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The Programs You
Probably Don’t Know
You Qualify For.

Down-payment assistance, first-responder grants, state bond programs, and forgivable seconds — billions of dollars in legitimate buyer assistance flow through these channels every year, and most working families never hear about them because retail lenders don’t bother. We do. Here’s the menu across all 12 states we serve.

See What You Qualify For Speak To A Broker
$35K
Up To, FL Hometown Heroes
12STATES
Where We Place DPA
50%
Off List Price, Good Neighbor
$0FEES
No Lender Fees
Home State

Florida —
Where The Hero
Programs Run Deep.

Florida runs one of the most robust hero and DPA program inventories in the country, and Hero Mortgage Group is based in Boca Raton — so this is the menu we know cold. Featured below is the headline program for first responders, teachers, healthcare workers, and military.

Featured · Florida

Florida Hometown
Heroes Program.

Up to $35,000 in down-payment and closing-cost assistance for eligible Floridians employed full-time.

Layered on top of FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional financing. Forgivable. Subject to income and purchase price caps that update annually. We pre-screen eligibility in five minutes flat.

  • WHO QUALIFIESFlorida workforce in full-time eligible occupations — first responders, classroom teachers, healthcare workers, childcare, active military, more than 100+ qualifying titles.
  • ASSISTANCE AMOUNTUp to 5% of the first mortgage (capped at $35,000), 0% interest, forgivable, paid back only at sale or refinance.
  • LAYERS WITHFHA, VA, USDA, and Freddie Mac HFA Advantage / Fannie Mae HFA Preferred conventional loans.
  • OTHER FL OPTIONSFL Assist ($10K second mortgage), Salute Our Soldiers (veteran-specific), HFA Preferred Grants.

If you live and work in Florida, this is almost certainly the first program we model. The math is rarely close — Hometown Heroes wins more files than any other DPA we touch.

Across All 12 States We Serve

The Other Eleven
States, Mapped.

Programs change annually — income limits, purchase caps, and availability all shift. The list below is the current snapshot of what we work with regularly. Click a tile’s state code to call us if you’re buying there.

TX Texas

Homes For Texas HeroesFirst-responder/teacher/EMS DPA up to 5%, plus the TSAHC My First Texas Home program for general DPA.

AZ Arizona

HOME+PLUS · Home In FiveStatewide DPA up to 5% via the AZ Housing Finance Authority; Home In Five Advantage stacks in Maricopa & Pima counties.

CA California

CalHFA MyHome · Forgivable Equity BuilderUp to 3.5% deferred DPA via CalHFA; plus Forgivable Equity Builder Loan up to 10% for very low income buyers.

OR Oregon

Oregon Bond Cash Advantage3% cash assistance via the Oregon Bond Residential Loan Program; pairs with FHA, VA, USDA.

WA Washington

Home Advantage · House Key OpportunityWSHFC Home Advantage DPA up to 5%; Opportunity program for first-time buyers with income limits.

ID Idaho

IHFA First LoanIdaho Housing & Finance Association DPA programs pairing with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional.

UT Utah

UHC FirstHome · Score · HomeAgainThree Utah Housing Corporation tracks covering first-time, credit-rebuild, and repeat buyers — all with DPA layered in.

CO Colorado

CHFA SmartStep · metroDPACHFA grant up to 4%; metroDPA stacks in the Denver region for additional assistance.

MI Michigan

MSHDA MI Home Loan · MI 10K DPAUp to $10,000 DPA via the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, paired with the MI Home Loan.

TN Tennessee

Great Choice Plus · Homeownership For The BraveTHDA up to $6K or 5% DPA; Brave program adds reduced rate for active military and veterans.

PA Pennsylvania

PHFA Keystone Advantage · HOMEsteadKeystone Advantage Assistance Loan up to $10K DPA; HOMEstead provides forgivable second mortgage in eligible counties.

★ National Programs

Good Neighbor Next DoorHUD program offering qualified law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and teachers 50% off list price on HUD-owned homes in revitalization areas. Available nationwide.

