Up to $100,000 in down payment help for some first-time homebuyers

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Posted March 9, 2026 | By Jamie Berube, [email protected]

Marion County Community Services is offering qualified first-time homebuyers in unincorporated Marion County and within the city of Ocala up to $100,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through the state’s Homebuyer Purchase Assistance Program.

The program is funded primarily by the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), with supplemental funding possible from the federal Housing and Urban Development HOME program.

The assistance comes as a zero-interest, deferred-payment loan with no monthly payments required. It is typically forgiven or repaid upon sale or refinance of the home after a set period, following standard SHIP terms. Funds are available on a first-come, first-qualified basis.

An unincorporated area is a region outside any municipality’s boundaries, governed directly by the county or state. Residents there rely on county services for policing, planning and infrastructure rather than a local mayor or city council.

According to Kendall Stephens, the Community Services coordinator for Marion County, the county has about $1.5 million budgeted for the program. Approximately 15 buyers utilized the down payment assistance in 2025.

As of February, SHIP funding remains available for the program, the application cycle is open and the county maintains a waitlist, according to Stephens.

“We typically receive annual funding in July for SHIP,” Stephens said.

Regarding income limits, Stephens noted that Marion County will update the 2026 income limits once HUD/FHFC releases them. Funding and guidelines can change based on availability and annual updates.

Here are the key eligibility highlights from the current Lender Consortium Guidelines (using 2025 HUD/Florida Housing Finance Corporation Area Median Income figures, as 2026 limits are pending release):

Must be a first-time homebuyer, meaning that applicants cannot own a home.

Income limits: Household income must be at or below 140% of the Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for family size, with sufficient income to qualify for and afford the mortgage. The AMI for the Ocala MSA (Marion County) is $76,200 for a four-person household. “MSA” stands for Metropolitan Statistical Area and refers to the official U.S. government designation for the economic and social region centered around Ocala, which consists entirely of Marion County.

The below are assistance levels from 2025 as 2026 levels are not yet available. These figures are not based on the 2026 AMI listed above and are only mentioned as an example based on 2025 AMI. Current assistance levels are based on the following 2025 income limits (effective April 1, 2025, per HUD/FHFC; updated annually approximately March through May):

For a one-person household: 30% AMI is $16,250; 50% AMI is $27,000; 80% AMI is $43,200; 120% AMI is $64,800; and 140% AMI is $75,600.

For a two-person household: 30% AMI is $21,150; 50% AMI is $30,850; 80% AMI is $49,400; 120% AMI is $74,040; and 140% AMI is $86,380.

For a three-person household: 30% AMI is $26,650; 50% AMI is $34,700; 80% AMI is $55,500; 120% AMI is $83,280; and 140% AMI is $97,160.

For a four-person household: 30% AMI is $32,150; 50% AMI is $38,550; 80% AMI is $61,700; 120% AMI is $92,520; and 140% AMI is $107,940.

For a five-person household: 30% AMI is $37,650; 50% AMI is $41,650; 80% AMI is $66,650; 120% AMI is $99,960; and 140% AMI is $116,620.

For a six-person household: 30% AMI is $43,150; 50% AMI is $44,750; 80% AMI is $71,600; 120% AMI is $107,400; and 140% AMI is $125,300.

For a seven-person household: 30% AMI is $47,850; 50% AMI is $47,850; 80% AMI is $76,550; 120% AMI is $114,840; and 140% AMI is $133,980.

For an eight-person household: 30% AMI is $50,900; 50% AMI is $50,900; 80% AMI is $81,450; 120% AMI is $122,160; and 140% AMI is $145,520.

Up to $100,000 assistance for households at or below 50% AMI or 80% AMI.

Up to $75,000 for households at or below 120% AMI or 140% AMI.

Florida residency: At least one year as a Florida resident.

Legal status: U.S. citizen or documented permanent resident (with two years of tax returns).

Credit and employment: Minimum 580 credit score; one year of satisfactory credit; two years of employment history (or equivalent for self-employed or retirees); recent college graduates may qualify with six months of in-field work.

Other requirements: Complete an approved eight-hour homebuyer education course; home must be existing site-built, condo, townhouse or post-June 1994 manufactured/modular; sales price between $130,000 minimum and $544,233 maximum (set quarterly based on median prices).

Mortgage: Conventional, FHA, VA or USDA; fixed 30-year term (38 years for USDA); rate capped at Fannie Mae 60-day rate plus 0.50%.

Other rules: Front-end debt ratio maximum 35% (exceptions possible); closing costs 6% or less of sales price; no cash back at closing; home inspection and required repairs (or $100 or more in recent licensed work) needed.

The assistance program aligns with the county’s efforts to promote affordable homeownership amid local market conditions, where median home values are around $270,000 to $275,000 according to recent data.

County officials recommend starting with an approved lender from the county’s list, which is available on the website or by phone. Get pre-approved, confirm eligibility and mention pursuit of the SHIP purchase assistance program. Once a participating lender completes pre-approval, the lender applies on the buyer’s behalf and submits the required financial documentation to Community Services for income qualification, according to Stephens.

For the most current details, including the approved lender list, or to apply, visit marionfl.org/agencies-departments/departments-facilities-offices/community-services or call (352) 671-8770.