Florida help / Sarasota
Down payment assistance in Sarasota County
These are the plans we have checked in Sarasota 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 Sarasota
levels: county, city, state
last checked by a person
From the county
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarasota County SHIP — Purchase Assistance | Sarasota County | Sarasota County, except the City of Sarasota | Deferred loan with no payments, forgiven 5% each year: after 20 years you owe nothing. If you sell, refinance, transfer or rent out the home, or stop living in it, before then, you repay what hasn't been forgiven plus a share of what the home gained in value. Open (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 |
From your city
| Plan | Who runs it | Where | Kind of help | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Sarasota SHIP — Purchase Assistance | City of Sarasota | City of Sarasota | Deferred loan with no payments. It isn't forgiven: it's repaid after 20 years, plus a share of what the home gained in value. No money budgeted this year (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.