How We Actually Use These.

The mistake most first-time buyers make is treating DPA as the headline. It’s not. The right first mortgage is the headline. DPA is the layer on top that gets you in the door with less cash.

Step One — The First Mortgage.

We model FHA, VA, conventional, and any state-specific bond first mortgage on your file. The right base loan depends on credit, down payment, hold period, and income limits.

Step Two — The DPA Layer.

Once the first is selected, we identify which DPA programs your file is eligible for. Most state DPAs are tied to a specific bond first mortgage — so the choice in Step One determines what’s available in Step Two.

Step Three — Stack Where Possible.

Some markets allow stacking — for example, Maricopa County HOME+PLUS plus Home In Five Advantage, or Denver metroDPA on top of CHFA. We map every legitimate stack to maximize your assistance.

Step Four — Plan The Exit.

Most DPA is forgivable after 3, 5, or 10 years of occupancy. Some has recapture provisions if you sell early. We hand you a one-page summary at closing showing exactly when each piece of assistance becomes truly yours.

The Income & Purchase Caps.

Every DPA program has income limits and purchase price caps that vary by county and update annually. The Florida Hometown Heroes Program is currently the most generous on both axes in our footprint — but it’s competitive in Texas, California, and Colorado as well.

We don’t pretend you qualify if you don’t. The first call confirms eligibility in under fifteen minutes. If you’re over the caps, we tell you and pivot the strategy. No wasted time.

Get Your Eligibility Check Call (561) 486-HERO
Frequently Asked

Questions You Should
Be Asking.

What is down payment assistance?

Down payment assistance (DPA) is a grant or forgivable second mortgage that helps cover your down payment and closing costs. DPA layers on top of a base loan (FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional) and is funded by state and federal programs designed for working-class buyers. We model your file against every DPA program available in your state.

Who qualifies for Florida Hometown Heroes?

Full-time Florida workers in 100+ eligible occupations: first responders, classroom teachers, healthcare workers, childcare workers, active military, and many state/federal/local government roles. Income limits typically run $130,000–$150,000 depending on county. Purchase price caps vary by county but generally fall in the $500,000-$700,000 range. Eligibility is verified at application.

How much can I get from the Hometown Heroes program?

Up to 5% of the first mortgage amount, capped at $35,000 in down-payment and closing-cost assistance. The assistance is a 0% interest second mortgage that's forgiven only at sale, refinance, or move-out — meaning if you stay in the home, it's effectively a grant.

Can I use DPA with a VA loan?

In some states yes, in some states no. Florida's Hometown Heroes program allows pairing with VA loans. Texas Homes For Heroes pairs with VA. CalHFA MyHome pairs with VA. Some state DPAs are restricted to FHA only. We verify eligibility for your specific zip code and occupation on the first call.

Is the Good Neighbor Next Door program real?

Yes — it's a HUD program offering 50% off list price on HUD-owned single-family homes in designated revitalization areas. Eligible: full-time law enforcement officers, K-12 teachers, firefighters, and EMTs. Required: a 3-year owner-occupancy commitment. Inventory is limited, but for the right buyer in the right market, it's transformational.

Do I need to be a first-time buyer for DPA?

Most state DPA programs require first-time buyer status (defined as not having owned a home in the past 3 years). However, several programs — including Florida Hometown Heroes for active-duty military and Texas Homes For Heroes for veterans — waive the first-time buyer requirement entirely.

How long does the DPA application add to closing?

Typically 5-10 days on top of a standard close. State agency approval is the only added step — once approved, the DPA funds wire directly to the title company at closing. We pre-submit the DPA file so it's working in parallel with underwriting, not after.

If You Serve, You Probably Qualify

Assistance Was
Written For You.

No documents required to start. Eligibility confirmed in under fifteen minutes on the first call. If you qualify, we map every program available to your file. If you don’t, we tell you — and pivot to the right plan.

Get Your Eligibility Check Call (561) 486-HERO