Down Payment Assistance in Franklin County: Hometown Heroes and the County Program
Up to $35,000 from the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, plus Franklin County's own county assistance. Income limit here: $148,050.
Hometown Heroes › County Housing Programs › Franklin County
Franklin County home buyers who serve their community, from nurses in Apalachicola to deputies and teachers across the county, can look at two kinds of help: the state's Hometown Heroes program and the county's own down payment assistance.
Franklin County's income limit of $148,050 is shared with 30 other counties; 36 counties have a higher limit. On an FHA loan at Franklin County's FHA maximum of $541,287, the 5% formula works out to $27,064 of assistance.
Income limit (FHA / VA / HFA)
$148,050
Income limit (USDA)
$119,850
Max loan, FHA
$541,287
Max loan, HFA / VA
$832,750
Hometown Heroes help
5% of first mortgage, $10,000 to $35,000
County seat
Apalachicola
Income limits: TBA funding option, effective May 6, 2026. Loan limits effective Jan 2, 2026. Source: Florida Housing Finance Corporation Hometown Heroes lender guide. Bond-funded limits may differ.
Same $148,050 limit: Bradford County, Calhoun County, Charlotte County, Citrus County and 26 more.
Two sources of down payment help in Franklin County
Florida Hometown Heroes (state)
Statewide and run by Florida Housing Finance Corporation. You borrow 5% of the first mortgage at 0% interest, make no payments, and repay the whole balance later, when you sell or refinance. It is never forgiven, and money is reserved first come, first served. Read the full Hometown Heroes guide.
Franklin County local assistance (SHIP-funded)
Franklin County's local program is funded by the state SHIP trust fund but run by the county. Its rules, including income limits, award size and repayment, come from the county's Local Housing Assistance Plan and can change when new funding years open.
Franklin County government website · Florida Housing SHIP local contacts
Whether the two can be combined depends on both programs' rules at the time you apply. A participating lender confirms before funds are reserved.
Hometown Heroes jobs in Franklin County
You need a full-time job with a Florida-based employer in one of the program's eligible fields. Typical Franklin County employers whose staff can qualify include the county school district, the Sheriff's Office, local hospitals and clinics, fire rescue and courts.
We have dedicated mortgage guides for many of these jobs:
- Healthcare: mortgage options for physicians and doctors
- Healthcare: mortgage options for nurses and medical professionals
- Public safety: mortgage options for corrections officers
- Public safety: mortgage options for police officers
- First responders: mortgage options for firefighters
- First responders: mortgage options for EMTs and paramedics
- Education: mortgage options for teachers and school staff
- Military: mortgage options for active-duty military and veterans
Buying a home in Apalachicola and across Franklin County
There is no neighborhood restriction inside Franklin County: Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Lanark Village and unincorporated areas all qualify. It has to be your primary residence, and manufactured homes must be 1994 or newer.
Some Franklin County addresses are USDA-eligible. There, a zero-down USDA loan plus Hometown Heroes can cover most of the cash needed at closing, with a $119,850 USDA income limit.
Check property records and taxes with the Franklin County Property Appraiser.
Franklin County housing news
- First Responders Host National Night Out in Franklin County (KPLC 7 News, Oct 3, 2026)
- Franklin County road closed due to culvert collapse now expected to be fixed this week (WCTV, Sep 9, 2026)
Updated Oct 6, 2026.
Franklin County Hometown Heroes questions
How much can I earn and still qualify for Hometown Heroes in Franklin County?
For FHA, VA and conventional HFA loans, the 2026 Hometown Heroes income limit in Franklin County is $148,050 (TBA funding, effective May 6, 2026). For USDA loans it is $119,850. Under the TBA option, only the income of borrowers on the loan is counted, not the whole household.
Is Hometown Heroes in Franklin County a grant?
It is not a grant. Hometown Heroes is a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment. It is repaid in full on sale, transfer of deed, satisfaction of first mortgage, refinance of first mortgage, or if the home stops being your primary residence. Local programs funded through Franklin County's SHIP allocation can be structured differently, which is why it pays to compare both.
Is there a Franklin County housing program separate from Hometown Heroes?
Yes. Every Florida county, including Franklin County, receives state SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) funds, a minimum of $350,000 a year, and can use them for down payment and closing cost help. Franklin County sets its own income caps, amounts and repayment terms in its Local Housing Assistance Plan, and funding windows vary.
How much Hometown Heroes help can I get buying in Apalachicola or elsewhere in Franklin County?
Assistance is 5% of your first mortgage amount, with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $35,000. On an FHA loan at Franklin County's FHA maximum of $541,287, the 5% formula works out to $27,064 of assistance.
How do I start a Hometown Heroes application in Franklin County?
Hometown Heroes is reserved through Florida Housing–approved participating lenders, first come, first served. Stairway Mortgage (Jim Blackburn, NMLS #1072866) can review your occupation, income against the Franklin County limit, and whether Franklin County's local program fits alongside it.
Jim Blackburn, NMLS #1072866 · Stairway Mortgage. Program terms, limits and funding availability are set by Florida Housing Finance Corporation and Franklin County and can change. Estimates are not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Opportunity.