See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 27, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Homestead, FL (2026)
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 → |
- 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 → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $35,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 first mortgage loan amount | 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 → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 3%, 4%, or 5% of the first mortgage loan amount
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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 → |
| 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+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | 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 → |
- 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
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- 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 → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with no down payment required
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment and closing cost assistance available
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Get pre-approved for a first mortgage. Eligible loan types include FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans.
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.