Step 1 of 4 · Plan · Down payment help

Help buying your first home in Sarasota and Manatee

6 open programs, worth up to $75,000 on their own. Most can't all be combined, and each has its own income and price limits, so a lender who offers them can tell you which ones stack for you.

Every program is checked against official sources at least every 30 days, and sooner when a source page changes. If one goes past its check date, we stop showing its amount until it’s re-checked.

Florida programs

Through Florida Housing and a participating lender, anywhere in both counties.

  • Florida Hometown Heroes

    Open

    5% of your loan, $10,000 to $35,000

    0% loan, repaid when you sell, refinance or move out

    Who it’s for
    First-time buyers working full time for a Florida employer in health care, schools, first response, public safety, courts or child care, plus service members and veterans working full time in Florida. Income limits apply.

    First come, first served while the year's funds last.

    How to get it

    Apply through a participating lender. There's no fee to apply; report anyone who charges one.

    Find a Florida Housing lender Checked Oct 19, 2026 against floridahousing.org and another floridahousing.org page. Next check by Nov 18, 2026.

  • FL Assist

    Open

    Up to $10,000

    0% loan, repaid when you sell, refinance or move out

    Who it’s for
    First-time buyers using a Florida Housing first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA or conventional) through a participating lender. Income limits apply.

    How to get it

    Ask a participating lender. A homebuyer education class is required.

    Find a Florida Housing lender Checked Oct 19, 2026 against floridahousing.org. Next check by Nov 18, 2026.

  • FL HLP second mortgage

    Open

    $12,500

    3% loan with a monthly payment, which lenders count in what you can afford

    Who it’s for
    First-time buyers using a Florida Housing first mortgage through a participating lender. Income limits apply.

    How to get it

    Ask a participating lender. A homebuyer education class is required.

    Find a Florida Housing lender Checked Oct 19, 2026 against floridahousing.org. Next check by Nov 18, 2026.

  • HFA Preferred PLUS

    Open

    3%, 4% or 5% of your loan

    Forgiven 20% a year over 5 years

    Who it’s for
    First-time buyers with a Florida Housing conventional first mortgage. Income limits apply.

    How to get it

    Ask a participating lender for HFA Preferred or HFA Advantage with PLUS.

    Find a Florida Housing lender Checked Oct 19, 2026 against floridahousing.org. Next check by Nov 18, 2026.

Sarasota County

Run by Sarasota County for homes in the county.

  • Sarasota County SHIP

    Open

    Up to $75,000

    0% loan, forgiven over 20 years if you keep living there

    Who it’s for
    First-time buyers earning up to 80% of the area median. Your first mortgage lender applies for you.
    Income limit, household of 4
    $91,300
    Home price limit
    $500,000

    $1,700,000 sarasota County's housing office opened applications Sept. 1 with $1.7 million for eligible residents (all its programs, not only home buying). How much is left isn’t published.

    Not for homes inside City of Sarasota limits. Awards go first come, first approved.

    Funding as of Aug 31, 2026

    How to get it

    Get approved by a first mortgage lender, who applies for you. Free help with applications at the Venice and North Sarasota libraries.

    Call or email: 941-861-5336 or SHIP@scgov.net

    Sarasota County SHIP Checked Oct 19, 2026 against herosrq.net, floridahousing.org and mysuncoast.com. Next check by Nov 18, 2026.

Manatee County

Run by Manatee County agencies for homes in the county.

  • Manatee County HFA Home Ownership Program

    Open

    Up to $15,000, plus a yearly tax credit

    0% loan repaid when you sell, refinance or move out, plus a tax credit worth 20% of your mortgage interest each year

    Who it’s for
    First-time buyers (or veterans) with a 640+ credit score buying anywhere in Manatee County, including Bradenton. Income limits apply.
    Home price limit
    $472,751

    First come, first served.

    How to get it

    Get pre-qualified with one of the authority's participating lenders, who checks eligibility and does the paperwork.

    Participating lenders Checked Oct 19, 2026 against manateehfa.org. Next check by Nov 18, 2026.

Not available right now

  • Manatee County SHIP: No money left this year. Funding for 2026-27 hasn't been decided yet; we'll check again in November. (Call with Manatee County Community Development, Oct 19, 2026) Source
  • City of Sarasota down payment assistance: The city says it has no down payment funds right now. Source

Put it in your plan

Your blueprint shows which of these apply to the towns and homes you’re looking at, and your lender seat is where to ask about them. Lenders must be approved for each program, so ask any lender which ones they offer.

Start your blueprint