Down Payment Assistance for First-Time Buyers in Volusia County: How to Qualify for Florida Hometown Heroes and FL Assist
The short answer
First-time homebuyers purchasing in Volusia or Flagler County can get state down payment help through Florida Housing Finance Corporation. The Florida Hometown Heroes program provides 5% of the first mortgage amount, from $10,000 up to $35,000, to eligible full-time healthcare, school, first responder, public safety, court, and child care workers, as well as military members and veterans. FL Assist provides up to $10,000 to income-qualified first-time buyers in any line of work. Both are 0% deferred second mortgages that are repaid when you sell, refinance, or move out, and both require a Florida Housing first mortgage, a 640 or higher credit score, and an approved homebuyer education course.
What down payment assistance is available in Volusia County right now?
For most first-time buyers in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, and the rest of Volusia County, the state programs are the main option this fall.
That is because Volusia County's own Homebuyer Assistance program, which can provide up to $75,000 as a zero-interest deferred loan, is paused. In an August 6, 2026 notice, the county said it stopped accepting new first-time homebuyer purchase assistance applications, with the pause lasting through at least December 31, 2026, depending on funding.
In Flagler County, the joint Flagler County and City of Palm Coast SHIP program lists down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible first-time buyers. Funding is limited, so call the county before you count on it.
That leaves two state programs worth understanding: Hometown Heroes and FL Assist.
| Hometown Heroes | FL Assist | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Eligible occupations, military, and veterans | Any income-qualified first-time buyer |
| Amount | 5% of first mortgage, $10,000 to $35,000 | Up to $10,000 |
| Interest and payment | 0%, no monthly payment | 0%, no monthly payment |
| Forgivable? | No, repaid in full | No, repaid in full |
| Loan types | FHA, VA, USDA-RD, conventional | FHA, VA, USDA, conventional |
How does the Florida Hometown Heroes program work?
Hometown Heroes helps income-qualified, first-time buyers purchase a primary residence in the community where they work. It is a two-part package.
First, you get a 30-year fixed first mortgage through a participating lender. Florida Housing says eligible borrowers can receive competitive market rates on FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, and conventional loans, with reduced upfront fees and no origination or discount points.
Second, you receive 5% of your total first mortgage amount toward your down payment and closing costs. The minimum is $10,000 and the maximum is $35,000. That money comes as a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. There is no monthly payment, but it is not forgivable.
The program is popular. Florida Housing reported that the 2025 cycle opened August 18, 2025, with $50 million and committed all of it by February 2026, helping more than 3,000 Florida families. The average first mortgage was about $320,000, and the average assistance was about $16,000.
Funding for the 2026 cycle is first-come, first-served through participating lenders. Ask your lender to confirm funds are still available before you write an offer.
Who qualifies for Hometown Heroes in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, and Ormond Beach?
At least one borrower must work full-time for a Florida-based employer in an eligible category. Florida Housing's 2026 list includes:
- Healthcare workers at hospitals, physician practices, assisted living, mental health, and other healthcare facilities, including nurses, CNAs, medical technicians, therapists, pharmacists, medical assistants, and dental hygienists.
- School staff at K-12 public, private, charter, or magnet schools, including teachers, aides, counselors, librarians, cafeteria staff, and maintenance and janitorial staff.
- First responders at fire departments, ambulance services, or hospitals, including firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics.
- Public safety workers such as sworn law enforcement officers, correctional and probation officers, and 911 dispatchers.
- Court employees, including court clerks, assistant state attorneys, and assistant public defenders.
- Child care workers at licensed child care facilities or licensed or registered home day cares.
- Military members on active duty or in the reserves of any branch, including the Coast Guard and the Florida National Guard, and veterans employed full-time by a Florida-based employer.
Eligibility is based on your employer type, not just your job title. A cafeteria worker at a Port Orange elementary school qualifies just as a teacher does.
