Orlando Unlocked: Open Door Program
Taking applicationsCity of Orlando Downtown CRA
- Amount
- $45,000 DPA; +$10,000 for first responders (law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs) and nurses
- Who it's for
- Buyers at or below 120% AMI purchasing a new single-family home built on a previously vacant lot in the Downtown CRA under the program
- Income cap
- 120% AMI (2025 table: $126,480 for 4 persons)
- Price cap
- Builder rebates apply to homes sold at or below $375,000
- Also note
- Program application with income documentation (2 years W-2s)
Only for homes built on vacant Downtown CRA lots through the program; loan terms not stated on page.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Check whether I fitHow Open Door works
This is a City of Orlando Economic Development program, not the housing department's standard down payment loan. The City is getting new homes built on vacant lots in the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area, and buyers of those specific homes receive $45,000 toward the purchase. Builder rebates apply to homes sold at or below $375,000. The City page does not describe the loan terms (grant, forgivable or repayable), so ask for them in writing.
Law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs and nurses receive an extra $10,000, for $55,000 in total; see the first responder and nurse bonus page.
Who qualifies?
- Household income at or below 120% AMI (the 2025 table showed $126,480 for four people).
- Purchase of an Open Door home on a former vacant Downtown CRA lot; resale homes elsewhere don't qualify.
- A program application with income documents, including two years of W-2s.
- No first-time buyer rule is stated on the City page.
Open Door, Hometown Heroes and the closed City program
The City of Orlando's main down payment program (up to $45,000) is not accepting applications, and Orange County's program is closed through at least March 2027, so Open Door is one of the few large awards in the city right now. Hometown Heroes allows another agency's stand-alone help in third position; a participating lender confirms whether Open Door can be layered that way. Central Florida's Homebuyer's Dream HFA program is another open option.
How to apply
- Review the Open Door homes on the City page.
- Gather two years of W-2s and current income documents.
- Submit the program application.
- Get pre-approved with a lender and confirm the award terms before signing.
Things to clarify before you commit
Because the City page does not state the loan terms, ask whether the $45,000 is forgiven over time, deferred until sale or repaid, and whether any resale or occupancy restrictions apply to these homes. Ask how builder rebates work on homes sold at or below $375,000 and whether the rebate is separate from the $45,000. Confirm the income documents the City wants beyond two years of W-2s, and whether a first mortgage from any lender works. With only a limited number of program-built homes in the Downtown CRA, availability can change quickly, so check the current list of homes before you start lining up financing.
See the Orange County guide, buying steps, or check your eligibility.
Florida counties it covers: Orange County.
Orlando Unlocked: Open Door Program: your questions
How much is Orlando Unlocked Open Door assistance?
$45,000, plus $10,000 more for law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs and nurses.
Can I use Open Door on any Orlando home?
No. Only new single-family homes built under the program on formerly vacant Downtown CRA lots qualify.
What is the income limit?
120% of area median income; the City's 2025 table showed $126,480 for a family of four.
Find out if I fit this program
Programs to compare
Our summary of the official program page as of November 2026. Funding and terms change; get the current version from the program or a participating lender. Florida Down Payment Assistance has no tie to this program.
