Salute Our Soldiers Florida 2026: Up to $35,000 for Military Homebuyers in Tampa Bay

If you have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military, Florida has a mortgage program built specifically for you — and most Tampa Bay veterans have never heard of it.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation's Salute Our Soldiers Military Loan Program provides active-duty military members and honorably discharged veterans with up to 5% of their loan amount — capped at $35,000 — as a 0% interest deferred second mortgage. No monthly payments. No interest accruing. The only repayment trigger is selling the home, refinancing the first mortgage, or moving out as your primary residence.

In a Tampa Bay market where closing costs and prepaid items routinely run $8,000–$14,000 on a $350,000–$400,000 purchase, that kind of assistance changes the math entirely.

What exactly is the Salute Our Soldiers program?

Salute Our Soldiers is a state-run program administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC). The same agency that runs Hometown Heroes and the FL Assist program.

The program does two things:

1. First mortgage: A 30-year fixed-rate loan at a competitive below-market rate, originated through FHFC-approved lenders
2. Second mortgage: Up to 5% of the first mortgage amount (max $35,000) at 0% interest, with no monthly payments, deferred until sale, refinance, or departure from the home

Unlike some DPA programs that are grants, the second mortgage does require repayment — but the $0 interest means the same dollars you borrow are the same dollars you repay. No cost of capital. No compounding. Just a zero-interest loan that comes due when you exit the property.

Who qualifies for Salute Our Soldiers in Florida?

Eligibility is built around your military service status:

• Currently serving on active duty with any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Must meet the first-time homebuyer definition: no primary residence ownership in the past three years
• Income must fall within program limits (see below)

• Honorably discharged from any branch
• No first-time buyer requirement — you can currently own property and still qualify
• Income must fall within program limits

• Dishonorable discharge
• Other-than-honorable conditions in most cases (consult your lender)
• National Guard / Reserve members on inactive status not meeting VA service requirements

A minimum credit score of 640 is required by most participating lenders.

How much assistance can you actually get?

The DPA amount is calculated as a percentage of your first mortgage loan amount, up to a maximum:

For VA loans with zero down payment, the calculation is based on the full purchase price loan amount, which often reaches closer to the $35,000 ceiling for homes priced above $700,000.

In most Tampa Bay transactions with a VA loan on a $350,000–$500,000 home, the Salute Our Soldiers DPA covers the entire VA funding fee plus all closing costs.

How does Salute Our Soldiers work with a VA loan?

Pairing a VA loan with Salute Our Soldiers is the most powerful combination this program offers, and it works like this:

• $0 down payment required
• No private mortgage insurance (PMI), ever
• Competitive interest rates backed by the VA guarantee

• Covers the VA funding fee (1.25%–3.3% of the loan amount)
• Covers lender fees, title insurance, prepaids, and escrow setup
• Brings your total out-of-pocket cost to near-zero on most transactions

• VA funding fee (2.15%): $8,170
• Estimated closing costs: $6,500
• Total out-of-pocket without DPA: $14,670
• Salute Our Soldiers DPA (5% of $380,000): $19,000
• Remaining out-of-pocket: $0

Veterans rated 10% or more service-connected disabled are exempt from the VA funding fee entirely, which makes this combination even stronger — the full $19,000 (in the example above) goes entirely to closing costs and cash reserves.

For a deeper look at how VA loans work in the Tampa Bay market and which lenders specialize in military buyers, visit VA Loan Tampa Bay.

How does Salute Our Soldiers compare to Hometown Heroes?

Both programs are run by Florida Housing and offer up to $35,000 in DPA. Here is how they differ:

In most cases, veterans qualify for both programs but can only use one per transaction. Your loan officer should model both scenarios to determine which produces better net savings given your specific loan amount and purchase price.

For a full comparison of DPA programs available in Tampa Bay, visit Tampa Bay Down Payment.

What are the income and purchase price limits?

Income limits are set at approximately 140% of Area Median Income by county. For 2026:

• Hillsborough County: ~$140,000–$168,000 depending on household size
• Pinellas County: ~$136,000–$163,000 depending on household size
• Pasco County: ~$128,000–$154,000 depending on household size

Purchase price limits align with FHA loan limits and FHFC program caps. For Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties, the 2026 limits allow purchases up to approximately $700,000–$750,000 under the program.

Always confirm current limits with an FHFC-approved lender — these figures are updated annually and mid-year adjustments are possible.

What does the application process look like?

1. Find an FHFC-approved lender. Not every mortgage company participates. You need a lender on the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's approved list to access this program.

1. Complete a homebuyer education course. A HUD-approved homebuyer education certificate is required for all Salute Our Soldiers borrowers. Online courses through FHFC-approved providers take 4–8 hours and cost $50–$100. For more on what this involves, see our homebuyer education certificate guide.

1. Get pre-approved with your COE. Your Certificate of Eligibility confirms VA entitlement for VA loan stacking. Your lender can pull this electronically. For non-VA options (FHA or conventional), standard pre-approval documentation applies.

1. Make your offer. Sellers see a conventional pre-approval letter — the DPA is a back-end layering that does not change how your offer reads to a seller.

1. Close. The DPA funds arrive at the closing table, reducing the cash you bring. In many VA transactions, you bring nothing.

Can you stack Salute Our Soldiers with county DPA programs?

In some cases, yes. Stacking rules depend on the specific county or municipal program. Hillsborough County's SHIP program, for example, may have restrictions on layering with FHFC programs. Pinellas County's $75,000 DPA has its own stacking rules.

The key is working with a loan officer experienced in stacking multiple assistance sources — someone who knows which programs allow layering and how to sequence the applications to keep all funding active. For a broader look at how to layer programs effectively, see our guide on FHA loan stacking in Tampa Bay.

How do you get started in Tampa Bay?

The Salute Our Soldiers program is available throughout Florida, including all of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Every base near Tampa Bay — MacDill AFB, Macdill's tenant commands, and veterans who've settled throughout the metro — is within the program's service area.

If you are a veteran or active-duty service member looking to buy your first (or next) Tampa Bay home, call (813) 733-7907 to speak with a buyer's agent who has worked alongside military families in this market for over 23 years. We will connect you with an FHFC-approved lender, walk you through the Salute Our Soldiers requirements, and help you determine whether to stack it with a VA loan, Hometown Heroes, or county DPA for maximum benefit.

Your service has earned you more than most buyers ever get. Use it.