Homebuyer Programs in Horizon West, FL (2026)
Horizon West is one of the fastest-growing communities in Central Florida, a master-planned area in western Orange County near Orlando with a population of approximately 73,000 and a median home price around $575,000. While Horizon West does not have its own city-funded down payment assistance as an unincorporated community, buyers here can access strong county-level programs including the Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program for up to $70,000 and the Orange County Mortgage Assistance Program for up to $80,000. At the state level, the Florida Hometown Heroes program provides up to $35,000 and the Florida Assist program offers $10,000. By combining county and state programs, eligible Horizon West homebuyers could access well over $100,000 in total assistance toward their purchase.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Horizon West
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCHFA Homebuyer Program | Deferred Loan | Down payment and closing cost assistance combined with competitive first mortgage rates | Yes | View → |
| Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $70,000 (very low income), $40,000 (low income), or $10,000 (moderate income) | Yes | View → |
| Orange County Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) | Deferred Loan | Up to $80,000 | Yes | View → |
| 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 → |
| Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with 0% interest mortgage; mortgage payments never exceed 30% of household income | No | View → |
| NACA Purchase Program (Orlando) | Grant | No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, below-market fixed interest rate | No | View → |
| NeighborWorks Orange County Homebuyer Assistance | Deferred Loan | Down payment assistance available through counseling and program matching | 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 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:
- Down payment and closing cost assistance combined with competitive first mortgage rates
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $70,000 (very low income), $40,000 (low income), or $10,000 (moderate income)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $80,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with 0% interest mortgage; mortgage payments never exceed 30% of household income
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, below-market fixed interest rate
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment assistance available through counseling and program matching
- First-time only:
- No
- 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
How to Apply
- Step 1:
Check your eligibility. The Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program requires income at or below moderate levels based on AMI. You must not have owned a home in the past 3 years for most programs. You must have lived in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, Brevard, Seminole, or Volusia County for at least 12 months.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. Take a HUD-approved pre-purchase homebuyer education course. NeighborWorks Orange County provides housing counseling and can help connect you with approved courses. Contact the Orange County Housing and Community Development Division at (407) 836-5150 for a list of approved providers.
- Step 3:
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a lender to determine your purchasing power. Ask about Florida Housing Finance Corporation loan products like the Hometown Heroes and Florida Assist programs, which can be layered with county assistance.
- Step 4:
Find a home in Horizon West within program limits. The Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program has a maximum purchase price of $345,000, which may be limiting in Horizon West where prices are higher. The Orange County Mortgage Assistance Program may have different limits. Contact the county at (407) 836-5150 for current purchase price limits on all programs.
- Step 5:
Apply through Orange County. Contact the Orange County Housing and Community Development Division at (407) 836-5150 or email housing@ocfl.net to begin the application. You will need income documentation, a pre-approval letter, and your homebuyer education certificate.
- Step 6:
Secure your first mortgage and finalize county assistance. Your lender will coordinate with Orange County to ensure the assistance funds are applied at closing as a deferred second mortgage.
- Step 7:
Close on your new home. Your assistance funds will be applied at closing. Continue to live in the home as your primary residence to maintain the terms of your deferred loan.