Down payment assistance in Marion County / Ocala — what’s actually available right now (2026 update)
Full transparency up front: I'm a local mortgage lender here in Ocala, so take the source for what it is. Not pitching anything — there's just a lot of outdated info floating around on this, and the local program timing changed, so here's the current picture.
**1. Marion County SHIP Purchase Assistance (the local one)**
This is the big one people don't know about. It's down payment + closing cost help structured as a 0% interest, deferred second mortgage (no monthly payment — forgiven if you stay in the home). Depending on income tier it's been as high as $75K–$100K in assistance.
Important timing: as of right now it's ON HOLD — the county's housing page literally says "check back after July 1st." SHIP funding renews annually in July, and it's first-qualified, first-served with a waitlist. So the move is to get your pre-approval done now so you're ready to apply the day it reopens.
The basics (2025 rules, 2026 limits pending):
- First-time buyer, household income at or below 140% of area median
- 580+ credit score, 1+ yr FL residency
- Home in Marion County (city of Ocala included per the county)
- Must finish an approved homebuyer education class
- Plan for ~$3K–$4K out of pocket (inspection, appraisal, escrows)
Apply through a participating lender — the county keeps an approved-lender list on marionfl.org, and the housing office number is 352-671-8770.
**2. Florida Hometown Heroes (statewide)**
If the local one isn't a fit, this is the state program — up to 5% of your loan amount (max $35K) for down payment/closing costs, plus a reduced first-mortgage rate. Originally built for frontline workers, but it's since opened up to most income-qualified Florida buyers. Funding runs in cycles and can run dry, so check current availability before you bank on it.
**3. A couple of things worth knowing**
- These stack with FHA/VA/USDA first mortgages — and a chunk of Marion County is USDA-eligible (rural), which is its own 0%-down path.
- Don't put a home under contract assuming you're approved — both the lender and the county have to sign off first.
Happy to answer questions in the comments — no DMs needed, just ask here and I'll help where I can.