Resource Center

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or purchasing your next home, these resources can help you navigate the process.

Available Guides

• First-Time Home Buyers Guide 
• Home Buying Guide 
• Mortgage Pre-Approval Guide 
• Down Payment Assistance Programs 
• Understanding Closing Costs 
• Home Inspection Guide 
• Homeowners Insurance Basics 
• Credit Score Tips for Homebuyers 
• Mortgage Terminology Explained

Explore down payment assistance and homeownership programs organized by county. Funding, requirements, and availability may change; please confirm information directly with the administering organization before applying or referring a client.

Statewide and Regional Programs

• Bank of America Down Payment Center — down payment assistance and grant options for eligible Florida homebuyers.
• Suncoast Housing Connections: Down Payment Assistance — a regional resource for Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

Additional Florida Homebuyer Programs

Explore additional statewide and multi-area programs for down payment assistance, affordable first mortgages, tax credits, and homeownership support. Program terms, eligibility, funding, and availability may change; verify details directly with the program provider before applying.

Down Payment Assistance

• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) TBA Plus Program — combined assistance of up to $39,555 (5% of the total loan amount).
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Homeownership Pool (HOP) Program — second mortgage with up to $35,000 in assistance.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Hometown Heroes (HTH) Second Mortgage — Bond — second mortgage with up to $32,880 (5% of the total loan amount) in assistance.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Homeownership Loan Program (HLP) Second — second mortgage with up to $12,500 in assistance.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) FL Assist DPA — second mortgage with up to $10,000 in assistance.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Hometown Heroes (HTH) Second Mortgage — TBA — second mortgage with up to 5% of the total loan amount in assistance.
• Arcasa Energy-Integrated Mortgage Program — second mortgage with up to 5.5% of the purchase price in assistance.
• CBC Mortgage Chenoa Fund — FHA Forgivable DPA — combined assistance of up to 5% of the purchase price.
• CBC Mortgage Chenoa Fund — FHA Repayable DPA — combined assistance of up to 5% of the purchase price.
• Housing Finance Authority (HFA) of Hillsborough County — Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program (Multi-County) — combined assistance of up to $30,000.
• Housing Finance Authority (HFA) of Hillsborough County — Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program (Multi-County) — Targeted Areas — combined assistance of up to $30,000.
• Solita’s House Inc. (SHI) Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL) Program — second mortgage with up to $15,000 in assistance.
• Solita’s House Inc. (SHI) Purchase Renovation Opportunities (SHI PRO) — second mortgage with up to $15,000 in assistance.
• National Urban League Progressive UpPayment DPA Program — grant of up to $13,500 in assistance.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. HomeStart DPA Grant — grant of up to 3.5% of the purchase price.
• Realtors Care Foundation (RCF) First-Time Home Buyer Grant Program — grant of up to $7,500 in assistance.
• American Built Communities — Closing Costs and/or Down Payment Assistance Grant — grant of up to $5,000 in assistance.
• Suncoast Tampa Association of Realtors First-Time Home Buyer Grant Program — grant of up to $4,000 in assistance.

Affordable First Mortgages

• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) FL First Bond Loan — first mortgage.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) FL First Bond Loan — Target Area — first mortgage.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) FL Standard TBA — first mortgage.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Hometown Heroes (HTH) First Loan Program — Bond — first mortgage.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Hometown Heroes (HTH) First Loan Program — Bond Targeted — first mortgage.
• Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) Hometown Heroes (HTH) First Loan Program — TBA — first mortgage.

Tax Credits

• Housing Finance Authority (HFA) of Hillsborough County — Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) — Targeted Areas — Mortgage Credit Certificate.
• Housing Finance Authority (HFA) of Hillsborough County — Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program — Mortgage Credit Certificate.

Other Homeownership Programs

• HOPER — Hope for Homeownership (H4H) Program — other homebuyer assistance of up to $13,000.

Miami-Dade

• Miami-Dade Affordable Homeownership Program — Miami-Dade County.
• HFA Miami First-Time Homebuyer — all of Miami-Dade.

