City of Ocala
Ocala's SHIP plan gives income-eligible first-time buyers between $15,000 and $40,000 depending on income tier, forgiven after 10 years. Status: funding-dependent and unverified. Contact City Growth Management / Housing before you go under contract.
City of Ocala
0% deferred, forgiven after 10 years. City site blocked automated access.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Check whether I fitOcala's plan uses more income tiers than most Florida cities, and awards shrink as income rises:
| Income (% of AMI) | Award |
|---|---|
| 30% or less | $40,000 |
| 31-50% | $30,000 |
| 51-80% | $25,000 |
| 81-120% | $20,000 |
| 121-140% | $15,000 |
Each amount includes $1,000 for rehab. The loan is 0% and deferred, forgiven after 10 years in the home.
Income-eligible first-time buyers purchasing in the City of Ocala, up to 140% AMI. Dollar income caps and any price limit come from the City; the plan summary we reviewed doesn't list them. Outside city limits, Marion County's SHIP plan offers larger awards with longer terms.
The City site blocked automated access, so this page relies on the 2025-28 plan filed with Florida Housing. It does not tell us whether intake is open, so call before you shop. A 10-year forgiveness period is one of the shorter ones in the state, which is good news if you might move within 15 or 20 years.
Hometown Heroes allows another agency's stand-alone DPA in third position; a participating lender confirms whether Ocala will record behind a Hometown Heroes first and second. Whether City and County help can both be used is a question for both offices.
Ask these before you shop, so your offer price and timeline match what the City can fund.
The ladder favors the lowest-income households, who get $40,000, while buyers near 140% AMI still receive $15,000. That makes Ocala one of the few city programs that helps moderate-income buyers at all. Buyers at the top tiers should still compare the County's larger awards if they can buy outside city limits, and check Hometown Heroes if they hold an eligible job.
See the Marion County guide, DPA mistakes to avoid, or check your eligibility.
Florida counties it covers: Marion County.
$40,000 at 30% AMI or less, then $30,000, $25,000, $20,000 and $15,000 as income rises to 140% AMI.
After 10 years of owning and living in the home.
Not verified. Contact the City to confirm funding.
Find out if I fit this program
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.
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