PROGRAMS AVAILABLE (CHECKED OCTOBER 6, 2026)
Polk County GAP Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance (Polk County Housing & Neighborhood Development): $50,000 for very low income, $40,000 for low income and $30,000 for moderate income households. No homeownership in the last 3 years, purchase price cap $544,233, and a HUD-approved homebuyer class within 18 months. Status: the county lists funding as currently unavailable. Official program page
Housing Finance Authority of Polk County: up to $7,500 for first-time homebuyers as a 0% deferred second mortgage. Status: active. Official program page
Florida Hometown Heroes (Florida Housing Finance Corporation): 5% of the first mortgage, from $10,000 to $35,000, as a 0% deferred loan for eligible first-time buyers, including full-time Florida workers in eligible occupations, active military and veterans, through participating lenders. Status: 2026 program active. Official program page
Florida Assist (FL Assist) (Florida Housing): up to $10,000 as a 0% deferred, non-forgivable second mortgage, paired with a Florida Housing first mortgage. Status: confirm with a participating lender. Official program page
Florida HLP (Florida Housing): $12,500 at 3% for 30 years, with a monthly payment, paired with a Florida Housing first mortgage. Status: confirm with a participating lender. Official program page
HFA Preferred / Advantage PLUS (Florida Housing): 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan, forgiven 20% a year over 5 years; only with HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage conventional loans. Status: confirm with a participating lender. Official program page
How to use these programs: talk to a participating lender first, take a HUD-approved homebuyer education class (some are in Spanish), shop within each price cap, and leave time before closing; the county GAP program needs files 20 to 120 days before closing.
Program details change; always confirm current terms with a participating lender. Figures come from the linked official pages.