Hillsborough County, FL First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Hillsborough County buyers can apply to 2 local down payment programs, with help up to $10,000 through Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program, on top of Florida's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Hillsborough County
These are run by Hillsborough County, separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program Hillsborough County (Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County (HFA)) · source | deferred, 0% interest second mortgage | Up to $10,000 for down payment and/or closing costs | Per Hillsborough County SHIP income guidelines for low- and moderate-income households (specific AMI tier not stated on the county's summary page) | Yes | Hillsborough County |
| Affordable Income Subsidy Grant Hillsborough County (Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County (HFA)) · source | grant (second-listed county down-payment option; amount not stated on the county's summary page) | Not stated on hcfl.gov's summary page | Per Hillsborough County SHIP income guidelines (not itemized on the summary page) | Yes | Hillsborough County |
- Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program. 30-year second mortgage, zero-interest, deferred (due on sale/refinance/transfer). Requires a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Contact the HFA partner agency: [email protected], (813) 425-5959.
- Affordable Income Subsidy Grant. Listed by the County as the second of two first-time-buyer down-payment options administered through the Housing Finance Authority; full term sheet not found within the search budget. Contact HFA: [email protected], (813) 425-5959, or hillsboroughcountyhfa.org.
Income limits in Hillsborough County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA (Hillsborough County) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $104,700 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $91,750 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Florida statewide programs you can also use in Hillsborough County
Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) (homebuyer programs page) runs 4 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Florida, with down payment help up to $35,000 through Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Assist (FL Assist) source | Deferred second loan | Up to $10,000 | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| Florida Homeownership Loan Program (FL HLP) Second Mortgage source | Second mortgage | $12,500 | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| HFA Preferred / HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage source | Forgivable second loan | 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total first mortgage loan amount | Yes | 640 | See program page |
| Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program source | Deferred second loan | Up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount, minimum $10,000, maximum $35,000 | Yes | n/a | See program page |
Hillsborough County closing costs that differ from the rest of Florida
Transfer tax: Hillsborough County follows Florida's standard statewide documentary stamp tax: $0.70 per $100 (or fraction) of consideration on the deed. Mortgages carry doc stamps of $0.35 per $100 of the debt plus Florida's nonrecurring intangible tax of $2.00 per $1,000 of the mortgage amount. Hillsborough has no additional county surtax on real property transfers. Source
Recording the deed costs $10 and the mortgage $10. Fee schedule
Owner's title policy: seller (customary in Hillsborough County, following the statewide Florida default outside Miami-Dade/Broward/Sarasota)
Recording fee is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page, with the first 4 names free and $1.00 per additional name, per the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. The Clerk also publishes an online Deed Calculator tool.
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Hillsborough County, FL?
Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program (Hillsborough County, up to $10,000); Affordable Income Subsidy Grant (Hillsborough County). Florida statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Hillsborough County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $91,750 for a four-person household in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA (Hillsborough County) (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Hillsborough County?
Hillsborough County follows Florida's standard statewide documentary stamp tax: $0.70 per $100 (or fraction) of consideration on the deed. Mortgages carry doc stamps of $0.35 per $100 of the debt plus Florida's nonrecurring intangible tax of $2.00 per $1,000 of the mortgage amount. Hillsborough has no additional county surtax on real property transfers.
Official sources
- Hillsborough County: Home Sweet Home Hillsborough Program
- HUD income limits
- Hillsborough County transfer tax
- Hillsborough County recording fees
Hillsborough County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Other Florida counties
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties