Buyer Guide
Florida First-Time Home Buyer Guide
FHA, USDA, VA, conventional, and Florida Housing programs explained for buyers getting their first keys.
Start with the plan
Where Most First-Time Buyers Start
The best first step in Florida is a loan conversation, not a home search. First-time buyers here typically choose between FHA, USDA, VA, and conventional financing, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation adds down payment assistance that can shrink the cash you need at closing. Wiz helps you match a program to your credit, your income, and the home you want, so the first offer you make is one you can close.
Get pre-approved before you tour. A written pre-approval tells you exactly what you can borrow, shows sellers you are serious, and keeps you from falling in love with a home outside your plan. Wiz connects first-time buyers with lenders he trusts and walks through every document in plain language.
Know your options
Florida Loan Programs, Compared
Five ways in, one honest recommendation: match the program to your credit, your income, and the home.
FHA Loans
Most popular first-time program
Minimum credit score around 580 with 3.5 percent down, and scores from 500 to 579 can still qualify with 10 percent down. FHA’s low down payment and flexible credit rules make it the most common first-time program in Florida, and it works for both move-in ready homes and FHA 203k renovation loans.
USDA Loans
Zero down in eligible areas
For buyers in qualifying rural and some suburban areas: zero down payment and competitive rates. Many USDA-eligible zones exist in and around Florida, and the boundaries change, so Wiz helps identify which properties and communities qualify before you fall in love with an address.
VA Loans
Zero down for veterans
For eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses: zero down payment, no mortgage insurance, and competitive rates. It is the strongest program a veteran can use, and it pairs well with Florida Housing down payment assistance.
Conventional Loans
Low down payment with good credit
Down payments as low as 3 to 5 percent with solid credit, plus private mortgage insurance you can drop once you build equity. Conventional financing fits buyers with strong credit who want the widest pool of homes, including condos FHA rules complicate.
Florida Housing Programs (FLHousing.org)
Down payment assistance + first mortgage
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation pairs a first mortgage with assistance: Florida Assist offers up to $10,000 as a 0 percent interest, deferred second mortgage, and HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage combine Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac first mortgages with second mortgages worth 3 to 5 percent of the loan. Most programs require an approved homebuyer education course, a minimum credit score around 640, and income and purchase price limits that vary by county.
Program details and availability change; figures are current as of September 2026 and should be confirmed with a participating Florida Housing lender and at FLHousing.org.
Buying from afar
Notes for Out-of-State Buyers
A huge share of Florida first-time buyers come from out of state. The process is smoother than most expect, with four things to get right.
You can buy remotely
Out-of-state buyers close on Florida homes routinely: video tours, digital offers, remote notarization, and coordinated handoffs are the norm. Wiz walks every room with you on video and attends inspections in person on your behalf.
Use a Florida-savvy lender
Work with a lender licensed in Florida who knows the state’s insurance requirements, condo rules, and closing timelines, whether that is your current lender or one Wiz refers you to.
Budget insurance from day one
Florida’s homeowners insurance market is the most expensive in the country, and coastal properties pay more. It belongs in the very first budget calculation, not the last.
Time the homestead exemption
Florida Housing program homes must become your primary residence, and the Homestead Exemption applies once you own and occupy by January 1. Plan the move and the closing so both line up.
Straight answers
First-Time Buyer FAQ
01 Can out-of-state buyers use Florida first-time buyer programs?
Yes. Florida Housing programs are open to buyers who will occupy the property as their primary residence in Florida, whether they currently live across the state line or across the country. You need to plan the closing and the move so occupancy terms are met, and Wiz works with out-of-state first-time buyers on this routinely.
02 What credit score do I need for an FHA loan?
About 580 for the 3.5 percent down program, and scores from 500 to 579 can still qualify with 10 percent down. Individual lenders often set higher minimums than the program rules, so the number that matters is your lender’s, not the rulebook’s. Get the credit conversation early and you will know exactly where you stand before you tour.
03 Are there USDA-eligible areas in Florida?
Yes, more than most buyers expect. USDA-eligible zones exist in parts of the Treasure Coast and inland Florida, and the boundaries are updated routinely, so eligibility must be checked at the exact property level. Wiz helps you pin down which communities and properties qualify before you make an offer.
04 How much can I save with Florida Housing programs?
Florida Assist can cover up to $10,000 of your down payment and closing costs as a 0 percent interest, deferred second mortgage, and HFA Preferred PLUS or HFA Advantage PLUS second mortgages can cover 3 to 5 percent of the loan amount with partial forgiveness over about five years. On a typical first home that is real money, often $10,000 or more of cash you keep in your pocket.
05 Do I need to complete homebuyer education?
For Florida Housing programs, yes: an approved homebuyer education course is required, typically 8 to 10 hours, costing about $75 to $150, with most certificates valid for a year. FHA, USDA, VA, and conventional loans do not require it, though it is usually time well spent before your first purchase.
Plan the whole purchase
Related Resources
First home, right plan
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Michael “Wiz” Wisniewski is The Life Transition Specialist, a Certified Real Estate Planning Advisor and Certified A.I. Real Estate Advisor with The Complete Real Estate Team, powered by Dalton Wade Real Estate, serving clients from the Treasure Coast to Florida. Florida DRE #3301665.
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