See programs you qualify for

By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated March 24, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Tampa, FL (2026)

Population: 403,000 | Median home price: $400,000 | Est. closing costs: $8,000 - $12,000

Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the economic center of Florida's west coast, with a median home price of approximately $400,000. Tampa homebuyers have access to strong local assistance programs, including the City of Tampa Dare to Own the Dream (DARE) Program offering up to $50,000 in forgivable loans and the Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program providing up to $50,000 for buyers purchasing within a Community Redevelopment Area. Hillsborough County adds further support through its SHIP-funded Down Payment Assistance program (up to $40,000) and the Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program ($5,000 within Tampa). At the state level, the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program offers up to $35,000 in deferred assistance for eligible workers. By combining city, county, and state programs, qualified Tampa buyers may access over $85,000 in total assistance toward their home purchase.

City Programs in Tampa

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
City of Tampa Dare to Own the Dream (DARE) Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $50,000	Yes	View →
Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program	Forgivable Loan	Up to $50,000 (50-80% AMI), $40,000 (80-120% AMI), or $30,000 (120-140% AMI)	Yes	View →

City of Tampa Dare to Own the Dream (DARE) Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $50,000
First-time only:: Yes

Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program

Type:: Forgivable Loan
Amount:: Up to $50,000 (50-80% AMI), $40,000 (80-120% AMI), or $30,000 (120-140% AMI)
First-time only:: Yes

County Programs in Hillsborough County

Program Name	Type	Amount	First-Time Only	Details
HFA of Hillsborough County Mortgage Program	Deferred Loan	Down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% second mortgage, combined with competitive first mortgage rates	Yes	View →
Hillsborough County Down Payment Assistance (SHIP)	Deferred Loan	Up to $40,000	Yes	View →
Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program	Deferred Loan	$5,000 within City of Tampa; $30,000 in Hillsborough County outside Tampa (as of December 5, 2025)	Yes	View →

HFA of Hillsborough County Mortgage Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% second mortgage, combined with competitive first mortgage rates
First-time only:: Yes

Hillsborough County Down Payment Assistance (SHIP)

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

Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: $5,000 within City of Tampa; $30,000 in Hillsborough County outside Tampa (as of December 5, 2025)
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 Tampa Bay Hillsborough	Zero-Interest Loan	Affordable home purchase with 0% interest mortgage	No	View →
NACA Purchase Program (Tampa)	Grant	No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, below-market fixed interest rate	No	View →
Solita's House Down Payment Assistance Loan	Deferred Loan	Up to $15,000	No	View →

Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Hillsborough

Type:: Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:: Affordable home purchase with 0% interest mortgage
First-time only:: No

NACA Purchase Program (Tampa)

Type:: Grant
Amount:: No down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, no fees, below-market fixed interest rate
First-time only:: No

Solita's House Down Payment Assistance Loan

Type:: Deferred Loan
Amount:: Up to $15,000
First-time only:: No

Free eligibility check

21 programs available in Tampa. See which ones you qualify for.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. Review income limits for the programs you are interested in. The Tampa CRA program serves households earning between 50% and 140% of the area median income, with assistance amounts tiered by income level. The DARE program also has income requirements for first-time buyers.

Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Most Tampa programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Contact one of the City of Tampa's approved counseling agencies: Housing and Education Alliance, REACH, Solita's House (free 16-hour workshop available), or Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services.

Step 3: Contact a local housing partner. Reach out to the City of Tampa Housing and Community Development at 813-274-7954 for city programs. For county programs, contact Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services. Solita's House also provides comprehensive homebuyer counseling and education.

Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a participating lender approved by the program you are applying for. The HFA of Hillsborough County and Home Sweet Home programs require a minimum 640 credit score and maximum 45% debt-to-income ratio.

Step 5: Find a home within program guidelines. For the DARE program, the property must be within City of Tampa limits. The CRA program requires the home to be within a Tampa CRA boundary. County programs cover all of Hillsborough County.

Step 6: Submit your application. Apply through your participating lender. The counseling process through an approved agency typically adds 1-2 weeks to the timeline. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-ready basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Tampa buyers can access substantial assistance by combining multiple programs. The City of Tampa DARE Program offers up to $50,000 as a forgivable loan (currently on hold pending additional funding). The Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program provides up to $50,000 for purchases within CRA boundaries, tiered by income. Hillsborough County offers up to $40,000 through its SHIP program, and the Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program adds $5,000 for Tampa buyers. At the state level, the Florida Hometown Heroes program provides up to $35,000. Not all programs can be combined, so work with a counseling agency to determine the best stack for your situation.

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

Most Tampa programs require first-time buyer status, generally defined as not having owned and occupied a primary residence in the past 3 years. The DARE program, CRA DPA program, Hillsborough County SHIP, and Home Sweet Home Hillsborough all require first-time buyer status. However, NACA does not require first-time buyer status, and Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Hillsborough is open to qualifying low-income families regardless of previous ownership.

What is the Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program and how does it work?+

The Tampa CRA program offers forgivable loans of up to $50,000 for homebuyers purchasing within a Tampa Community Redevelopment Area boundary. The amount is tiered by income: households at 50-80% AMI receive up to $50,000, those at 80-120% AMI receive $40,000, and buyers at 120-140% AMI receive $30,000. It is structured as a 0% interest deferred payment loan with no monthly payments, fully forgivable after 20 years of owner-occupancy.

What homebuyer education is required?+

Most Tampa programs require completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The City of Tampa has four approved counseling agencies: Housing and Education Alliance, REACH, Solita's House, and Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services. Solita's House offers a free 16-hour homebuyer workshop. The HFA of Hillsborough County programs also require a pre-purchase education course. NACA offers its own free homebuyer workshop.

Is the DARE program still accepting applications?+

As of January 7, 2026, the City of Tampa DARE program has paused acceptance of new reservation packages due to limited funding balances. Packages submitted before that date are still being reviewed. The City intends to resume accepting applications as soon as additional state and federal funds become available. In the meantime, the Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program, Hillsborough County SHIP program, and state programs like Florida Hometown Heroes remain active alternatives.

Can I use NACA in Tampa for a no-down-payment mortgage?+

Yes. NACA is active in the Tampa Bay area and offers mortgages with no down payment, no closing costs, no PMI, and no fees at below-market fixed interest rates. Priority members with income below 100% of the Tampa area median income can purchase anywhere. Non-priority members must purchase in designated census tracts. Attend a free NACA Homebuyer Workshop to get started. Annual membership is $36.