But don't worry—the Hometown Heroes loan program is here! The Hometown Heroes program provides home loans and grants for eligible community workforce. As part of this great program, there are also incentives for local veterans who have served honorably in Iraq or Afghanistan (and their spouses).
You may be wondering - What does it all mean? If you're eligible for this program and qualify for financial assistance through the VA Home Loan Program (or your spouse qualifies), you could qualify for up to $35,000 in grant money!
What is the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program?
Are you an eligible full-time workforce, employed by a Florida-based employer?
Because if you are an eligible community workers, or if you know someone who is—we've got some good news! You can now use the Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program in St. Johns County as part of your down payment assistance when purchasing your first home.
The loan program offers up to $35,000 assistance for income-qualified homebuyers purchasing their first homes in St. Johns County, Florida.
It's an excellent way for these families to get the help they need to build their new lives together. If you qualify for this loan program as a first-time homebuyer, you can use its funds to make your dream of homeownership come true.
What does this mean? You can use the Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program money to cover your down payment and closing costs when buying a home in St. Johns County. The program also offers a lower first mortgage rate and additional unique benefits.
Who is eligible for the Grant in St. Johns County, Florida?
In St. John County, if you're an eligible full-time community workforce, you may be eligible for the Hometown Heroes Housing program.
But don't get too excited just yet! There are some program financial limits you should know about. For starters, the maximum income limit is $132,750.
The maximum loan limit for FHA is $526,700, and the maximum loan limit for HFA Preferred, HFA Advantage, and VA loans is $726,200. USDA-RD does not have a Cap on Loan Limit.
How to Qualify for a Grant in St. Johns County?
If you're an eligible community workforce in St. Johns County, Florida, you're also fortunate enough to qualify for this grant. The Florida Housing and Finance Corporation controls the program.
However, you must meet specific requirements to qualify for this program in St John County, Florida. Here's how:
-
First, connect with a participating loan officer in St. Johns County who can help you find the best loan that suits your needs and goals.
-
Next, make sure your credit score meets or exceeds 640 points—you don't want to be turned down because of bad credit!
- Finally, provide VOE confirming employment of 35 hours a week or more with a Florida based employer and meet the income threshold in St. Johns County.
Florida Tax Exemption Benefits
One of the top benefits of using the Hometown Heroes Program is tax exemption, saving you thousands of dollars.
Under Section 420.513(1) of the Florida Statutes, this program provides an exemption from documentary stamp tax and intangible tax for first and second mortgages and notes used to secure loans for housing financed through Florida Housing's Homebuyer Programs.
This means that when you purchase a home through these programs, you won't have to pay the documentary stamp tax and intangible tax on your mortgage, saving you a substantial amount of money.
The Florida documentary stamp tax is a real estate transfer tax levied at a rate of $0.70 per $100 paid for the property in most counties, except Miami Dade, where it is $0.60 per $100.
With the Hometown Heroes Program, you can exclude this tax when you meet the program's criteria. Additionally, the Florida intangible tax, which is calculated at 2 mills per dollar of the note's just value secured by the mortgage, is also exempted.
For each $100,000 of your home purchase price, this exemption can potentially save you approximately $2,000 in documentary stamp tax and intangible tax.
Best Areas To Purchase A Home In St John County, Florida
It is usual for individuals to desire a home of their own. Whether looking for the perfect place for your retirement or your first place after graduating from college, buying a home is an exciting time.
However, if you want to buy your first home, it can be challenging to know where to start. We will help you hone in on your decision and find the best home for you and your family.
Check out these areas:
Nocatee
Nocatee is an idyllic suburb of Jacksonville with 14,747 and is one of Florida's best places to live. Living in Nocatee offers residents a sparse suburban feel, and most residents own their homes—which means you can maintain your property just how you like it.
Nocatee has many parks where residents can enjoy beautiful views of nature and wildlife while on walks or playing with their dogs!
Families are typical here, as are conservative values—which means that you'll see plenty of churches around town.
The public schools in Nocatee are highly rated, so if education is important to you, this might be the place for your kids!
St. Augustine South
St. Augustine South is a suburb of Jacksonville, but it's got a rural feel that makes it feel like home, even if you've never lived in the country before! Residents own their homes here—in fact, it's rare to see rentals here. And there are lots of parks for residents to enjoy.
The schools in St. Augustine South are above average; they have plenty of resources available to help students succeed while offering extracurricular activities like sports teams (recreational and competitive) and clubs that give kids opportunities to learn new skills.
Young professionals and retirees alike appreciate St. Augustine South because it offers affordable housing options and community amenities like local businesses (like restaurants), parks, churches, libraries, and more!
Fruit Cove
Located in St. Johns County, Florida, Fruit Cove has a population of 31,314 and is one of the most popular suburbs in Jacksonville. The majority of residents own their homes, which means that when your neighbors aren't at home, you can enjoy some quiet—and when they are home, you can still enjoy it!
Fruit Cove has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Florida because there are many excellent schools nearby, and residents tend to lean conservatively. You'll also find that Fruit Cove offers a rural feel with lots of green spaces and parks.
