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Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program

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Income Limits

Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program Income Limits: Complete 2025 County-by-County Guide

Do you exceed the income cap for Florida’s Hometown Heroes program? You might still qualify. The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits work differently depending on which loan structure you use—and understanding the difference could save your eligibility.
This guide provides the complete 2025 county-by-county income limits and breaks down exactly how these caps are calculated, what counts toward them, and how to determine if you qualify even when your total earnings exceed the published threshold.

Quick Navigation

  • Understanding TBA vs. Bond Income Rules
  • Can You Qualify Above the Limit?
  • Frequently Asked Questions

2025 Income Limits by County

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits vary significantly by county. Use the table below to find your county’s specific limits for 2025.

How to read this table:

  • FHA/VA/HFA Income Limits: Used for FHA, VA, HFA Preferred Heroes, and HFA Advantage Heroes loans
  • USDA-RD Income Limits: Separate limits for USDA Rural Development loans (lower thresholds)
  • Loan Limits: Maximum mortgage amount allowed under the program

Florida Hometown Heroes TBA Income Limits 2025

The following represents the official list from Florida Housing Finance Corporation. If your occupation is not listed here, you likely do not qualify.

County

FHA/VA/HFA Income Limit

USDA-RD Income (1-4 Person)

USDA-RD Income (5+ Person)

FHA Loan Limit

VA/HFA Loan Limit

Alachua

$156,000

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Baker

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$580,750

$806,500

Bay

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Bradford

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Brevard

$149,850

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Broward

$172,950

$121,400

$160,250

$654,350

$806,500

Calhoun

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Charlotte

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Citrus

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Clay

$153,750

$112,450

$148,450

$564,650

$806,500

Collier

$170,400

$119,950

$158,350

$764,750

$806,500

Columbia

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

De Soto

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Dixie

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Duval

$153,750

$112,450

$148,450

$580,750

$806,500

Escambia

$147,150

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Flagler

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Franklin

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Gadsden

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Gilchrist

$156,000

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Glades

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Gulf

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Hamilton

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Hardee

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Hendry

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Hernando

$156,450

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Highlands

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Hillsborough

$156,450

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Holmes

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Indian River

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Jackson

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Jefferson

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Lafayette

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Lake

$158,100

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Lee

$153,300

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Leon

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Levy

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Liberty

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Madison

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Manatee

$161,400

$115,600

$152,600

$547,400

$806,500

Marion

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Martin

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$596,850

$806,500

Miami-Dade

$185,850

$130,500

$172,250

$654,350

$806,500

Monroe

$195,450

$137,200

$181,150

$967,150

$806,500

Nassau

$153,750

$112,450

$148,450

$580,750

$806,500

Okaloosa

$153,000

$112,450

$148,450

$603,750

$806,500

Okeechobee

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Orange

$158,100

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Osceola

$158,100

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Palm Beach

$175,350

$123,100

$162,500

$654,350

$806,500

Pasco

$156,450

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Pinellas

$156,450

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Polk

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Putnam

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Santa Rosa

$147,150

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Sarasota

$161,400

$115,600

$152,600

$547,400

$806,500

Seminole

$158,100

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

St. Johns

$153,750

$112,450

$148,450

$580,750

$806,500

St. Lucie

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$596,850

$806,500

Sumter

$143,400

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Suwannee

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Taylor

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Union

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Volusia

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Wakulla

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Walton

$148,350

$112,450

$148,450

$603,750

$806,500

Washington

$142,950

$112,450

$148,450

$524,225

$806,500

Note: These are 2025 limits for the Hometown Heroes TBA (The Bond Alternative) program. Limits are updated periodically by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

Highest Income Limit Counties

If you’re in one of Florida’s higher-cost counties, you may qualify with a higher income:

  • Monroe County (Keys): $195,450 – highest limit in Florida
  • Miami-Dade County: $185,850
  • Palm Beach County: $175,350
  • Broward County: $172,950
  • Collier County (Naples): $170,400

Most Common Income Limit

The majority of Florida counties have a baseline limit of $142,950 for FHA/VA/HFA loans, including popular areas like Leon (Tallahassee), Marion (Ocala), Polk (Lakeland), and Volusia (Daytona Beach).

Understanding Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program Income Limits

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to frontline workers, teachers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and other essential service workers. However, eligibility depends on meeting specific income limits that vary by county and loan type.

Here’s what makes this program unique: not all income sources count the same way. Depending on whether your loan uses the TBA (The Bond Alternative) or Bond structure, the program may measure only your qualifying income or your entire household income.

Check the official Florida Housing Hometown Heroes program page for the most current program details.

What Type of Loan Are You Getting?

Your income limit depends on your loan type:

FHA, VA, or HFA Advantage/Preferred Heroes Loans

  • Use the “FHA/VA/HFA Income Limit” column in the table above
  • These loans have the most flexibility under TBA structure
  • Limits range from $142,950 to $195,450 depending on county

USDA-RD (Rural Development) Loans

  • Use the “USDA-RD Income” columns in the table above
  • Lower income limits than FHA/VA (typically $112,450 for 1-4 person households)
  • Different limits apply based on household size
  • Only available in qualifying rural areas

TBA vs. Bond: How Income Limits Are Applied

The most critical distinction in the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits is which income actually counts toward the cap. There are two program structures with different rules:

Hometown Heroes TBA (The Bond Alternative)

Income counted: Credit-qualifying (AUS) income only—the income actually used to approve your loan.

