StatewiseFinance

Florida offers up to $12,500 in down payment assistance through FL Assist and FL HLP, plus the loan limits, property tax, and insurance details buyers need in 2026.

Financial News · Florida Florida's $250,000 Property Tax Cut — But There's a Catch Most People Miss Updated: July 2026 · Sources: Florida Legislature, State Economists' Impact Estimate, June 2026 Court Filing On June 2, 2026, Florida lawmakers sent the largest property tax cut in state history to the November ballot — passing 75 to 26 in the House and 30 to 9 in the Senate, with rare bipartisan crossover votes on both sides. Here's a fact-checked breakdown of what it actually does. The Basics Vote date: November 3, 2026 — requires 60% approval to pass What it does: Expands the homestead exemption in stages — $150,000 in 2027, $250,000 in 2028, then inflation-adjusted after that (up from the current $50,000) Also included: Lowers the annual assessment increase cap for non-homestead properties (rentals, vacation homes) from 10% to 5% If passed: Most provisions take eff...

Hero Loans · Florida Up to $35,000 Down Payment Assistance: Florida Hometown Heroes Updated: July 2026 · Source: Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FloridaHousing.org) Florida's Hometown Heroes program is one of the most generous down payment assistance programs in the country — up to $35,000, 0% interest, no monthly payments. But it's still a loan, not free money, and the details matter more than most headlines let on. Here's the full breakdown. 2026 funding update: The 2026 program round opens Monday, July 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST with $50 million in funding, reserved first-come, first-served through participating lenders. Getting your eligibility verified before launch day puts you at the front of the line. How the Assistance Actually Works You receive 5% of your first mortgage loan amount — with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000 — to use toward your down payment and...

5 Costly Mistakes Florida Heroes Make When Buying a Home (2026) | StatewiseFinance Updated: June 2026 | Sources: FloridaHousing.org · VA.gov · floridaPA.org · Zillow · Veterans United · Bankrate 5 Costly Mistakes Florida Heroes Make When Buying a Home (2026) Teachers · Nurses · Firefighters · Police · EMTs · Veterans · All Florida Workers Florida heroes lose access to $35,000 in assistance, miss zero-out-of-pocket closings, and pay property taxes they legally don't owe — all from preventable mistakes. Here's exactly what goes wrong and how to protect yourself in the Sunshine State. This is Post 3 of 3 in the Florida Hero Home Loan Series. Read Post 1 (FL Hometown Heroes complete guide) and Post 2 (FL Hometown Heroes vs. VA loan) first for full program context. June 2026 rates used in this post: 30-yr VA: 5.75% · 30-yr FHA: 6.15% · 30-yr Conventional: 6.38% (Zillow, June 2, 2026) · FL median home price: $373,000 · FL Hometown Heroes DP...

States Are Unleashing Massive Down Payment Assistance in 2026 — Is This Your Window to Buy? | StatewiseFinance Housing News · Down Payment Assistance States Are Unleashing Massive Down Payment Assistance in 2026 — Is This Your Window to Buy? June 15, 2026 StatewiseFinance Editorial Chicago just launched a $70,000 grant with no repayment required. St. Louis reopened a $50,000 forgivable loan that ran out of money the first time within days. Florida's Hometown Heroes is offering up to $35,000 to essential workers across more than 50 professions. As high rates and high prices push first-time buyers to the sidelines, state and local governments are responding with some of the most aggressive homebuyer assistance programs in years — and the window may not stay open long. What's Happening Right Now The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is hovering around 6.49% as of June 2026. The national median home price has cross...

FL Hometown Heroes vs. VA Loan 2026 — Which Is Better for Florida Veterans? | StatewiseFinance Updated: June 2026 | Sources: FloridaHousing.org · VA.gov · Veterans United · Bankrate · Zillow FL Hometown Heroes vs. VA Loan (2026) Which saves Florida heroes more — and can you use both at the same time? Side-by-side comparison with real numbers based on June 2026 rates and Florida's $373,000 median home price. Includes real buyer scenarios for veterans, teachers, nurses, and firefighters — and the answer most heroes don't know: eligible veterans can use both programs together. This is Post 2 of 2 in the Florida Hero Loan Series. Read Post 1 for the complete FL Hometown Heroes overview, city programs, and eligibility details before comparing these two options. Key answer most Florida veterans don't know: For eligible veterans, the best strategy is almost never choosing between FL Hometown Heroes and a VA loan. It is using both together. VA...