Let’s be honest: buying a home in Tamarac—or anywhere in Broward County right now—is a major financial undertaking. While many buyers focus entirely on the monthly mortgage payment, the biggest hurdle often isn’t the monthly bill; it’s the upfront cash. Between the down payment and closing costs, you could be looking at tens of thousands of dollars just to get the keys.
The good news is that if you are buying a home in Tamarac, you have access to some of the most robust assistance layers in the region. Unlike some municipalities that rely solely on county funds, Tamarac has its own dedicated pots of money alongside County and State options.
However, it is important to understand what this money actually is. These programs typically provide “gap financing.” It isn’t usually a free check you cash at the bank; it’s often a silent second mortgage that bridges the gap between what the bank will lend you and what the home costs. The best part? If you stay in the home long enough, many of these loans are completely forgiven.
City of Tamarac Purchase Assistance Program
If you are looking for the most substantial aid, you should start with the City of Tamarac itself. The city operates its own State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs. Because the city manages these funds directly, the dollar amounts available can be significantly higher than standard county-wide programs.
Here is how the numbers generally break down. The program offers a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage to help cover your down payment and closing costs. “Deferred” means you do not make monthly payments on this loan. Instead, it sits silently in the background.
Funding Tiers: The amount you can receive depends on your income category:
- Very Low Income: Assistance up to $85,000.
- Low Income: Assistance up to $75,000.
- Moderate Income: Assistance up to $40,000.
If you live in the home for the full term—typically 15 years—the loan is forgiven and satisfied. You essentially earn equity by staying put. However, if you sell, rent out the property, or refinance specifically to take cash out before those 15 years are up, you will likely have to repay the assistance.
You also need to have some “skin in the game.” The city requires buyers to contribute at least 1% of the contract sales price from their own funds. Additionally, there are caps on how much the house can cost. Historically, the maximum purchase price has hovered around $382,194, though this limit often adjusts upward to match HUD limits (potentially up to $450,000), so you must verify the current cap when you apply.
Who Qualifies for Tamarac City Assistance?
Money this good comes with strict rules. The City of Tamarac Housing Division wants to ensure these funds go to people who will put down roots and contribute to the community long-term.
First and foremost, you must be a first-time homebuyer. In the world of government grants, this is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years. There are exceptions to this rule, primarily for displaced homemakers or single parents who may have only owned a home jointly with a former spouse.
Income Limits: Your total household income generally must be under 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For context, the AMI for Broward County is approximately $96,200 for a family of four (as of recent 2024/25 figures). This means a moderate-income household could earn over six figures and still potentially qualify, depending on household size.
Mortgage and Residency: The city is conservative about the type of financing you use. You must secure a fixed-rate first mortgage from an approved lender. Risky loan products, such as Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) or loans with prepayment penalties, are not allowed. Furthermore, this must be your primary residence. You cannot use these funds to buy an investment property to rent out.
Broward County Housing Finance Authority Programs
If the City of Tamarac funds are exhausted for the year, or if you don’t fit their specific criteria, you can look at the broader Broward County housing market programs. The Broward County Housing Finance Authority offers its own Homebuyer Purchase Assistance (HPA) program.
This program can offer up to $80,000 in assistance, operating similarly to the city’s program as a deferred second loan. However, there is a catch for Tamarac residents. Because Tamarac receives its own SHIP funds directly from the state, the County sometimes marks Tamarac as a “No Funds” area for county-level down payment assistance to avoid double-dipping. You must always check with the County Housing Finance Division to see if their funds are currently active for properties within Tamarac city limits.
Even if direct down payment help isn’t available through the county, you might look into the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). This is not a loan; it is a federal tax credit. It allows you to claim a percentage of your annual mortgage interest as a direct tax credit rather than just a deduction. This reduces your federal income tax liability dollar-for-dollar, effectively freeing up more of your income to pay the mortgage.
