First-Time Homebuyer & Hometown Heroes
Florida's Hometown Heroes Program provides up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for qualifying first-time buyers in community service roles.
Get Pre-Approved →
Florida's Hometown Heroes Program provides up to $35,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for qualifying first-time buyers in community service roles.
Get Pre-Approved →Assistance
Up to $35,000
Second Mortgage
0% / 30-Year Deferred
Max DTI
50%
Programs
FHA / VA / Conv
The Florida Hometown Heroes program by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation provides down payment assistance of up to 5% of the first mortgage (min $10,000, max $35,000) as a 0% non-amortizing 30-year deferred second mortgage.
Healthcare workers, nurses, and medical professionals
School teachers, staff, and education professionals
First responders, firefighters, law enforcement, and public safety workers
Childcare workers, military members, and veterans working for FL-based employers
A first-time homebuyer loan is a mortgage designed for people who haven't owned a home in the past few years, and it typically pairs a low-down-payment first mortgage with down payment assistance where you qualify. In Florida, that often means an FHA, VA, or Conventional loan combined with the Hometown Heroes program from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, which supports eligible community-service workers such as teachers, nurses, and first responders buying their primary residence.
The process centers on your income, credit, and how much you have for a down payment. Swiftlend reviews pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, bank statements, and a credit report to pre-qualify you, then matches you to a program. Hometown Heroes down payment assistance is generally structured as a 0% interest, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage, meaning no monthly payment on the assistance while you occupy the home. First-time buyer status and a Florida-based employer are typically required.
As a licensed Florida mortgage broker (NMLS #402985) based in Miami, Swiftlend shops your first-time buyer loan across a network of lender partners rather than pushing a single product. That means we can line up FHA, VA, and Conventional options alongside Florida down payment assistance and explain the real trade-offs in plain language. Serving buyers across Miami and the state, we make the first mortgage feel manageable. Get pre-approved with Swiftlend to see what you qualify for.
We start with a short conversation about your income, credit, and savings, then check your first-time buyer eligibility and Florida employer status. Swiftlend estimates your price range and flags which programs, including Hometown Heroes assistance, may fit.
You share pay stubs, W-2s or returns, bank statements, and ID. We match you to an FHA, VA, or Conventional first mortgage from our lender network and confirm whether down payment assistance applies to your role and county.
Once you're under contract, the lender orders an appraisal to confirm the home's value, and underwriting verifies your income, assets, and credit. We keep you updated and help resolve any conditions so your file moves toward a clear approval.
At closing you sign final documents, apply any approved Hometown Heroes assistance toward your down payment and closing costs, and receive the keys. Swiftlend coordinates with the lender and title company to keep your first home purchase on schedule.
No fees. No commitment. No fine print. Just a clear answer on what you qualify for — today.