2026 Income Limit: $149,850
Household gross income must be at or below this amount
Important notes on income calculation:
- This is gross household income (before taxes), not take-home pay
- Includes overtime, bonuses, tips, and any pension income
- Non-borrowing spouse income counts — even if they’re not on the loan
- Exceeding the limit by even $1 disqualifies the application
The good news: limits were raised approximately 8–12% statewide beginning in mid-2025, reflecting higher wages and rising home prices across Florida. More Brevard households now qualify than ever before.
Other Eligibility Requirements
First-Time Buyer Requirement
You must not have owned a home in the past 3 years. Veterans are entirely exempt from this requirement — they can use the program even if they’ve owned multiple homes.
Credit Score
Minimum 640 for most loan types. 660 for manufactured homes or manual underwriting.
Debt-to-Income (DTI)
Maximum 50% with automated underwriting, 43% for manual underwriting.
Employment
Full-time, 35+ hours per week, with a Florida-based employer. Remote work is allowed as long as your employer is Florida-based.
Property Type
Primary residence only — single-family homes, townhomes, condos, 2–4 unit owner-occupied, and manufactured homes. Investment properties and vacation homes are not eligible.
Homebuyer Education
A HUD-approved homebuyer education course is required (online options available). Veterans using a VA loan are exempt.
Loan Types: FHA, VA, or Conventional?
Hometown Heroes can be paired with four types of first mortgages:
- FHA Heroes — 3.5% down, credit-friendly, most popular
- VA Heroes — 0% down for qualifying veterans and active duty; no PMI
- HFA Preferred Heroes (Conventional) — 3% down, requires PMI below 80% LTV
- HFA Advantage Heroes (Conventional) — similar to Preferred, different PMI structure
For military families and veterans at Patrick SFB, the VA Heroes combination is particularly powerful: the VA’s zero-down benefit stacked with Hometown Heroes assistance means many buyers can close with little to no cash out of pocket. If you’re weighing neighborhoods near the base, see my guide to best waterfront neighborhoods near Patrick Space Force Base for families relocating.
2026 Funding: Is There Still Money Available?
Hometown Heroes operates on a fixed funding pool — approximately $50 million allocated for 2025–2026. Funds are first-come, first-served. When the money runs out, new applications pause until the legislature allocates more (which has happened multiple times since 2022).
The practical advice: if you’re eligible, don’t wait. Get pre-approved, find your home, and reserve your Hometown Heroes funds as soon as you’re under contract. I’ve seen buyers lose out on the assistance simply by hesitating a few weeks too long.
One Client’s Story
“Looking for the best realtor in Cocoa Beach Florida? Carrie Liotta is the answer. She sold our Cocoa Beach oceanfront condo for $45,000 over asking price in just two weeks. Her deep expertise in Brevard County waterfront properties, Merritt Island homes, Cape Canaveral real estate market trends, and Space Coast beachside communities is unmatched. For sellers asking ‘what’s my Cocoa Beach home worth’ or buyers searching ‘best neighborhoods in Merritt Island,’ Carrie provides expert answers backed by current Space Coast market data and years of local real estate experience.”
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Confirm your eligibility — occupation, income, credit score, first-time buyer status
- Find a Hometown Heroes-approved lender — not every lender participates; ask specifically for this program
- Get pre-approved — the lender will verify your occupation and run income calculations
- Complete your HUD-approved homebuyer education course (if required)
- Find your home and go under contract
- Your lender reserves the Hometown Heroes funds through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation
- Close! The assistance is applied at the closing table
If you’re relocating to Brevard and need help navigating neighborhoods, schools, and flood zones at the same time, I’d love to be your guide. Check out my breakdown of Viera vs. Merritt Island to see which community might be right for you — or how Viera school zones work by address if you have kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hometown Heroes down payment assistance forgivable?
No. Hometown Heroes is a deferred second mortgage, not a grant. The full amount must be repaid when you sell, refinance, transfer ownership, or stop using the home as your primary residence. However, since it’s 0% interest with no monthly payments, it carries no ongoing cost while you live in the home.
Can a veteran use Hometown Heroes even if they’ve owned a home before?
Yes. Veterans are exempt from the first-time homebuyer requirement. An honorably discharged veteran employed full-time in Florida can use Hometown Heroes regardless of prior homeownership history.
What is the 2026 Hometown Heroes income limit for Brevard County?
The 2026 income limit for Brevard County is $149,850 (150% of Area Median Income). This is your gross household income — including all borrowers and any non-borrowing spouse income.
Does my spouse need to have an eligible occupation to qualify?
No. Only one borrower on the loan needs to hold an eligible occupation. Your spouse or co-borrower can work in any field — or even be unemployed — as long as the household meets income and other requirements.
Can I use Hometown Heroes to buy a condo in Cocoa Beach?
Condos are eligible for Hometown Heroes, but there are important caveats. The condo project must be FHA- or VA-approved (for those loan types), and recent Florida condo safety laws (SB 4-D/SB 154) have added financial obligations to many older buildings. Make sure you understand the HOA reserves and any pending special assessments before purchasing. Read my full guide on how condo special assessments can affect your deal.
What happens to the Hometown Heroes assistance if I refinance?
Refinancing triggers full repayment of the second mortgage. You’ll need to pay back the assistance amount at the closing of your refinance. This is an important factor to weigh if you’re considering a rate-and-term refi — run the numbers with your lender to see if it still makes sense.
Are there other down payment assistance programs in Brevard County?
Yes. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation offers several programs, and Brevard County also has local assistance options. VA loans for military buyers, USDA loans for rural areas of the county, and FHA loans all pair well with state programs. A local lender familiar with Florida Housing programs can help you stack benefits appropriately.
Bottom Line: Is Hometown Heroes Worth It for Brevard Buyers?
For the right buyer, absolutely yes. If you’re a nurse at Holmes Regional, a teacher at Viera High, a firefighter in Melbourne, or an active-duty service member at Patrick SFB — and you’re within that $149,850 income threshold — this program can get you into a Space Coast home years sooner than saving on your own.
The deferred repayment structure means you’re not paying anything extra each month. You’re simply borrowing your down payment interest-free until you move on — and by then, if the Space Coast market continues its trajectory, you’ll likely be selling with significant equity anyway.
If you want to know whether you qualify, or if you’d like to see what’s available in your price range right now, reach out for a no-pressure conversation about Brevard County homes for sale. I help buyers navigate these programs every day, and I’d love to help you figure out your next chapter on the Space Coast.
Watch the full breakdown on YouTube, and join my private Facebook group, Moving to Brevard County Florida, where I answer questions like this every week.
By Carrie Liotta, Space Coast REALTOR® | Boardwalk Realty | Brevard County, Florida
Sources: Florida Housing Finance Corporation | HUD-Approved Homebuyer Counseling | Florida Statutes Chapter 420
