The city of Tamarac, in Broward County, Florida, will open applications on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time, for a program offering up to $85,000 in assistance for down payment and closing costs for a first home.
According to the municipal announcement, buyers must meet income requirements and complete a preparation course and individual counseling before receiving the link to apply for assistance.
How much money can be received?
The financial conditions of the program establish three levels based on the household's gross annual income and economic need: up to $85,000 for those who do not exceed 50% of the area median income, known as AMI; up to $75,000 for those within the range above 50% and up to 80%; and up to $40,000 for those above 80% and up to 120%.
The final section is subject to municipal review and limited fund availability. Income limits vary depending on the number of household members.
The residence must be located within Tamarac, and its price cannot exceed 568,577 dollars. It may be either a new or existing property.
At the time of purchase, 2,000 dollars for processing will be deducted from the amount of the assistance granted.
A forgivable loan with obligations
The municipal buyer's guide explains that the assistance is provided through a 0% interest loan, forgivable after 15 years and secured by a second mortgage. The beneficiary must occupy it as their primary residence and maintain its status as a homestead for tax purposes for the duration of the 15 years, as well as meet the other program requirements.
Selling, transferring, or renting the property, ceasing to live in it, withdrawing capital from the property, or refinancing in a way that contradicts municipal regulations may result in the obligation to repay the assistance in accordance with the contract.
This possibility of forgiveness sets it apart from the state program Hometown Heroes, whose assistance is structured as a second mortgage that is not forgiven.
Requirements for Buyers
As a general rule, the applicant and their spouse must not have owned a home or been homeowners in the last three years. The city allows for specific exceptions, including some cases of individuals displaced from their marital home. Additionally, having defaulted on a mortgage in the past seven years is not permitted.
Buyers must obtain a fixed-rate mortgage and contribute at least 1% of the contract price with personal funds. That money cannot come from loans or gifts.
Those with more than $40,000 in monetary assets are excluded. The guide includes in this category the accounts that the household has access to and from which they can withdraw funds without penalty.
The official list of documents requires identification, Social Security cards, and proof of citizenship for all household members. Among the documents listed to verify citizenship are U.S. birth certificates, naturalization certificates, or passports.
The list does not mention the permanent resident card. Those who are not U.S. citizens should consult with the Housing Division regarding what documentation and conditions apply to their situation.
How to submit the application
The first step is to complete an eight-hour course for buyers with a housing counseling agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
An individual financial counseling session with Oasis of Hope or Housing Foundation of America is also required. After completing it, a link to the Neighborly platform will be provided to submit the application.
The file requires, among other documents, tax returns for the past two years, recent proof of income, three months of bank statements, a mortgage pre-approval letter, a purchase agreement, and property inspection reports, including a termite inspection.
Requests are processed in the order they are received, according to the buyer's readiness and the submission of the complete file, until the funds are exhausted or the program year ends. Once the assistance is approved, the purchase must be completed within the following six months.
For inquiries, the Tamarac Housing Division publishes the phone number 954-597-3549 and the email housing@tamarac.gov. It is open from Monday to Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time.
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