Down Payment Assistance in Sarasota County: Hometown Heroes and the County Program
Up to $35,000 from the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program, plus Sarasota County's own county assistance. Income limit here: $171,150.
Hometown Heroes › County Housing Programs › Sarasota County
Buying your first home in Sarasota County? If you hold an eligible job, the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program can cover part of your down payment and closing costs, and Sarasota County runs its own local program alongside it.
Sarasota County's income limit of $171,150 is shared with 1 other county; 13 counties have a higher limit. On an FHA loan at Sarasota County's FHA maximum of $547,400, the 5% formula works out to $27,370 of assistance.
Income limit (FHA / VA / HFA)
$171,150
Income limit (USDA)
$123,750
Max loan, FHA
$547,400
Max loan, HFA / VA
$832,750
Hometown Heroes help
5% of first mortgage, $10,000 to $35,000
County seat
Sarasota
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 $171,150 limit: Manatee County.
Hometown Heroes vs. the Sarasota 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.
Sarasota County local assistance (SHIP-funded)
Sarasota 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.
Sarasota 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 Sarasota County buyers
You need a full-time job with a Florida-based employer in one of the program's eligible fields. Typical Sarasota 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 Sarasota County
Hometown Heroes applies county-wide, from Sarasota to Englewood, Laurel, Longboat Key, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey. 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 Sarasota 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 $123,750.
Check property records and taxes with the Sarasota County Property Appraiser.
Sarasota County housing news
- Sarasota County advances 5,700-home project near Palmer Ranch (Business Observer, Oct 4, 2026)
- Siesta Key home sells for $26 million, setting Sarasota County record - Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Oct 4, 2026)
- Sarasota Lands Among the Nation’s Best Cities for Renters (Sarasota Magazine, Oct 2, 2026)
- Florida’s Live Local Act promises affordable rent. For many in Sarasota, it’s still out of reach (WGCU, Sep 12, 2026)
Updated Oct 6, 2026.
Sarasota County Hometown Heroes questions
What is the Hometown Heroes income limit in Sarasota County?
For FHA, VA and conventional HFA loans, the 2026 Hometown Heroes income limit in Sarasota County is $171,150 (TBA funding, effective May 6, 2026). For USDA loans it is $123,750. 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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota County's SHIP allocation can be structured differently, which is why it pays to compare both.
Does Sarasota County have its own down payment assistance program?
Yes. Every Florida county, including Sarasota 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. Sarasota 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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota County's FHA maximum of $547,400, the 5% formula works out to $27,370 of assistance.
Who can help me apply for Hometown Heroes in Sarasota 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 Sarasota County limit, and whether Sarasota 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 Sarasota County and can change. Estimates are not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Opportunity.