Your Tampa home could be closer than you think.
The City of Tampa and the Tampa CRA help income-eligible first-time buyers with a 0% interest, no-payment loan toward their down payment. Here's everything you need to know, plus a quick way to see what you may qualify for.
A "silent second" that sits quietly behind your mortgage
The assistance is a Deferred Payment Loan recorded behind your regular mortgage. There's no interest and no monthly payment. It stays "silent" as long as the home is your primary residence, and after 20 years it's fully forgiven.
AMI = Area Median Income, based on your total household income and household size. Amounts effective 11/15/2024 for both programs.
Dare to Own the Dream & Tampa CRA
Both programs offer the same assistance amounts. The big difference is where you buy and a few financial limits.
Dare to Own the Dream
Run by the City of Tampa Housing & Community Development. Buy a home anywhere inside Tampa city limits.
- Purchase price up to $450,000
- Maximum liquid assets of $20,000
- You invest at least $2,000, with $1,000 or more from your own verifiable funds
- Forgivable after 20 years of owner occupancy
Tampa CRA
Run by the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency. Buy a home inside one of Tampa's CRA districts.
- No maximum purchase price
- You invest at least $1,000 of your own verifiable funds
- At closing, the $1,000 can be shown through items paid outside closing, gift funds and/or earnest money
- Forgivable after 20 years of owner occupancy plus post-purchase education
| Requirement | Dare to Own the Dream | Tampa CRA |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can buy | Anywhere in Tampa city limits | Inside a Tampa CRA district |
| Assistance | Up to $50,000 | Up to $50,000 |
| Household income | 50.01% to 140% AMI | 50.01% to 140% AMI |
| Max purchase price | $450,000 | No maximum |
| Max liquid assets | $20,000 | Not listed on program flyer |
| Your minimum investment | $2,000 ($1,000+ your own funds) | $1,000 of your own funds |
| Credit & debt | 600 mid-score, 50% max back-end DTI | 600 mid-score, 50% max back-end DTI |
| Loan types | FHA, VA, Conventional Affordable. No ARMs. | FHA, VA, Conventional Affordable. No ARMs. |
| Inspections | Independent home inspection + City HQS inspection | Independent home inspection + City HQS inspection |
| Forgiveness | After 20 years, owner occupied | After 20 years, owner occupied + post-purchase education |
See what you may qualify for
Answer a few questions for an instant estimate. Nothing is saved or sent. It's just a starting point before we talk.
Count everyone in the home who earns income, not just the person on the loan.
Enter your household income to see your estimate.
Estimate only, based on 2026 HUD and State income limits (effective 5/1/2026) and the published program rules. Final eligibility is determined by the housing counseling agency, your lender and the City of Tampa.
Find your household's range
Pick your household size to see the income ranges and the assistance each one can receive. Effective 5/1/2026.
How the process works
Register with me
Fill out the quick form below. I'll call you to walk through both programs, answer questions and map out your plan.
Start with a counseling agency
Contact one of the four approved housing counseling agencies. They provide homebuyer education, complete your application and collect your documents.
Get your reservation number
Once approved, the agency issues a reservation number. This must happen before you sign any purchase contract.
Get pre-approved
Work with a loan officer on the City's approved lender list. FHA, VA and Conventional Affordable loans qualify. Adjustable-rate loans do not.
Shop & write an offer
We find the right home in the City of Tampa or a CRA district, then write a strong offer with the program timelines built in.
Inspect & close
You'll complete an independent home inspection and the City's HQS inspection must pass. Then we close and you get your keys.
Where CRA assistance applies
For the Tampa CRA program, the home must be inside one of these ten community redevelopment districts. CRA funding can vary by district, so send me any address and I'll confirm it for you.
Tampa CRA program page → Dare to Own the Dream program page →
Approved housing counseling agencies
Your application starts with one of these four agencies. They offer homebuyer education in English and Spanish.
Housing & Education Alliance
9215 N. Florida Ave., Ste. 104
Tampa, FL 33612
R.E.A.C.H.
Real Estate Education & Community Housing
4006 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL 33611
Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing Services
608 N. Garden Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33755
Frequently asked questions
Do I ever have to pay the assistance back?
The loan has 0% interest and no monthly payment, and it's fully forgiven after 20 years as long as the home stays your primary residence (CRA also requires post-purchase education). If the home stops being your primary residence before then, the loan no longer stays "silent." Your counseling agency and lender will walk you through the exact terms before you sign anything.
Which program is right for me?
If the home is inside a CRA district, the Tampa CRA program has no purchase price cap. Anywhere else in the City of Tampa, Dare to Own the Dream applies, with a $450,000 price limit and a $20,000 liquid asset limit. I'll help you compare based on the homes you're looking at.
How is my income counted?
It's based on total household income, meaning everyone living in the home who earns income, not just the person applying for the loan. Your household size and income place you in an AMI range that sets your assistance amount.
What credit score do I need?
Both programs require a middle credit score of 600 and a back-end debt-to-income ratio no higher than 50%. There's no front-end ratio limit.
How much of my own money do I need?
Dare to Own the Dream requires at least $2,000 from you, with at least $1,000 from your own verifiable funds (the rest can include costs like the appraisal and inspection). Tampa CRA requires at least $1,000 of your own funds at reservation, and at closing that $1,000 can be shown through items paid outside closing, gift funds and/or your earnest money deposit.
Can I use any lender or agent?
No. You must use a loan officer and real estate agent from the City's current approved lists. I'm an approved REALTOR® for both Dare to Own the Dream and Tampa CRA, and I can connect you with approved lenders.
What loan types are allowed?
Fixed, fully amortized FHA, VA and Conventional Affordable Housing products. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are not allowed.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
The programs are designed for income-eligible first-time homebuyers. If you're not sure whether you count, register and we'll sort it out with your counseling agency.
*Assistance amount depends on household income, eligibility, property location and available funding. The assistance is a deferred payment loan; forgiveness requires continued owner occupancy and program compliance. Buyers must begin with an approved housing counseling agency and receive a reservation number BEFORE signing a purchase contract. CRA funding varies by district and availability must be confirmed. Approval is not guaranteed. Program details are summarized from City of Tampa and Tampa CRA program materials and are subject to change; the City of Tampa and Tampa CRA make all eligibility and funding decisions. Carmine Petruzziello, REALTOR®, C&E Homes Real Estate Team, The Somerday Group. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Register for down payment assistance
Fill out the form below and I'll personally reach out within one business day. No cost and no obligation.
Approved REALTOR® for the City of Tampa Dare to Own the Dream and Tampa CRA programs.
516-838-0038 Or text "TAMPA" to get started →- Email: Carmine@cehomestampa.com
- Brokerage: C&E Homes | The Somerday Group
- Serving: Tampa, Hillsborough, Pinellas & Pasco
- Specialties: First-time buyers, military & veterans, relocation
- I reach out personallyWithin one business day, by your preferred method.
- We map out your planWhich program fits, your estimated assistance and your budget.
- I connect you with the right peopleAn approved counseling agency and an approved lender.
- We go find your homeOnce you have your reservation number, we shop and write your offer.
Register for Down Payment Assistance
Dare to Own the Dream and Tampa CRA programs. Up to $50,000 for eligible first-time buyers. No cost, no obligation.
Our team of professionals will be with you every step of the way, from preparing your home for the sale, to handing the keys to the new buyer.