Broward

• Broward Homebuyer Purchase Assistance — participating cities in Broward County.
• Hollywood Purchase Assistance — City of Hollywood.
• Pembroke Pines Purchase Assistance — City of Pembroke Pines.
• Margate Purchase Assistance — City of Margate.

Hillsborough

• Hillsborough HFA Down Payment Assistance — Hillsborough County, including Tampa.
• Dare to Own the Dream — City of Tampa.
• Hillsborough County Down Payment Assistance — eligible areas outside excluded municipalities.

Pasco

• Habitat Pasco Homeownership — Pasco County.

Pinellas

• Pinellas County Down Payment Assistance — Pinellas County.
• Habitat Pinellas and West Pasco — Pinellas and West Pasco.

Lee

• Lee County Homeownership Assistance — Lee County outside Fort Myers.

Preparing to sell your home?

These guides can help you maximize your property’s value.

Available Guides

• Home Selling Guide 
• Preparing Your Home for Sale 
• Home Valuation Guide 
• Pricing Your Home Correctly 
• Home Staging Tips 
• Marketing Your Home 
• Understanding Closing Costs for Sellers 
• Selling During Different Market Conditions

Whether you’re purchasing your first rental property or expanding your portfolio, understanding the numbers is essential.

Available Guides

• Investment Properties Guide 
• Understanding ROI (Return on Investment) 
• Cash Flow Explained 
• Cap Rate Explained 
• Appreciation vs. Cash Flow 
• Building Long-Term Wealth Through Real Estate 
• Rental Property Basics 
• Multi-Family Investing 

Thinking about building or buying a newly constructed home?

Learn about:

• New Construction Buying Guide 
• Working with Builders 
• Choosing the Right Floor Plan 
• Builder Warranties 
• Construction Timeline 
• Design Center Selections 
• Final Walk-Through Checklist 
• Custom Home Construction Guide 

Understanding financing is an important part of the home buying process.

Explore educational information on:

• Mortgage Basics 
• Conventional Loans 
• FHA Loans 
• VA Loans 
• USDA Loans 
• Jumbo Loans 
• Down Payment Assistance 
• Construction Loans 
• Investment Property Financing 
• Mortgage Pre-Approval Process 

ITIN Loan Resources

If you file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), explore this specialized loan resource for eligible borrowers in Florida and Kentucky.

• ITIN Loan Program — financing resource for eligible ITIN borrowers in Florida and Kentucky.

If you need financing, we’re happy to connect you with trusted mortgage professionals who can help determine the loan program that best fits your needs.

We’ve created an educational resource center filled with valuable information for buyers looking to better understand the home buying process and available assistance programs.

Featured Resource

Educational Resources for Homebuyers

Topics include:

• Home buying tips 
• Down Payment Assistance Programs 
• Credit education 
• Loan options 
• Homeownership preparation 
• Frequently asked questions

Understanding real estate terminology can make buying or selling a home much easier.

Learn common terms such as:

• Appraisal 
• Closing Costs 
• Earnest Money Deposit 
• Equity 
• Escrow 
• Home Inspection 
• MLS 
• PMI 
• Title Insurance 
• Under Contract 

…and many more.

Find answers to some of the most common questions about:

• Buying a home 
• Selling a home 
• Real estate investing 
• New construction 
• Financing 
• Closing process 
• Homeownership 

Soon you’ll be able to use interactive calculators, including:

• Mortgage Payment Calculator 
• Affordability Calculator 
• Down Payment Calculator 
• Home Sale Proceeds Calculator 
• Investment Property ROI Calculator 
• Rent vs. Buy Calculator 

These tools will help you better understand the financial side of real estate before making important decisions.

Stay informed with educational articles covering topics such as:

• Current Real Estate Market Trends 
• Home Prices 
• Interest Rates 
• Buying vs. Renting 
• Florida Housing Market Updates 
• Investment Opportunities 
• Homeowner Tips 
• Seasonal Real Estate Advice