Buying a Home in Florida (2026): First-Time Buyer Programs, Loan Limits & Lenders

Home prices in Florida sit near the middle of the national range, so the loan program you choose — and whether you add down payment assistance — can swing your upfront cash by thousands. With a large, diverse market, prices vary widely between metro areas and smaller towns, so compare city-level options below. A household earning around $101,000 a year could comfortably afford a typical Florida home under the 31% housing guideline.

What does a home cost in Florida?

Item	Florida estimate
Typical home value	$325,000
3% down (conventional)	$9,750
3.5% down (FHA)	$11,375
20% down	$65,000
Est. monthly payment (FHA, 3.5% down)	$2,603
Household income to afford (31%)	$101,000

Rate assumption: 7.18% (Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year fixed average, week of November 5, 2026). Change it in the payment calculator.

What first-time home buyer programs does Florida offer?

Florida Housing Finance Corporation is Florida's housing finance agency. Its programs are offered through approved lenders and usually require homebuyer education plus income and purchase-price limits.

Florida Assist: A 0% deferred second mortgage for down payment and closing costs, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off the first loan.
HFA Preferred/Advantage PLUS: A first mortgage paired with a forgivable second mortgage based on a percentage of the loan.
Hometown Heroes: When funded, assistance for eligible full-time workers in Florida-based occupations.

Check current terms at Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Many Florida cities and counties also run their own down payment assistance.

What are the Florida loan limits for 2026?

Florida has 67 counties; 1 are high-cost areas. Here are the official 2026 one-unit limits for its most populous counties (FHFA and HUD):

County	Conforming	FHA
Miami-Dade County	$832,750	$667,000
Broward County	$832,750	$667,000
Palm Beach County	$832,750	$667,000
Hillsborough County	$832,750	$541,287
Orange County	$832,750	$541,287
Duval County	$832,750	$580,750
Pinellas County	$832,750	$541,287
Lee County	$832,750	$541,287
Polk County	$832,750	$541,287
Brevard County	$832,750	$541,287
Pasco County	$832,750	$541,287
Volusia County	$832,750	$541,287

See all Florida county loan limits → VA loans have no limit for borrowers with full entitlement.

Which Florida down payment assistance programs are verified?

Florida Assist — Up to $10,000 on FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional loans (deferred-payment loan)

How much house can I afford in Florida?

Use Florida's own property tax rate and insurance average: $60k, $80k, $100k, $150k salaries, or see FHA requirements in Florida.

How do property taxes affect buying in Florida?

Homeowners in Florida pay a median of $2,555 a year in property taxes — an effective rate of about 0.79% of the median home value, close to the national average (Census ACS). Actual rates vary by county and municipality.

Which loan types are popular in Florida?

Conventional Loan — Not government-backed; as little as 3% down for first-time buyers, PMI removable at 20% equity.
FHA Loan — Government-insured; 3.5% down with a 580 credit score and flexible debt-to-income rules.
VA Loan — For eligible veterans, service members and surviving spouses: 0% down and no monthly mortgage insurance.
USDA Loan — 0% down for moderate-income buyers in eligible rural and suburban areas.
Jumbo Loan — For loan amounts above the conforming limit; usually 10–20% down and 700+ credit.
First-Time Home Buyer Loans — Low-down-payment loans plus state assistance programs designed for first-time buyers.

Buying a home in Florida cities

Broward County

Charlotte County

Port Charlotte — $249,400 Punta Gorda — $482,300 Rotonda — $340,700

Citrus County

Homosassa Springs — $146,600 Citrus Springs — $220,300 Sugarmill Woods — $289,100 Pine Ridge — $354,600

Clay County

Lakeside — $249,300 Oakleaf Plantation — $309,300 Fleming Island — $387,400 Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace — $218,700 Asbury Lake — $293,000 Middleburg — $241,700

Collier County

Golden Gate — $365,400 Immokalee — $197,000 Naples — $1,254,200 Marco Island — $866,200