Villano Beach
If you're looking for a place that's a little more suburban but still close enough to the city that you can get your fix of urban excitement, Villano Beach might be the place for you. Here, residents enjoy a sparse suburban feel, and most own their homes.
Many young professionals live in Villano Beach, which is conservative but not too much. The public schools in Villano Beach are above average, and the community tends to be pretty friendly.
Sawgrass
Sawgrass is a part of the Jacksonville metropolitan area and has a population of around 4,841. Sawgrass is known for its large number of golf courses and luxury homes.
Residents have easy access to amenities like shopping centers and restaurants. It is also close to larger cities like Jacksonville, which offers more entertainment options.
Butler Beach
Butler Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean between Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach, making it an excellent place for those who love beachfront living or boating.
There are some gorgeous views from this area of Florida that you can only get from living near the ocean. There are many parks in this area if you have children or want to get away from it.
Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach, Florida, is a great place to buy a house. Sure, the homes are expensive, but you get what you pay for.
The median home value in Crescent Beach is $700k, and the average rent is about $2,000 per month. If that doesn't sound like a good deal, you don't understand how much value there is in living here.
Crescent Beach offers residents an urban feel, and most residents own their homes. Many retirees live in Crescent Beach, and residents tend to be conservative. The public schools in Crescent Beach are above average (some might say "very good" or even "excellent").
Hastings
Hastings is a great place to buy a house in St. Johns County.
It's an unincorporated town with a suburban rural feel, and most residents own their homes. Hastings is home to many young professionals and retirees who lean liberal. The public schools in Hastings are above average.
Palm Valley
Palm Valley is a suburb in Jacksonville with 21,292 people.
It's a great place to live if you're looking for that sparse suburban feel but still want easy access to Jacksonville, only 20 minutes away.
The kids will love the highly-rated public schools in Palm Valley, and you'll love the fact that most residents own their homes and tend to be conservative—so you know what kind of neighbors you're getting into!
Flagler Estates
If you're looking for a place to call home, look no further than Flagler Estates. This town has good schools, great neighbors, and a thriving community!
Flagler Estates is in St. Johns County, Florida, with 3,707 people. It's an ideal location for families with children—most residents own their homes and tend to be conservative. Many children attend the public schools in Flagler Estates, which are above average.
World Golf Village
The town of World Golf Village is located in the northwest corner of St. Johns County and is bounded by the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway on the east and west, respectively. The average price of homes in this neighborhood is $475,000, and residents tend to be wealthy.
The public schools in World Golf Village are highly rated, with an average graduation rate of over 90%. The student population consists of mostly white students with a small percentage of African American and Hispanic students.
Living in World Golf Village offers residents a sparse suburban feel, and most residents own their homes. Many families live here, and residents tend to lean conservative.
Buying A Home in Northern Florida? Your Guide to the Perks of Living in St. Johns County, Florida
You're probably wondering why you should buy a home in St. Johns County. And that's a fair question! There are tons of places to live in Florida, after all.
But we think that St. Johns County is the best place to live—and not just because it has a $25k grant program (which we'll explain above ).
We also think it's the best place to live because of its residents: friendly people who love their community and are happy to share it with newcomers.
We know what you're thinking - How can you possibly know that? We've been living here for years, and we've met some of the most welcoming people around (including our team).
So if you're considering buying a home in St. Johns County—we'd love to help you get started by telling you about some of the things we idolize about this county:
Reasonable Cost Of Living
The cost of living in St. Johns County is very reasonable, especially compared with other areas of Florida. The median home value is $507,000—and if you're paying off student loans or other debt, this could be much lower than what you'd find in other parts of the state.
For example, Miami-Dade County has a median home value of $525,000, and Orange County's is $1,000,000. All two counties have higher housing costs than St. Johns County does.
Better Private And Public Schools
One of the best reasons to move to St John is its public and private schools.
The public school system is top-notch, which means your children will get an excellent education with great teachers who care about their students' success. You will also enjoy having access to activities such as sports teams, clubs, dances, and more!
The private schools in St John are equally impressive because they offer smaller class sizes, so your child will receive more attention from teachers who care about their success in school and their personal growth outside of it!
St. Johns County Is A Great Place For Families
With its miles of beautiful beaches, stunning wildlife, and natural attractions, St. Johns County is a fantastic place to live.
Families can enjoy the sunshine year-round and take advantage of an incredible school system that offers various sports programs and art and music classes.
Young Professionals Can Get New Beginnings Here
Young professionals can take advantage of the many available opportunities in this area.
Whether you're looking for work in finance or computers, plenty of companies here offer excellent benefits packages and exciting work environments.
Retirees Can Find A Great Community Here
Retirees will also love how much there is to do here; from taking a stroll through one of the many museums or galleries to enjoying a show at one of our theaters (such as The AMC Orange park 24), there are plenty of things for retirees to enjoy during their golden years!
All Saint Johns County Cities
Cities, towns, neighborhoods, and other populated places in Saint Johns County, Florida.
- Elkton
- Hastings
- Ponte Vedra
- Ponte Vedra Beach
- Saint Augustine
- Saint Johns
- Crescent Beach
- Flagler Estates
- Fruit Cove
- