See programs you qualify for

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

Homebuyer Programs in Margate, FL (2026)

Population: 58,000 | Median home price: $350,000 | Est. closing costs: $7,000 - $10,500

Margate is a residential city of about 58,000 in central Broward County, Florida, offering an affordable alternative to neighboring Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs with a median home price around $350,000. First-time buyers in Margate have access to strong local and county assistance. The City of Margate Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $40,000 as a 0% interest second mortgage with a 15-year term. The Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program provides up to $80,000 as a deferred loan. The Broward County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program offers up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits. Florida state programs including Hometown Heroes (up to $35,000) and Florida Assist (up to $10,000) are also available. By combining city, county, and state programs, eligible Margate buyers can potentially stack over $100,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance.

City Programs in Margate

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Margate Purchase Assistance Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Up to $40,000	Yes	View →

City of Margate Purchase Assistance Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Up to $40,000
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Broward County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program	Deferred Loan	Up to $80,000 in most participating communities; up to $120,000 in Weston, $75,000 in Pembroke Pines, $50,000 in Hollywood and Margate, $40,000 in Sunrise	Yes	View →
Broward County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program	Tax Credit	Up to $2,000 per year	Yes	View →

Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $80,000 in most participating communities; up to $120,000 in Weston, $75,000 in Pembroke Pines, $50,000 in Hollywood and Margate, $40,000 in Sunrise
First-time only:: Yes

Broward County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program

Type:: Tax Credit
Amount:: Up to $2,000 per year
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 →

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 Broward Homeownership Program	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable mortgage with below-market terms	Yes	View →
Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida Homebuyer Program	Deferred Loan	Down payment and closing cost assistance available	Yes	View →
South Florida Community Land Trust Homeownership Program	Deferred Loan	Permanently affordable homes priced in the $200,000s to $300,000s	Yes	View →

Habitat for Humanity of Broward Homeownership Program

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable mortgage with below-market terms
First-time only:: Yes

Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida Homebuyer Program

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

South Florida Community Land Trust Homeownership Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Permanently affordable homes priced in the $200,000s to $300,000s
First-time only:: Yes

Free eligibility check

19 programs available in Margate. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. The City of Margate Purchase Assistance Program requires household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Broward County. You must be a first-time homebuyer who has not owned a home in the past three years.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. A HUD-approved homebuyer education course must be completed before closing. Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida offers courses throughout Broward County, and you can also contact Broward County at 954-357-4943 for a list of approved providers.

Step 3: Get pre-approved for a first mortgage. Your first mortgage must meet Broward County guidelines. Contact an approved lender through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's participating lender network or the Broward County Housing Finance Division.

Step 4: Find a home within Margate city limits. Eligible properties include single-family homes, townhomes, villas, and condominiums within Margate. Mobile homes are not eligible.

Step 5: Apply for city and county assistance. Once under contract, have your lender contact Broward County at 954-357-4943 to confirm that city funds are available for the next 60-90 days. You can apply for the City of Margate program (up to $40,000) and the Broward County program (up to $80,000) simultaneously.

Step 6: Close on your new home. The city assistance is structured as a 0% interest second mortgage with a 15-year term and no monthly payments. Your lender and the county will coordinate to apply all approved assistance at closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Margate buyers can stack multiple programs for significant assistance. The City of Margate Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $40,000 as a 0% interest loan. The Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program provides up to $80,000 as a deferred loan. The Broward County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program saves up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits. At the state level, Florida Hometown Heroes offers up to $35,000 and Florida Assist provides up to $10,000. Eligible buyers can potentially receive well over $100,000 in combined assistance.

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

The City of Margate program and the Broward County program both require you to be a first-time homebuyer, defined as someone who has not owned a home in the past three years. However, the Florida Hometown Heroes program is available to eligible frontline workers regardless of previous homeownership, as long as you do not currently own a home.

What is the maximum home price I can buy with these programs?+

The City of Margate program and Broward County program have purchase price limits that are updated annually based on area median income and FHA loan limits for Broward County. With Margate median home price around $350,000, many homes in the city fall well within program limits. Check with Broward County Housing Finance at 954-357-4943 for current purchase price caps.

What homebuyer education is required?+

A HUD-approved homebuyer education course must be completed before closing for the City of Margate and Broward County programs. Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida provides courses throughout Broward County. You can also contact the Broward County Housing Finance Division at 954-357-4943 for a list of approved counseling agencies in the area.

What types of properties are eligible in Margate?+

The City of Margate Purchase Assistance Program covers single-family homes, townhomes, villas, and condominiums within Margate city limits. Mobile homes are not eligible. The property must be your primary residence. Broward County programs have similar property type requirements. Investment properties and second homes do not qualify.