Columbia County

Lake City — $178,600

Duval County

Jacksonville — $266,100 Jacksonville Beach — $523,600 Atlantic Beach — $565,500

Escambia County

Pensacola — $276,500 Ferry Pass — $243,600 Bellview — $185,600 Brent — $121,100 Ensley — $198,700 West Pensacola — $109,800 Myrtle Grove — $182,600 Warrington — $186,700 Gonzalez — $249,800

Flagler County

Palm Coast — $317,200

Hernando County

Spring Hill — $248,400

Highlands County

Sebring — $175,000

Hillsborough County

Indian River County

Vero Beach South — $295,500 Sebastian — $281,700 Florida Ridge — $250,500 Vero Beach — $392,500 West Vero Corridor — $186,700

Lake County

Four Corners — $312,300 Clermont — $368,600 Leesburg — $214,300 Eustis — $245,400 Groveland — $344,000 Tavares — $225,500 Mount Dora — $316,100 Lady Lake — $217,900 Minneola — $386,700

Lee County

Cape Coral — $339,200 Lehigh Acres — $263,200 Fort Myers — $351,600 Bonita Springs — $460,600 North Fort Myers — $137,700 Estero — $430,500 San Carlos Park — $284,900 Iona — $295,700 Villas — $232,800 Cypress Lake — $237,700

Leon County

Tallahassee — $276,000 Bradfordville — $358,400

Manatee County

Bradenton — $282,500 Lakewood Ranch — $626,500 South Bradenton — $149,600 Bayshore Gardens — $160,700 Palmetto — $256,700 Memphis — $292,200

Marion County

Ocala — $219,900 Silver Springs Shores — $181,800 Liberty Triangle — $247,800 Marion Oaks — $233,000 On Top of the World — $275,000

Martin County

Palm City — $532,100 Stuart — $291,300 Hobe Sound — $323,700 Jensen Beach — $363,100 Port Salerno — $329,000

Miami-Dade County

Miami — $475,200 Hialeah — $359,200 Miami Gardens — $337,200 Miami Beach — $542,000 Homestead — $346,500 Kendall — $516,900 Doral — $514,600 North Miami — $326,300 The Hammocks — $437,700 Fountainebleau — $284,600 Westchester — $473,300 Kendale Lakes — $378,100 Tamiami — $451,400 Country Club — $340,900 Coral Gables — $1,007,500 Cutler Bay — $420,800 North Miami Beach — $317,800 Princeton — $386,000 Aventura — $416,300 South Miami Heights — $357,000 Richmond West — $448,900 Kendall West — $377,800 Golden Glades — $346,900 West Little River — $293,400 Miami Lakes — $577,300 Leisure City — $333,100 Ives Estates — $287,500 Palmetto Bay — $787,000 Coral Terrace — $496,500 Hialeah Gardens — $319,200 The Crossings — $414,300 Sunny Isles Beach — $489,700 Sweetwater — $251,000 Country Walk — $489,400 Glenvar Heights — $496,200 Pinecrest — $1,179,400 Pinewood — $315,400 Ojus — $298,500 Palmetto Estates — $412,200 Three Lakes — $434,800 Brownsville — $285,100 Opa-locka — $281,000 Gladeview — $295,000 Naranja — $310,700 Key Biscayne — $1,238,700 Sunset — $537,500 Miami Springs — $504,000 Olympia Heights — $497,300 Florida City — $353,200 Goulds — $415,100 South Miami — $736,900 Westview — $333,500 Miami Shores — $788,600 Westwood Lakes — $465,000

Monroe County

Key West — $816,300 Key Largo — $626,300

Nassau County

Yulee — $278,200 Fernandina Beach — $483,700

Okaloosa County

Crestview — $266,500 Wright — $270,700 Fort Walton Beach — $296,000 Niceville — $381,700 Destin — $455,100

Orange County

Osceola County

Kissimmee — $273,900 Poinciana — $266,900 St. Cloud — $324,100 Buenaventura Lakes — $282,700 Celebration — $613,000

