Florida help / Pinellas
Down payment assistance in Pinellas County
These are the plans we have checked in Pinellas 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 Pinellas
levels: county, city, state
last checked by a person
From the county
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinellas County SHIP — Purchase Assistance | Pinellas County | Pinellas County, except the cities of Clearwater, Largo and St. Petersburg | Deferred loan forgiven in full after 30 years for very low and low incomes. For moderate incomes, nothing is paid for the first 5 years; from year 6, monthly payments over 25 years, with no interest. Open (Sep 2026) No funds this year for part of this help: households earning 81% to 120% of area income. Checked Sep 2026. Applications are served in order: apply early, with all your papers ready. | Official document |
| Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County — Home Key Plus 2nd Mortgage | Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County | Counties: Pasco, Pinellas, Polk | Deferred second loan with no payments, only together with the Housing Finance Authority's own first mortgage. It isn't forgiven: it's repaid in full when you sell, refinance or pay off your first mortgage, rent out the home or stop living in it. | Official document |
From your city
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater SHIP — Purchase Assistance for Existing Home | City of Clearwater | City of Clearwater | Deferred loan with no interest: half is forgiven at the end of 25 years, and the other half is paid in monthly installments after 5 years without payments. For very low incomes, all of it is forgiven. No funds this year for part of this help: households earning 81% to 120% of area income. Checked Sep 2026. | Official document |
| Largo SHIP — Purchase Assistance | City of Largo | City of Largo | Forgiveness depends on income. Very low incomes pay nothing and it's forgiven at the end. Low incomes pay half back in monthly installments after 5 years without payments. Moderate incomes, and incomes from 121% to 140% of area income, pay it all back in monthly installments after 5 years. The home can't be in a flood zone or in the coastal high-hazard area. No funds this year for part of this help: households earning 81% to 140% of area income. Checked Sep 2026. | Official document |
| St. Petersburg SHIP — Purchase Assistance | City of St. Petersburg | City of St. Petersburg | Loan whose forgiveness depends on income and comes at the end of 10 years: all of it for very low and low incomes, half for moderate incomes, and 30% for incomes from 121% to 140% of area income. The part that isn't forgiven is paid in installments. Paused (Sep 2026) | Official document |
| City of St. Petersburg — Housing Down Payment Assistance (South St. Petersburg CRA) | City of St. Petersburg | City of St. Petersburg · certain areas only | Only for homes in the South St. Petersburg redevelopment area (CRA). Up to 120% of area income, a deferred loan with no payments, forgiven in full after 10 years. From 121% to 140%, half is paid in installments from year 6 to year 10 and the other half is forgiven at the end. Open (Sep 2026) 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.
