Florida help / Hillsborough
Down payment assistance in Hillsborough County
These are the plans we have checked in Hillsborough County so far: from the county, from its cities, and from the state, each with the link to its official document. We keep looking for more.
plans we have checked in Hillsborough
levels: county, city, state
last checked by a person
From the county
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County — Home Sweet Home second mortgage | Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County | Whole county | Deferred second loan with no payments, only together with the program's first mortgage, which must be FHA, VA or USDA. It isn't forgiven: it's repaid in full when you sell the home or pay off your first mortgage. | Official document |
| Hillsborough County SHIP — Purchase Assistance | Hillsborough County | Hillsborough County, except the City of Tampa | Deferred loan with no payments, forgiven a part each year over a term of 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, depending on the amount and on whether the home is newly built. No money budgeted this year (Sep 2026) | Official document |
From your city
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa SHIP — HOME Purchase Assistance | City of Tampa, Florida | City of Tampa | Deferred loan with no payments, forgiven in full at the end of 20 years; nothing is forgiven before then. The first mortgage can't be adjustable-rate. Don't sign a purchase contract before you get your reservation number, or you lose the help. The purchase help starts at households earning 51% of area income. | Official document |
| City of Tampa — CRA Down Payment Assistance Program | Community Redevelopment Agency (Tampa CRA) | City of Tampa · certain areas only | Deferred loan with no payments while it's your main home, forgiven in full after 20 years. The first mortgage can't be adjustable-rate. Don't sign a purchase contract before you get your reservation number, or you lose the help. The purchase help starts at households earning 51% of area income. Only for certain areas of the city. Write to us and we'll tell you if your address is in. | Official document |
From the state
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Assist (FL Assist) | Florida Housing Finance Corporation | All of Florida | Deferred second mortgage at 0%, with no payments. It isn't forgiven: it's repaid when you sell or transfer the home, refinance or pay off your first mortgage, or stop living in the home. | Official document |
| Florida HFA Advantage PLUS | Florida Housing Finance Corporation | All of Florida | Second mortgage with no payments, forgiven 20% on each anniversary of your closing: after 5 years you owe nothing. | Official document |
| Florida Hometown Heroes | Florida Housing Finance Corporation | All of Florida | Deferred second mortgage with no payments. It isn't forgiven: it's repaid when you sell or transfer the home, refinance or pay off your first mortgage, or stop living in the home. | Official document |
Data checked by a person against each official document.
Help at little or no cost, even if you never use us
These organizations exist to help people buy a home. We have no agreement with them and they don't endorse us: they're here because they're useful.
Housing counseling approved by HUD
Independent advice on your budget, your credit and your loan, often at little or no cost to you.
Find a counselor (HUD)A homebuyer course
Many assistance plans ask for one. HUD-approved counseling agencies teach it; ask them when you call.
Find a counselor (CFPB)Your county's housing office
The office that runs your county's assistance can tell you what's open and how to apply.
Find your county's office (Florida Housing)Source for “little or no cost”: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Find a housing counselor.
Which ones fit you, and how much?
It depends on your income, your household, the home and the city where you buy. Some plans can be combined and others can't. The app works it out for your household and for the month you'll be ready to buy, with each amount checked by a person against the official plan.