Palm Beach County

West Palm Beach — $369,800 Boca Raton — $660,100 Boynton Beach — $312,700 Delray Beach — $386,700 Wellington — $557,100 Jupiter — $555,500 Palm Beach Gardens — $554,300 Greenacres — $244,700 Lake Worth Beach — $329,300 The Acreage — $464,400 Royal Palm Beach — $389,300 Riviera Beach — $311,900 Palm Springs — $234,500 Belle Glade — $141,100 Jupiter Farms — $610,100 North Palm Beach — $456,700 Lantana — $374,800

Pasco County

Wesley Chapel — $368,600 Land O' Lakes — $349,900 Bayonet Point — $160,000 Jasmine Estates — $172,400 Holiday — $145,700 Trinity — $422,000 Zephyrhills — $191,700 New Port Richey — $164,600 Elfers — $173,400 Pasadena Hills — $305,300 Shady Hills — $225,600 New Port Richey East — $199,800 Hudson — $239,200

Pinellas County

St. Petersburg — $331,500 Clearwater — $326,100 Largo — $208,500 Palm Harbor — $359,600 Pinellas Park — $251,900 Dunedin — $341,700 East Lake — $457,300 Tarpon Springs — $321,000 Lealman — $175,100 Seminole — $312,700 Safety Harbor — $433,300 West Lealman — $162,800 Oldsmar — $346,900 Gulfport — $335,100 Bardmoor — $277,100

Polk County

Lakeland — $229,100 Winter Haven — $248,200 Haines City — $250,700 Bartow — $210,400 Auburndale — $272,700 Lake Wales — $225,900 Highland City — $301,600 Medulla — $288,400 Lakeland Highlands — $352,000 Davenport — $297,000 Fuller Heights — $262,000 Cypress Gardens — $270,600

Putnam County

Palatka — $112,300

Santa Rosa County

Navarre — $352,300 Pace — $271,400 Midway — $352,600 East Milton — $199,900 Milton — $195,600

Sarasota County

North Port — $328,700 Sarasota — $409,700 Venice — $381,400 Englewood — $295,600 South Venice — $293,600 Palmer Ranch — $563,000 Fruitville — $379,600 Sarasota Springs — $310,400 Laurel — $450,200

Seminole County

Sanford — $272,900 Altamonte Springs — $263,600 Oviedo — $428,500 Winter Springs — $342,400 Casselberry — $272,600 Wekiwa Springs — $429,600 Lake Mary — $462,200 Longwood — $327,400 Forest City — $364,900

St. Johns County

Fruit Cove — $451,600 Nocatee — $585,000 World Golf Village — $447,900 Palm Valley — $646,200 St. Augustine — $409,200

St. Lucie County

Port St. Lucie — $327,700 Fort Pierce — $220,500 Lakewood Park — $252,900

Sumter County

The Villages — $375,100 Wildwood — $419,700

Volusia County

Deltona — $254,100 Daytona Beach — $244,300 Port Orange — $287,900 Ormond Beach — $320,300 DeLand — $303,500 New Smyrna Beach — $365,900 Edgewater — $238,700 DeBary — $307,600 Orange City — $241,800 South Daytona — $210,500 Holly Hill — $168,600

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Florida home buying FAQs

On a typical Florida home of about $325,000, a 3.5% FHA down payment is roughly $11,375 and a 3% conventional down payment about $9,750, plus closing costs of 2%–5% of the loan.

Yes. Florida Housing Finance Corporation offers programs including Florida Assist, HFA Preferred/Advantage PLUS, Hometown Heroes. Income, price and credit limits apply.

The 2026 baseline conforming limit for a one-unit home is $832,750 in most Florida counties; designated high-cost counties can be higher.

FHA limits are set by county. For 2026 they start at $541,287 for one-unit homes in lower-cost areas and rise in higher-cost counties.

Sources

Data last updated October 23, 2026.

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Figures on this page are estimates for educational purposes only and are not a loan offer or commitment to lend. Rates, loan limits, fees and assistance programs change frequently and vary by lender, location and borrower profile. Confirm current terms with a licensed loan officer.