This is the more flexible option. If your loan can be approved using only your base salary (without bonuses, overtime, or side income), then only that qualifying income is measured against the limit.

Key advantage: If you earn $180,000 total but can qualify for the mortgage using base pay of $140,000, you may still be eligible if your county limit is $142,950 or higher.

Who’s counted: Only borrowers on the note. If you have a non-borrowing spouse with income, their earnings are not included in the calculation.

Example for Hillsborough County (Tampa):

  • County income limit: $156,450
  • Your total earnings: $180,000 ($150,000 base + $30,000 bonuses)
  • Your qualifying income (base only): $150,000
  • Result: You may be eligible under TBA because qualifying income ($150,000) is under the limit ($156,450)

Review the complete Hometown Heroes TBA program requirements for detailed guidelines.

Hometown Heroes Bond

Income counted: Household (Program/Compliance) Income—the combined current gross annual income of all occupants age 18+.

This version uses total household income, which includes:

  • All borrowers on the loan
  • Non-purchasing spouses
  • Any other adults living in the home

Important: Even income sources not needed for loan approval count toward the Bond income limit.

Example for Hillsborough County (Tampa):

  • County income limit: $156,450
  • Your total household income: $180,000
  • Result: You would NOT be eligible under Bond because total household income exceeds the limit

Learn more about Hometown Heroes Bond income verification in the official lender guide.

How Income Is Verified

Regardless of which version you use, lenders must verify your income using standard mortgage documentation:

  • Recent paystubs (typically last 30 days)
  • W-2 forms (past 2 years)
  • 1099 forms (for self-employed or contract workers)
  • Verification of Employment (VOE)
  • Federal tax returns (past 2 years for self-employed borrowers)

The difference is what income gets counted toward the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits after verification—not whether income needs to be documented.

Can You Qualify If You Exceed the Income Limit?

This is the most common question about Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits, and the answer is: maybe, with TBA.

Real-World Example: Palm Beach County

County income limit: $175,350 (for FHA/VA/HFA loans)
 Your total annual income: $195,000 (base salary $165,000 + bonuses/overtime $30,000)

With Hometown Heroes TBA:
 If your lender can approve your mortgage using only your $165,000 base salary (running it through the Automated Underwriting System without the additional $30,000), you would be under the $175,350 limit and potentially eligible.

With Hometown Heroes Bond:
 Your full $195,000 household income would be counted, putting you over the $175,350 limit, and you would not qualify.

What You Cannot Do

 

You cannot intentionally understate or hide income. All income must be properly documented. However, with TBA, income that isn’t needed for loan qualification doesn’t count toward the program limit.

Think of it this way: TBA measures “Can we approve this loan with income under the cap?” while Bond measures “What is this household’s total income?”

Strategies to Stay Within Income Limits

If you’re close to the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits, consider these approaches:

1. Request TBA Loan Structure

Ask your lender to run your loan through Hometown Heroes TBA first. This gives you the best chance of qualifying if variable income (bonuses, commissions, overtime) pushes you over the limit.

2. Qualify on Base Pay Only

Work with your lender to structure the loan using only your guaranteed base salary. If your base pay is within the county limit and sufficient to qualify for the mortgage, you may be eligible under TBA.

3. Keep Non-Essential Borrowers Off the Loan

With TBA, a non-borrowing spouse’s income isn’t counted. If one spouse earns significantly more but isn’t needed to qualify, consider having only the lower-earning spouse on the loan (though both can still be on title).

4. Consider Adjacent Counties

 

Some counties have significantly higher limits than their neighbors. For example:

  • Miami-Dade ($185,850) vs. Broward ($172,950)
  • Palm Beach ($175,350) vs. St. Lucie ($142,950)
  • Monroe ($195,450) vs. Collier ($170,400)

If you’re flexible on location, a nearby county with a higher limit might expand your options.

5. Time Your Application Strategically

 

If you’re expecting a raise or promotion that would push you over the limit, you may want to apply before your income increases. Once locked in, changes in income don’t typically affect eligibility.

