Florida teachers have an assortment of home loan financing options available to them in 2025. Many of these mortgage options are government backed programs – FHA and USDA being the most popular. Florida teachers also have assorted down payment assistance programs available through county and city agencies and can be used in conjunction with FHA and USDA loans.
Lets looks a breakdown of the most popular mortgage options being used to help teachers purchase a home today.
- USDA Mortgage Financing: USDA home loans are very popular among FL Teachers and other public service workers like Police, Firefighters and EMT. Mainly in part because USDA is the only mortgage financing option in Fla that still permits 100 percent financing. Unless you have military benefits, USDA Rural Housing is the only $0 down payment option. Since the program is 100% financing, no down payment assistance is required or needed. In addition, no “fist time homeowners” class or school is required. The USDA loan pre-approval process is quick, applicants can generally complete their application and pre-approval in under 30 min. Other USDA benefits include: Seller paid closing costs up to 6%. The USDA program is NOT limited to just first time home buyers, however, homeowners that currently own a home will face additional financing restrictions.
- 100% financing, no first time buyers class, etc – sounds like the perfect program? The only real downfall of the USDA loan is the program does have (2) key eligibility criteria that must be met. First, the home you purchase must be rural eligible, and located in an approved area. See the USDA map area here. Second, the income for the household must be below a certain limit based on the county and number of people living in the household. You can find the 2025 USDA household income limits here. If you have questions about the USDA program, please contact us anytime, just submit the request info form on this screen.
- FHA Home Loans: FHA loans remain the most popular loan available to Florida home buyers. FHA loans are available for any move in condition homes, regardless of where the house is located. Like the USDA RD loan, borrowers are not required to be first time home buyers or required to take any first time buyers class, etc. There are no income restrictions (limits) with the FHA home loan. However, FHA loans do require a small down payment of 3.5% – but this down payment can be in the form of a gift from family, etc. Teachers can also use the verity of acceptable down payment assistance programs to pay the required 3.5% down payment and closing costs. SHIP among other down payment incentive programs can be used. Contact us today for a list of approved down payment assistance programs.
- FHA also has the special HUD $100 down program. This FHA program is only for HUD owned homes, please see the list of HUD homes for sale here. The big advantage with the HUD 100 program is buyers can move into their home for only $100.00
- The Florida HomeTown Heroes program has become very popular for teachers across Florida. This state sponsored down payment assistance program can be used together with any conventional, FHA, VA or USDA loan.
Five Stars has been showing Florida Teacher the path to homeownership since 2006. Need assistance? For fast service, please submit the “Request Contact” form at the top of your screen.