See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 24, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Jacksonville, FL (2026)
Jacksonville is Florida's largest city by area and the most populous in Northeast Florida, with a median home price of approximately $300,000. The city offers substantial local assistance through the Head Start to Homeownership (H2H) Program, which provides up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost help as a forgivable loan for buyers earning at or below 80% AMI. Moderate-income buyers up to 120% AMI can access the Jacksonville Down Payment Assistance Pilot Program for up to $25,000. At the state level, the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program offers up to $35,000 for eligible workforce occupations, the HFA Preferred and Advantage PLUS Program provides 3% to 5% of the loan amount as a forgivable second mortgage, and the FL Assist program adds up to $10,000 as a deferred loan. By combining city and state programs, Jacksonville buyers can potentially stack tens of thousands of dollars in assistance toward their home purchase.
City Programs in Jacksonville
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Down Payment Assistance Pilot Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $25,000 (covers up to 75% of required down payment and closing costs) | Yes | View → |
| Jacksonville Head Start to Homeownership (H2H) Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $25,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000 (covers up to 75% of required down payment and closing costs)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
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 → |
- 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:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- 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 total first mortgage loan amount (HFA Advantage PLUS TBA, Freddie Mac first mortgage only)
- 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 → |
| 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:
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Coast Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with 1% down payment, no closing costs, and no commissions through exclusive lending partners | Yes | View → |
| NACA Purchase Program | Zero-Interest Loan | No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, and below-market fixed interest rate | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with 1% down payment, no closing costs, and no commissions through exclusive lending partners
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, and below-market fixed interest rate
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. For the H2H Program, your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Duval County. For the Jacksonville DPA Pilot Program, you can qualify with income up to 120% AMI. Both programs require you to be a first-time homebuyer.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. An approved homebuyer education course is required for all Jacksonville and Florida Housing programs. Contact the Jacksonville Urban League or Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation (HECDC) for local courses.
Step 3: Contact Jacksonville Housing Services. Call 904-255-8241 to learn about available programs and get connected with an approved H2H lender. For the DPA Pilot Program, you must have lived in Duval County for at least 24 consecutive months.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a Florida Housing-approved lender to access state programs like Hometown Heroes (up to $35,000) or the HFA Preferred PLUS forgivable DPA (3-5% of loan amount). Your lender can help you stack city and state assistance.
Step 5: Find a home in Duval County. For the DPA Pilot Program, the purchase price cannot exceed $335,000. The home must meet Section 8 Housing Quality Standards for the H2H program. Do not sign a sales contract before being approved for the H2H program.
Step 6: Submit your application and close. Your lender will coordinate the layering of assistance programs. Expect the process to take 60 to 90 days from pre-approval to closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Jacksonville?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What if my income is above 80% AMI but I still need help?+−
Are there nonprofit programs available in Jacksonville?+−
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