Loan programs
Down payment assistance (DPA)
Also called: DPA
In short
Down payment assistance helps cover the down payment or closing costs, often as a second loan or grant. Florida runs statewide and many county options.
Down payment assistance (DPA) programs help bridge the cash hurdle of buying, typically by lending or granting money toward the down payment and closing costs. Many are structured as a second mortgage — sometimes deferred, sometimes forgivable — that layers on top of a first loan.
Florida runs statewide programs through its housing finance agency, and many counties and cities run their own, each with income and purchase-price limits that change and vary by location. Eligibility is confirmed by a licensed loan officer against the current tables, not by a web page.
DPA can often be combined with conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA first mortgages, which is why it's worth asking about early — funding is finite and timing matters.
Related
Current as of August 2026.