See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 27, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Homestead, FL (2026)

Population: 80,000 | Median home price: $430,000 | Est. closing costs: $8,500 - $13,000

Homestead is a city in southern Miami-Dade County, Florida, located near the entrance to the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. With a median home price around $430,000, first-time buyers here have access to an impressive stack of local, county, and state assistance. The City of Homestead CRA First-Time Homebuyers Program offers up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost help, with up to $15,000 available for current HCRA residents. At the county level, the Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Loan Program provides up to $100,000, and the Miami-Dade County Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $35,000. The MDEAT Homeownership Assistance Program adds up to $28,500 as a forgivable loan. By combining city, county, and state programs, eligible buyers in Homestead can potentially access well over $150,000 in total assistance toward their home purchase.

City Programs in Homestead

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Homestead CRA First-Time Homebuyers Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $10,000 (up to $15,000 for residents who have lived in the HCRA for at least one year)	Yes	View →

City of Homestead CRA First-Time Homebuyers Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $10,000 (up to $15,000 for residents who have lived in the HCRA for at least one year)
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Miami-Dade County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
HFA Miami-Dade Mortgage Program	Deferred Loan	Up to $15,000	Yes	View →
MDEAT Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP)	Forgivable Loan	Up to $28,500 (at or below 80% AMI) or up to $14,500 (above 80% AMI)	No	View →
Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program	Deferred Loan	Up to $35,000	Yes	View →
Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Loan Program (HLP)	Zero-Interest Loan	Up to $100,000 at 1% interest or $80,000 at 2% interest	No	View →

HFA Miami-Dade Mortgage Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $15,000
First-time only:: Yes

MDEAT Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP)

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $28,500 (at or below 80% AMI) or up to $14,500 (above 80% AMI)
First-time only:: No

Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $35,000
First-time only:: Yes

Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Loan Program (HLP)

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to $100,000 at 1% interest or $80,000 at 2% interest
First-time only:: No

State Programs in Florida

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
FHLBA Community Partners Product	Forgivable Loan	Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs	No	View →
FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product	Forgivable Loan	Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs	Yes	View →
FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+	Grant	Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs	No	View →
Florida Assist (FL Assist) Second Mortgage Program	Deferred Loan	Up to $10,000	Yes	View →
Florida HFA Preferred and Advantage PLUS Program	Forgivable Loan	3%, 4%, or 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (HFA Advantage PLUS TBA, Freddie Mac first mortgage only)	Yes	View →
Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program	Deferred Loan	Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount, minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000	Yes	View →

FHLBA Community Partners Product

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:: No

FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:: Yes

FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+

Type:: Grant
Amount:: Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
First-time only:: No

Florida Assist (FL Assist) Second Mortgage Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $10,000
First-time only:: Yes

Florida HFA Preferred and Advantage PLUS Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount (HFA Advantage PLUS TBA, Freddie Mac first mortgage only)
First-time only:: Yes

Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to 5% of first mortgage loan amount, minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000
First-time only:: Yes

Federal Programs

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
FHA Loans	Government-Insured Mortgage	Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)	No	View →
Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)	Government Property Sale Program	50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes	Yes	View →
Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment	No	View →
HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment	No	View →
HUD $100 Down Program	FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase	Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.	No	View →
USDA Rural Development Loans	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value	No	View →
VA Loans	Government-Guaranteed Mortgage	No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)	No	View →

FHA Loans

Type:: Government-Insured Mortgage
Amount:: Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
First-time only:: No

Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)

Type:: Government Property Sale Program
Amount:: 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:: Yes

Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
First-time only:: No

HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
First-time only:: No

HUD $100 Down Program

Type:: FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
Amount:: Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
First-time only:: No

USDA Rural Development Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:: No

VA Loans

Type:: Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:: No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
First-time only:: No

Nonprofit Programs

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable mortgage with no down payment required	No	View →
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida Homebuyer Program	Deferred Loan	Down payment and closing cost assistance available	Yes	View →

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage with no down payment required
First-time only:: No

Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida Homebuyer Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Down payment and closing cost assistance available
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

20 programs available in Homestead. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most programs require household income at or below 80% AMI and that you have not owned a home in the past three years. Miami-Dade County programs serve a range of income levels.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. All city and county programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida offers homebuyer workshops in the Miami-Dade area.

Step 3: Contact the City of Homestead Community Development and Affordable Housing Division about the CRA First-Time Homebuyers Program, which provides up to $10,000 (or $15,000 for residents who have lived in the HCRA area for at least one year).

Step 4: Apply for Miami-Dade County programs through the Department of Economic Advocacy and Tourism (MDEAT). The Homebuyer Loan Program offers up to $100,000, the Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $35,000, and the Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) offers up to $28,500 as a forgivable loan.

Step 5: Ask your lender about the HFA Miami-Dade Mortgage Program, which provides up to $15,000 in down payment assistance as a 0% deferred second mortgage combined with a competitive first mortgage rate.

Step 6: Get pre-approved for a first mortgage. Eligible loan types include FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans.

Step 7: Find a home within Homestead that meets program requirements. For the CRA program, the property must be within the HCRA area. Eligible properties include single-family homes and townhouses that will be your primary residence with homestead status.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Homestead?+

Homestead buyers can access multiple layers of assistance. The City of Homestead CRA program offers up to $10,000 (or $15,000 for HCRA residents). County programs include the Miami-Dade Homebuyer Loan Program at up to $100,000, the Down Payment Assistance Program at up to $35,000, the MDEAT HAP at up to $28,500, and the HFA Miami-Dade program at up to $15,000. State programs like Florida Hometown Heroes add up to $35,000 for eligible workers. Eligible buyers could potentially combine over $150,000 in total assistance.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+

The City of Homestead CRA program and most Miami-Dade County programs require first-time homebuyer status, meaning you cannot have owned a home in the past three years. Federal programs like FHA and USDA loans do not require first-time buyer status, and VA loans are available to eligible veterans regardless of prior ownership.

What is the Homestead CRA area and do I have to buy there?+

The Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency (HCRA) area is a designated district within the city. The city CRA First-Time Homebuyers Program requires you to purchase a home within this area. If you have lived in the HCRA for at least one year, you qualify for an additional $5,000 in assistance (total $15,000 instead of $10,000). The county programs do not have this geographic restriction and apply anywhere in Miami-Dade County.

What homebuyer education is required?+

Both the city and county programs require completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course before applying. Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida offers homebuyer workshops in the area. The City of Homestead accepts certificates from any HUD-approved housing counseling agency.

What is the Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Loan Program?+

The Miami-Dade County Homebuyer Loan Program (HLP) is one of the most generous county programs in the state, offering up to $100,000 at 1% interest or up to $80,000 at 2% interest as a second mortgage. This program is designed to help income-eligible buyers bridge the gap between what they can afford and the cost of a home in the Miami-Dade market.

Is the MDEAT Homeownership Assistance Program forgivable?+

Yes. The MDEAT Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) provides up to $28,500 as a forgivable loan for households at or below 80% AMI, or up to $14,500 for households above 80% AMI. The loan is forgiven over the affordability period as long as you maintain the home as your primary residence.