Homebuyer Programs in Tamarac, FL (2026)
Tamarac is a family-friendly city in Broward County, Florida, located just west of Fort Lauderdale, with a population of approximately 73,000 and a median home price around $335,000. The City of Tamarac First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program offers up to $85,000 in down payment and closing cost help through a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage forgiven after 15 years. Buyers can also access the Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program for up to $80,000 and the Broward County Mortgage Credit Certificate for up to $2,000 per year in tax savings. At the state level, Florida Hometown Heroes provides up to $35,000 and the Florida Assist program offers $10,000 in assistance. By combining city, county, and state programs, Tamarac homebuyers can potentially stack well over $100,000 in total assistance toward their purchase.
Top Homebuyer Programs in Tamarac
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Tamarac First-Time Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $85,000 for very low income (at or below 50% AMI); up to $75,000 for low income (at or below 80% AMI); up to $40,000 for moderate income (above 80% up to 120% AMI) | Yes | View → |
| Broward County Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program | Deferred Loan | Up to $80,000 | Yes | View → |
| Broward County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program | Tax Credit | Up to $2,000 per year | 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 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 → |
| 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 $85,000 for very low income (at or below 50% AMI); up to $75,000 for low income (at or below 80% AMI); up to $40,000 for moderate income (above 80% up to 120% AMI)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $80,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Up to $2,000 per year
- 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 mortgage with below-market terms
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment and closing cost assistance available
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Permanently affordable homes priced in the $200,000s to $300,000s
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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. Review income limits for the City of Tamarac program (up to 120% AMI) and the Broward County program (up to 80% AMI). You must not have owned a home in the past 3 years for most programs.
- Step 2:
Complete homebuyer education. Take a HUD-approved 8-hour First-Time Homebuyer course. The Urban League of Broward County offers monthly workshops and can be reached at 954-584-0777. Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida also provides HUD-certified courses.
- 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 HLP and Hometown Heroes programs, which can be combined with local assistance.
- Step 4:
Find a home in Tamarac within program limits. The City of Tamarac program has a maximum purchase price of $450,000. Search for eligible properties including single-family homes, condos, villas, and townhomes within city limits.
- Step 5:
Contact the City of Tamarac Housing Division at (954) 597-3549 to begin the city application. You must be under contract on a property to submit a full application. You will also need to contribute at least 1% of the contract price toward closing.
- Step 6:
Apply for Broward County assistance through your lender. Your lender submits the county application on your behalf to the Broward County Housing Finance and Community Development Division. The income certification and funding process takes 5-6 weeks.
- Step 7:
Close on your new home. Your assistance funds will be applied at closing as a deferred second mortgage. Continue to live in the home as your primary residence to maintain forgiveness terms on both city and county loans.