Jefferson County Housing Program: Hometown Heroes and Local Down Payment Help
Up to $35,000 from the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, plus Jefferson County's own county assistance. Income limit here: $149,250.
Hometown Heroes › County Housing Programs › Jefferson County
Buying your first home in Jefferson County? If you hold an eligible job, the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program can cover part of your down payment and closing costs, and Jefferson County runs its own local program alongside it.
Jefferson County's income limit of $149,250 is shared with 2 other counties; 31 counties have a higher limit. On an FHA loan at Jefferson County's FHA maximum of $541,287, the 5% formula works out to $27,064 of assistance.
Income limit (FHA / VA / HFA)
$149,250
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
Monticello
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 $149,250 limit: Gadsden County, Leon County.
Hometown Heroes vs. the Jefferson County housing program
Florida Hometown Heroes (state)
A 0% interest deferred second mortgage worth 5% of your first mortgage, with no monthly payment. It is not forgiven: you repay it when you sell, refinance, pay off the first mortgage or move out. Funding is first come, first served through approved lenders. Read the full Hometown Heroes guide.
Jefferson County local assistance (SHIP-funded)
Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County government website · Florida Housing SHIP local contacts
Some buyers use both; others qualify for only one. The lender checks layering rules before anything is reserved.
Eligible jobs for Jefferson County buyers
You need a full-time job with a Florida-based employer in one of the program's eligible fields. Typical Jefferson 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
Homes that qualify in Jefferson County
Hometown Heroes applies county-wide, from Monticello to Lamont, Lloyd, Wacissa. The home must be your primary residence: single-family, townhome, eligible condo, or a 2 to 4 unit property where you live in one unit.
Parts of Jefferson County fall inside USDA-eligible areas, so a USDA first mortgage (zero down) can be paired with Hometown Heroes for qualifying addresses. The USDA income limit here is $119,850.
Check property records and taxes with the Jefferson County Property Appraiser.
Jefferson County housing news
- New Jefferson County Animal Care and Control facility to begin housing animals within weeks (WVTM Channel 13, Sep 30, 2026)
- Duke Energy grants $326,500 to boost Florida's economy (Duke Energy | News Center, Sep 30, 2026)
- Jefferson County's new manager Laura Aldrete talks to Denver7 about affordability, housing and wildfire risk (Denver7, Sep 17, 2026)
Updated Oct 6, 2026.
Jefferson County Hometown Heroes questions
What is the Hometown Heroes income limit in Jefferson County?
For FHA, VA and conventional HFA loans, the 2026 Hometown Heroes income limit in Jefferson County is $149,250 (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.
Do I have to pay back Hometown Heroes assistance in Jefferson County?
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 Jefferson County's SHIP allocation can be structured differently, which is why it pays to compare both.
Does Jefferson County have its own down payment assistance program?
Yes. Every Florida county, including Jefferson 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. Jefferson County sets its own income caps, amounts and repayment terms in its Local Housing Assistance Plan, and funding windows vary.
What is the maximum Hometown Heroes assistance in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County's FHA maximum of $541,287, the 5% formula works out to $27,064 of assistance.
Who can help me apply for Hometown Heroes in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County limit, and whether Jefferson 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 Jefferson County and can change. Estimates are not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Opportunity.