For homes inside a Tampa Community Redevelopment Area boundary, the Tampa CRA gives first-time buyers up to 140% of area median income $30,000 to $50,000, forgiven after 20 years. Unlike DARE, there is no maximum purchase price. It is open.
Tampa CRA Down Payment Assistance Program
Taking applications
Tampa Community Redevelopment Areas
Amount
$50,000 / $40,000 / $30,000 by AMI tier (same tiers as DARE)
Kind of help
Forgivable second loan
Who it's for
First-time buyers up to 140% AMI purchasing within a Tampa CRA boundary
Income cap
Up to 140% AMI (2026 limits as DARE)
Price cap
No maximum purchase price
First-timers only
Yes
Also note
Approved counseling agency; City-approved lender/realtor; min $1,000 investment; post-purchase education
Flyer dated 7/23/2026. 0% deferred, forgiven after 20 years.
The CRA program mirrors DARE's award ladder: $50,000, $40,000 or $30,000 depending on your income tier, delivered as a 0% deferred loan that is forgiven after 20 years. The difference is location and price. The home must sit inside one of Tampa's Community Redevelopment Area boundaries, and the CRA flyer dated July 23, 2026 states there is no maximum purchase price. That makes it the better fit when a home in a CRA is above DARE's $450,000 cap.
Who qualifies?
First-time buyers with income up to 140% AMI, using the same 2026 limits as DARE ($160,580 for a household of four at the top tier).
Property within a Tampa CRA boundary; check the address before you make an offer.
At least $1,000 invested in the purchase.
An approved counseling agency, a City-approved lender and realtor, and post-purchase education after you move in.
CRA, DARE and Hometown Heroes
CRA and DARE are parallel City options with matching amounts, so most buyers use whichever one their address and price fit. Hometown Heroes permits stand-alone assistance from another agency behind its first and second mortgages; a participating lender confirms whether the CRA accepts that third position for an eligible worker. The DARE page covers the city-wide program.
How to apply
Confirm the address is inside a Tampa CRA.
Contact an approved counseling agency and complete its intake.
Get pre-approved with a City-approved lender and shop with a City-approved realtor.
Close, then finish the required post-purchase education.
Is your address in a CRA?
Tampa has several Community Redevelopment Areas, and the boundaries are what decide eligibility, not the ZIP code or neighborhood name. Ask the counseling agency or the CRA to confirm the parcel before you write an offer. If the home is in a CRA and priced at or below $450,000, you may qualify for either DARE or the CRA program, and the counselor can tell you which one has funds and fits better. If it is above $450,000, the CRA program is the City option to use. Either way, the 20-year forgiveness means repayment applies if you sell or move out earlier, so plan your time horizon.
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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