What are the Hometown Heroes income and loan limits in Volusia County?
Limits are set by county and updated each year. Under the program's TBA option, lender-published versions of Florida Housing's 2026 chart list a borrower income limit of $148,650 in Volusia County and $156,450 in Flagler County. The same charts show a maximum FHA loan of $541,287 and a maximum VA and conventional HFA Advantage loan of $832,750 in Volusia County.
A separate Bond option uses household-size income limits and purchase price caps. Your lender will tell you which version fits your situation.
How much assistance could I get on a typical local home?
Realtors in the Volusia-Flagler area sold 1,188 existing single-family homes in June 2026 at a median price of $360,000, according to Hometown News Volusia. Here is how the math works on that price with an FHA loan and 3.5% down:
| Purchase price (June 2026 median) | $360,000 |
| Down payment at 3.5% | $12,600 |
| Base loan amount | $347,400 |
| Hometown Heroes assistance at 5% | ≈ $17,370 |
That covers the full down payment and leaves about $4,770 toward closing costs. Your exact amount depends on your final total loan amount.
Loans of $200,000 or less receive the $10,000 minimum, and the $35,000 maximum applies at a $700,000 loan.
What is FL Assist, and who is it for?
FL Assist is Florida Housing's option for first-time buyers who do not work in a Hometown Heroes occupation. It offers up to $10,000 on FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans as a 0%, non-amortizing, deferred second mortgage. Like Hometown Heroes, it is not forgivable.
Florida Housing also offers the FL HLP second mortgage, which provides $12,500 at 3% with a monthly payment over 30 years. For conventional loans, it offers 3%, 4%, or 5% PLUS second mortgages that are forgiven at 20% per year over five years.
None of these are stand-alone grants. They are only available with a Florida Housing first mortgage.
Do I have to pay back Florida down payment assistance?
Yes. Hometown Heroes and FL Assist are repaid in full, without interest, when you sell the home, refinance the first mortgage, transfer the deed, or stop living there as your primary residence.
If you receive $17,370 and sell eight years later, you repay $17,370. This matters if you plan to refinance when rates fall, because refinancing makes the second mortgage due. Build that into your plan from the start.
Am I considered a first-time homebuyer?
Possibly, even if you have owned before. Florida Housing uses the IRS definition: you cannot have owned and occupied a primary residence during the three years before your purchase. Veterans may be exempt from this rule under certain program options, so ask your lender.
What do I need to qualify?
Florida Housing's homebuyer program requires:
- A minimum credit score of 640
- An approved, participating lender
- Completion of an approved homebuyer education course
- Income and purchase price within your county's limits
- First-time buyer status under the IRS definition
- A primary residence, not a second home or rental
Your lender will also review your debt-to-income ratio and loan-specific guidelines.
There is no cost to apply for Hometown Heroes assistance. Florida Housing cautions that scammers target homebuyers with upfront fees, so avoid anyone who asks you to pay to apply.
Why does down payment help matter with today's mortgage rates?
Freddie Mac reported a 30-year fixed rate average of 7.28% as of October 1, 2026, up from 7.03% the week before and 6.34% a year ago.
At that rate, principal and interest on a $347,400 loan runs about $2,377 per month, before property taxes, homeowners insurance, and mortgage insurance. Down payment assistance does not lower that payment, but it can reduce the cash you need to close, which is often the biggest hurdle for first-time buyers.
How do I get started?
- Confirm your employer and job qualify, or check whether FL Assist fits instead.
- Talk to a Florida Housing participating lender about preapproval and current funding.
- Complete an approved homebuyer education course.
- Shop for homes within your county's loan or price limits.
Thinking about buying your first home?
The team at RE/MAX Advantage Team Zimmerman helps first-time buyers across Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, and the greater Volusia-Flagler area work through these programs alongside their lender. If you are a nurse, teacher, deputy, firefighter, child care worker, service member, or veteran, reach out and we will help you map out your next steps.