County-Specific Income Limit Examples

Major Metro Areas

Orlando (Orange County): $158,100

  • Significantly higher than the base limit of $142,950
  • Also applies to Lake, Osceola, and Seminole counties in the metro area

Tampa/St. Petersburg (Hillsborough/Pinellas): $156,450

  • Applies to both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties
  • Pasco County has the same $156,450 limit

Jacksonville (Duval County): $153,750

  • Also applies to Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties

Miami-Dade County: $185,850

  • Second-highest limit in Florida
  • USDA-RD limit also higher at $130,500

Palm Beach County: $175,350

  • Third-highest limit statewide
  • Significantly higher than neighboring counties

Popular Retirement/Beach Communities

Sarasota/Manatee Counties: $161,400

  • Higher than the base limit
  • Covers both Sarasota and Bradenton areas

Collier County (Naples): $170,400

  • Fourth-highest limit in Florida
  • Premium market with correspondingly higher limit

Lee County (Fort Myers): $153,300

  • Above base limit but lower than Collier to the south

Brevard County (Space Coast): $149,850

  • Moderate increase over base limit

North Florida Counties

Leon County (Tallahassee): $142,950

  • Base limit despite being the state capital

Escambia County (Pensacola): $147,150

  • Slightly higher than base limit

Okaloosa County (Fort Walton Beach): $153,000

  • Higher limit due to military presence and cost of living

USDA-RD Income Limits Explained

If you’re considering a USDA Rural Development loan, note that these have separate, lower income limits:

Standard USDA-RD Limits

Most counties: $112,450 (for 1-4 person households) or $148,450 (for 5+ person households)

Higher USDA-RD Limit Counties

Some higher-cost counties have elevated USDA-RD limits:

  • Monroe County: $137,200 / $181,150
  • Miami-Dade County: $130,500 / $172,250
  • Palm Beach County: $123,100 / $162,500
  • Broward County: $121,400 / $160,250
  • Collier County: $119,950 / $158,350

Important: USDA-RD loans are only available in designated rural areas. Even if you’re in a county with USDA limits listed, your specific property address must be USDA-eligible. Check USDA property eligibility maps to verify your location.

Frequently Asked Questions

No—you cannot misstate your income. However, with the TBA structure, if your loan can be approved using only base pay that falls within the limit, you may still qualify. Your lender must verify all income sources, but only qualifying (AUS) income counts toward the TBA cap.

You should still be eligible as long as you're at or below the published Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits for your county. Confirm with your lender whether they use "less than" or "less than or equal to" standards.

Yes. The majority of Florida counties use the baseline limit of $142,950 for FHA/VA/HFA loans. Higher-cost counties (like Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Broward) have elevated limits based on area median income.

No. Income limits range from $142,950 (most counties) to $195,450 (Monroe County). The variation reflects differences in cost of living and area median income across Florida.

Florida Housing updates income and purchase price limits periodically, typically annually. The table above reflects 2025 limits. Always verify current limits before beginning your application.

  • With TBA: No, only borrowers on the note are counted
  • With Bond: Yes, non-borrowing spouses' income is included in household income

Self-employed borrowers must provide additional documentation (business tax returns, profit/loss statements), but the same income counting rules apply. TBA uses qualifying income; Bond uses total household income.

No. USDA loans are only available in designated rural areas. While the income limits table shows USDA limits for all counties, your specific property must be in a USDA-eligible zone. Many suburban and all urban areas are ineligible.

USDA-RD is a federal rural development program with more restrictive income requirements. The program is designed for lower-to-moderate income homebuyers in rural areas.

No. The income limit is determined by where the property is located, not where you currently live. However, you can shop for properties in counties with higher limits if that helps your eligibility.

Next Steps: Determining Your Eligibility

Ready to find out if you qualify for the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program?

1. Find Your County Limit

Use the comprehensive table above to identify your county’s current income cap for your loan type (FHA/VA vs. USDA-RD).

2. Calculate Your Qualifying Income

Separate your guaranteed base salary from variable income sources (bonuses, commissions, overtime, side income).

3. Compare Against the Limit

If your base salary is under the county limit: You likely qualify under TBA structure.

If your total income exceeds the limit but base salary is under: You may still qualify under TBA if that base income is sufficient to approve your loan.

If your base salary alone exceeds the limit: You will not qualify for Hometown Heroes in that county (consider adjacent counties with higher limits).

4. Connect With a Hometown Heroes Lender

Work with a lender experienced in both TBA and Bond structures. They’ll:

  • Run your loan through AUS with different income scenarios
  • Determine which income counts toward your limit
  • Compare TBA vs. Bond to find your best path
  • Verify you meet the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits

5. Gather Your Documentation

Have recent paystubs, W-2s, tax returns, and employment verification ready to streamline the process.

Why Income Limits Matter (And Why They're Not Always Deal-Breakers)

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits exist to ensure assistance goes to moderate-income frontline workers and essential service professionals. However, the program recognizes that income varies—not everyone needs to use their full earning capacity to qualify for a mortgage.

The TBA structure reflects this reality: if you can afford your home on base pay within the limit, you may still be eligible even if your total earnings are higher. This nuance makes the difference between qualification and rejection for thousands of Florida homebuyers each year.

Don’t assume you’re disqualified just because your W-2 shows income above your county’s cap. Understanding how Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits actually work—and which version of the program measures income in your favor—could open the door to homeownership.

Official Program Resources

For the most current information and official program guidelines, visit these resources:

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program income limits vary from $142,950 to $195,450 depending on your county, with separate limits for USDA-RD loans. With the TBA structure and an experienced lender, you may qualify even if your total income exceeds the published cap—as long as your qualifying (base) income stays within the limit. Find your county in the table above and take the next step toward homeownership.

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