Homebuyer Programs in Tampa, FL (2026)
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.
Top Homebuyer 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 → |
| 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 → |
| 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 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 → |
| 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:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $40,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- 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
- 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
- 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:
- 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 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
- 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.