Florida help / Lee
Down payment assistance in Lee County
These are the plans we have checked in Lee 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 Lee
levels: county, city, state
last checked by a person
From the county
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County SHIP — Purchase Assistance | Lee County | Lee County. In Cape Coral and Fort Myers, only for households with special needs. | Only for a new home that has never been lived in, with a certificate of occupancy from the last 12 months. Deferred loan with no payments, forgiven in full after 15 years. No funds this year for part of this help: households earning 81% to 120% of area income. Checked Sep 2026. | Official document |
| Housing Finance Authority of Lee County, Florida — Own a Home Opportunity Program | Housing Finance Authority of Lee County, Florida | Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Lee, Palm Beach, Sarasota | Deferred second loan with no payments. It isn't forgiven: it's repaid in full when you sell, refinance, transfer or rent out the home, or after 30 years. | Official document |
| Lee County — HOME Down Payment Assistance Program | Lee County Human and Veteran Services | Whole county, cities included | Only for existing homes at least one year old; no new construction. Deferred loan with no payments while it's your main home, forgiven 10% a year: after 10 years you owe nothing. Open (Sep 2026) | Official document Program page |
From your city
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral SHIP — Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance | City of Cape Coral | City of Cape Coral | Only for existing homes, not new construction. Deferred loan with no payments, forgiven in full at the end of 10 years. | Official document |
| Fort Myers SHIP — Purchase Assistance | City of Fort Myers | City of Fort Myers | Deferred loan with no payments, forgiven in full after 30 years; nothing is forgiven before then. Paused (Sep 2026) | 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.
