Tamarac Offers Up to $85,000 in Assistance for First-Time Homebuyers in Florida

Starting Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time, the city of Tamarac in Broward County, Florida, will open applications for a program providing up to $85,000 in assistance for down payments and closing costs for first-time homebuyers.

According to the city’s announcement, applicants must meet income requirements and complete a homebuyer education course along with individual counseling before receiving the application link for the program.

Levels of Financial Assistance

The program offers three tiers of financial assistance based on the household's annual gross income and economic need: up to $85,000 for those earning no more than 50% of the area's median income (AMI); up to $75,000 for those between 50% and 80% of the AMI; and up to $40,000 for those earning between 80% and 120% of the AMI. The final tier is subject to municipal review and limited fund availability. Income limits vary depending on household size.

Eligible homes must be located within Tamarac and cannot exceed a purchase price of $568,577, whether they are new or existing properties.

A processing fee of $2,000 will be deducted from the granted assistance amount at closing.

Forgivable Loan Conditions

The municipal guidelines specify that assistance is provided through a 0% interest forgivable loan, secured by a second mortgage, and forgivable over 15 years. Recipients must occupy the home as their primary residence and maintain its homestead status for the duration, alongside other program conditions.

Failure to comply by selling, transferring, renting, vacating, withdrawing equity, or refinancing against municipal guidelines may result in having to repay the assistance as per the contract. This forgiveness option distinguishes the program from the state's Hometown Heroes initiative, which involves a non-forgivable second mortgage.

Criteria for Applicants

Generally, applicants and their spouses must not have owned a home in the past three years, with exceptions like displaced individuals from marital homes. Applicants cannot have defaulted on a mortgage in the past seven years.

Homebuyers must secure a fixed-rate primary mortgage and contribute at least 1% of the purchase price from their own funds, which must not originate from loans or gifts.

Those with over $40,000 in liquid assets are ineligible. Liquid assets include accounts accessible for withdrawal without penalty.

Required documentation includes identification, Social Security cards, and proof of citizenship for all household members, such as U.S. birth certificates, naturalization papers, or passports. Permanent resident cards are not listed; non-citizens should consult the Housing Division for applicable documentation and conditions.

Application Process

The initial step involves completing an eight-hour homebuyer course with a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. An individual financial counseling session with Oasis of Hope or Housing Foundation of America is also required. Upon completion, applicants receive a link to the Neighborly platform to submit their application.

The application package must include recent tax returns, income proof, bank statements for three months, a mortgage pre-approval letter, a purchase contract, and inspection and termite reports.

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, factoring in buyer readiness and complete documentation, until funds are exhausted or the program year ends. Once assistance is approved, home purchases must be completed within six months.

For inquiries, contact the Tamarac Housing Division at 954-597-3549 or via email at housing@tamarac.gov. They are available Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time.