Florida Hometown Heroes & Statewide Options
For those who serve the community, the state of Florida offers the Hometown Heroes program. This has become one of the most popular assistance vehicles in the state because it is less restrictive regarding which municipality you buy in.
Key Program Features:
- Assistance Amount: You can receive up to 5% of your total loan amount, capped at $35,000.
- Target Audience: Originally designed for frontline workers (nurses, police, teachers), the program has evolved. While 2026 updates may refine eligible occupations, it remains a vital resource for full-time workers employed by Florida-based businesses and veterans.
- Repayment Terms: Like the local programs, this is a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage. You do not pay it back until you sell the home, refinance, or move out.
The biggest challenge with Hometown Heroes is funding availability. The state usually allocates a funding pool (often between $50 million and $100 million) starting July 1st. Because demand is so high across the state, these funds can be depleted rapidly—sometimes within months. If you are interested, you need to have your lender ready to reserve funds the moment the window opens.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply in Tamarac
Navigating bureaucracy takes patience. You generally cannot just sign a contract and ask for money later; the assistance must be part of the process from the start.
- Get Educated Before you do anything else, sign up for an 8-hour homebuyer education course. This must be a HUD-approved class. Almost every government assistance program requires this certificate before you can close.
- Get Pre-Approved with the Right Lender Not all mortgage officers know how to process these loans. You need a lender who is familiar with the City of Tamarac Housing Division’s specific paperwork. If your lender messes up the submission package, you could lose the funding.
- Check the Calendar Assistance funds are cyclical. The City of Tamarac often opens enrollment for its assistance program during specific windows (for example, in June). If you miss the window, you may have to wait for the next fiscal cycle.
- Submit and Inspect Once you are under contract and within an enrollment window, your lender will submit your package to the City. Be prepared for a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. The city will send an inspector to ensure the home is safe and up to code. If the home has major issues, they must be fixed before funds are released, which can complicate buying “fixer-uppers.”
Bonus: Help After You Buy (Residential Assistance)
One unique aspect of living in Tamarac is that the support doesn’t necessarily end at the closing table. The city recognizes that staying in a home is just as important as buying one.
Tamarac offers a Residential Assistance Program for current homeowners who experience a temporary financial hardship. If you lose a job or face a medical emergency, eligible residents can apply for one-time assistance (up to $5,000) to help pay mortgage payments, HOA fees, or special assessments.
Additionally, for homeowners who have lived in Tamarac for a while—specifically low-income seniors—there are Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation grants. These funds help cover critical repairs like new roofs, impact windows, or HVAC replacements, ensuring that rising maintenance costs don’t force established residents out of their homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in many cases, you can “stack” programs. For example, you might use the Hometown Heroes program for your down payment and City funds for closing costs, provided you do not exceed the total need of the transaction. However, lenders have specific rules about combined loan-to-value ratios, so you must work with a knowledgeable loan officer to structure this correctly.
Most programs cap eligibility at 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). While this number changes annually, for a family of four in Broward County, the limit is typically around $115,000 to $120,000 (depending on the specific program year data). Households earning below 80% or 50% of the AMI often qualify for larger amounts of funding.
It depends on how long you stay. Most of these programs are structured as deferred loans that are forgiven over time (often 15 years). If you live in the home for the full term, the loan is wiped clean. If you sell or refinance before that term ends, you will have to repay the balance from your sale proceeds.
Yes. The funds provided by the City of Tamarac’s SHIP and HOME programs can be applied to both the down payment and closing costs. Since closing costs in Florida can easily run 3% to 4% of the purchase price, having these funds available is often the difference between closing the deal and walking away.
Absolutely. Veterans are eligible for the Florida Hometown Heroes program, which offers some of the most flexible terms for down payment assistance. Additionally, veterans can pair these assistance programs with a VA loan, which already offers 100% financing, essentially allowing a veteran to buy a home with almost zero out-of-pocket expense.
