Down payment help in Sarasota & Manatee

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

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

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

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

Up to $10,000

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

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

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

$12,500

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

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

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

3%, 4% or 5% of your loan

Forgiven 20% a year over 5 years

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

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

Up to $75,000

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

First-time buyers earning up to 80% of the area median. Your first mortgage lender applies for you.

Income limit, family of 4:

$91,300

Highest home price:

$500,000

Sarasota County's housing office opened applications Sept. 1 with $1.7 million for eligible residents (all its programs, not only home buying):

$1,700,000 (amount left isn't published) as of Aug 31, 2026

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

• In Sarasota, it applies if it's outside City of Sarasota limits.
• In Englewood, it applies if it's on the Sarasota County side of Englewood.

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. Sarasota County SHIP

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

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

First-time buyers (or veterans) with a 640+ credit score buying anywhere in Manatee County, including Bradenton. Income limits apply.

Highest home price:

$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

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

Set by the county's housing plan

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

Very low to moderate income buyers in unincorporated Manatee County or Palmetto, through a county-certified lender, after a county-approved homebuyer class.

Income limit, family of 4:

$91,300

Highest home price:

$400,000

Set aside for 2025-26 home buying help ($420,000 for new homes, $280,000 for existing homes):

$700,000 (amount left isn't published) as of Mar 15, 2026

No money left this year. Funding for 2026-27 hasn't been decided yet; we'll check again in November.

• In Bradenton, it applies if it's outside City of Bradenton limits.

How to get it: When it reopens: pick a lender from the county's certified lender list; the lender requests the help once you have a contract. Manatee County SHIP guidelines

Last checked Oct 19, 2026

None available

City of Sarasota addresses.

How to get it: The city says it has no down payment funds right now.

Last checked Oct 15, 2026