SeatMiami
Residents2,802,029
Income cap, 3+$156,630
Price cap$697,889
The Miami-Dade picture
With about 2.8 million residents, Miami-Dade is Florida's most populous county. Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, City of Miami Fire Rescue and the police departments in Miami and Hialeah all employ people in roles the program names.
Here the 5% formula matters more than in most places. You reach the $35,000 maximum at a $700,000 loan. Under the Bond option, the purchase price cap is $697,889, so Bond buyers can come close to the maximum but rarely hit it. TBA loans have no price cap, just loan limits, so ask which option your lender uses.
Whichever route you take, remember it's a 0% second mortgage, not free money. You pay it back when you sell, refinance or move out.
Caps that apply in Miami-Dade County
Bond limits here are $136,200 for 1 to 2 people and $156,630 for 3 or more, with a $697,889 price cap; the TBA option uses one $204,300 limit for any household size. Compare with the statewide table or run the budget calculator.
Local employers whose staff can qualify
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office
- Miami Police Department
- Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
- City of Miami Fire Rescue
- Hialeah Police Department
Full-time staff at a Miami-Dade hospital, clinic, licensed child care center or court office can also qualify, as long as the job is at a Florida location. The eligible jobs list has the full set of roles.
Local money in Miami-Dade County
County, city and employer programs here can sometimes sit behind the state loan, or replace it. Each has its own rules about combining, and a loan officer sorts out which ones fit together.
Miami-Dade County
- Amount
- Up to $35,000
- Kind of help
- Deferred loan, due at sale or refinance
- Who it's for
- Income-eligible first-time buyers who are Miami-Dade residents
- Income cap
- Under $95,620 (1), $109,200 (2), $122,920 (3), $136,500 (4 persons)
- First-timers only
- Yes
- Also note
- HUD-approved counseling + homebuyer education; 1% of price from own funds; fixed-rate first mortgage; CLTV max 105%; County resident at application and closing
0% interest, up to 30-year deferred, due on sale/transfer/refi. Shared-equity on resale: 100% of profit to County if sold in years 1-3, 50% in years 4-6, 0% after 6. Page does not state a price limit or funding status.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Read our full write-upCheck whether I fitCity of Miami
- Amount
- Up to $130,002 (based on bedroom count)
- Kind of help
- Deferred loan, due at sale or refinance
- Who it's for
- Income-eligible first-time buyers purchasing inside City of Miami limits
- Income cap
- 80% AMI (City links to FHFC income chart)
- Price cap
- $494,000 (existing or new construction; SHIP NOFA FY26-27)
- First-timers only
- Yes
- Also note
- No ownership in past 3 years; HUD-approved counseling workshop; at least $500 own funds; NSPIRE inspection; 30-yr fixed first mortgage from participating lender; property folio must begin with 01
SHIP NOFA posted 8/13/2026: FY 2026-27 SHIP allocation 'no less than $2,211,782'; applications opened Sept 14, 2026, first-come first-ready first-served until funds are exhausted. Loan is 0% deferred with City shared appreciation from year 3, phasing out by year 20. City page lists both $494,000 and $451,000 price caps in different steps.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Read our full write-upCheck whether I fitMiami-Dade County
- Amount
- Up to $15,000
- Kind of help
- Deferred loan, due at sale or refinance
- Who it's for
- First-time buyers using the HFA's bond/TBA first mortgage
- Income cap
- See HFA income & loan limits
- First-timers only
- Yes
- Also note
- Participating lender; homebuyer education; min FICO 660 FHA / 640 VA & conventional
Second-mortgage DPA tied to the HFA first mortgage; lock rates on 11/6/2026 page: FHA/VA 7.625%, conventional 8.000%. Exact second-mortgage terms not stated on the highlights page.
Checked against the official page, November 2026. How we fact-check
Read our full write-upCheck whether I fitThe full statewide list is on every Florida program.
Homebuyer classes near Miami-Dade County
Nearly every down payment program makes you finish a homebuyer class before closing. These HUD-approved agencies around Miami-Dade County teach one or offer one-on-one counseling before you buy.
From HUD's list of housing counseling agencies. A given program may accept only certain classes.
Which class counts for you? Your loan officer knows which courses each Florida program accepts and can start your pre-approval in the same conversation.
Start with the 2-minute check
Miami-Dade County, asked and answered
What's the Hometown Heroes income limit in Miami-Dade?
$204,300 for any household size under TBA. Under Bond it's $136,200 for 1 to 2 people and $156,630 for 3 or more.
Can a Miami-Dade buyer get the full $35,000?
Only with a loan of about $700,000. Bond loans are capped at a $697,889 purchase price, so the full amount is more realistic on a TBA loan with a high enough loan limit.
Does a Hialeah police officer qualify?
A full-time officer with an eligible Florida law enforcement agency meets the job rule. Your lender verifies your employer and income.
Nearby guides: Broward · Palm Beach · Hillsborough · Orange · Duval · Pinellas · Lee · Polk. Or browse all counties.
