Apply for First-Time Homebuyer Program

Step 1.Check Eligibility

Eligible Properties:

• Single Family Residences; townhomes, condominiums
• Property must be located in the City of Miami; You can search property addresses by using the County Property Appraiser’s website at www.miamidade.gov/Apps/PA/propertysearch. If your property is in the City of Miami, the folio number will begin with "01". 
• Property must meet Housing Quality Standards as per HUD.  

Eligible Buyers:

• Must not have owned a home in the past 3 years;
• Household income less than or equal to 80% of the area median income adjusted for family size.  View income chart.
• Must be able to afford a monthly payment based on income and debt.
• Must contribute at least $500 of personal funds towards down payment / closing costs.

Maximum Sales Price of the Home: 

• Existing homes $451,000; New construction homes: $451,000 (Effective September 1, 2024)

Step 2.Pick-up/Download Application

Pick up an application for the First-Time Homebuyer Program at the Department of Housing & Community Development or request one by calling 305-416-2080 or via e-mail below.

Request Application - Your application will be turned in by the lender as part of your larger package (below). 

Step 3.Gather Documents

Gather all documents necessary. You are responsible for the documents to be provided by applicant, while the lender is responsible for their portion of the checklist.

View Document Checklist

Step 4.Attend Workshop

Attend a Homebuyer Counseling workshop with one of our approved agencies.

Step 5.Contact Lender

Contact a participating lender to obtain a loan commitment and to be pre-qualified for a mortgage loan, subject to the City's down payment amount. 

Step 6.Identify the Property You Intend to Buy

Search for a home in the City of Miami based on your pre-approved loan amount and within the maximum sales price limit (For existing homes and new construction homes: $394,000). 

TIP: Be sure the property is in City limits. Do a Dade-County property search. After entering the address, check the folio number and be sure it begins with the number "01".  If your desired property is not in the City of Miami, you will not get a loan. 

Step 7.Secure Mortgage Commitment

Once you have confirmed a lender (see above), they will need to provide you with a full mortgage commitment. 

Step 8.Submit Documents

• After you've completed your First-Time Homebuyer Program application, gathered all of your documents (above), you will need to do supply them to your lender.  
• Your lender will then submit all of your documents (as well as their required documents) as a loan package to the City.

Step 1.Resale Restrictions

If the owner sells and/ or transfer the house before the end of the City's mortgage term, the following provisions will apply:

• The borrower will be required to repay the original amount given as assistance.  
• For any "early" sale or transfer, the City shall share in any gain realized, based on its pro-rated share of participation in the original purchase. Furthermore, if the sale occurs within the first 3 years, the City shall keep 100% of its pro-rated share of the "gain", from year 3 up to year 20, the City's share of its pro-rated "gain" shall decrease by 5% every year, while in turn, the owner's share shall increase by 5% each year. At year 20 up to the City's loan maturity, the owner shall retain 100% of the City's gain'.  
• This above share gain proposal terminates in the event of a foreclosure, with the lender required to provide the City the right of first refusal to purchase the loan at a negotiated price. In the case of a foreclosure, the City will recapture any amount of net proceeds available for the sale of the property.

Step 2.First Mortgage Restrictions

• Term of the loan must be 30 years; fixed interest rate & cannot exceed more than 150 basis points over Freddie Mac's weekly average 30-year rate, as published in the Primary Mortgage Market Survey ("PMMS"); no prepayment penalties; Total percentage charged for Discount, Origination & Broker fees must not exceed 2 points; all other lending fees must be reasonable and cannot exceed $500 or 0.5% of the loan amount, whichever is greater.  

Step 3.Other Restrictions

• Applicant must reside in purchased unit at all times.