What Is Homes For Heroes?
First thing to know: Homes For Heroes, Inc. isn't a government program at all. It's a nationwide network of local real estate agents, mortgage pros, title companies, and other affiliates who've agreed to give back part of their commission or fees to hero buyers and sellers at closing.
The idea behind it is pretty simple. Say thank you, in dollars, to the people who show up for their communities every day.
Who Qualifies as a Hero
- Teachers and school employees
- Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers
- Firefighters and EMTs
- Law enforcement and correctional officers
- Active duty military, veterans, and National Guard members
- In many cases, other first responders and public service workers
Your profession is really the whole test here. You self certify with basic documentation, and there's no income cap or first time buyer requirement standing in your way like there is with Hometown Heroes.
How the Savings Work
- Real estate agent rebate: a portion of the buyer's agent commission (often around 0.7% of the purchase price) is returned to you as a rebate after closing.
- Lender savings: participating Homes For Heroes mortgage professionals may reduce certain fees or closing costs for hero borrowers.
- Other affiliate discounts: depending on your local network, title companies, inspectors, and moving companies may also offer reduced rates.
Homes For Heroes vs. Hometown Heroes: The Key Differences
| Homes For Heroes | Hometown Heroes | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | National private affiliate network | Florida state government program |
| Run by | Homes For Heroes, Inc. | Florida Housing Finance Corporation |
| Type of benefit | Rebate on agent commission and reduced fees | Down payment and closing cost assistance (second mortgage) |
| Money involved | Rebate paid after closing | Up to $35,000 in assistance at closing |
| First time buyer required | No | Yes (with limited exceptions) |
| Income limits | No | Yes, based on county AMI |
| Occupation requirement | Broad hero categories | Specific eligible Florida occupations |
| Available outside Florida | Yes, nationwide | No, Florida only |
Can You Use Both Programs Together?
Most of the time, yes. Homes For Heroes is a private rebate on agent and lender fees, Hometown Heroes is a state second mortgage for your down payment and closing costs. They're solving two different problems, so they generally don't step on each other.
Picture a Florida firefighter buying their first place. They pull Hometown Heroes for the down payment, then still walk away with a Homes For Heroes rebate through a participating agent and lender on that same deal. We'll sit down and run the actual numbers for your purchase, not a generic example.
How to Get Started With Homes For Heroes
- Confirm your hero category (teacher, healthcare worker, first responder, military, law enforcement, and similar).
- Connect with a participating Homes For Heroes affiliate agent and lender in your area.
- Shop for your home as normal, with your rebate tracked and confirmed ahead of closing.
- Close on your home, and receive your rebate check afterward, separate from anything you may also receive through Hometown Heroes or another Florida DPA program.
Thank You for Your Service
Teacher, nurse, firefighter, officer, service member. If that's your job, Homes For Heroes is one more way to knock down the cost of buying in Florida, right alongside programs like Hometown Heroes. Let's look at your whole situation together and make sure nothing you're owed gets left on the table.
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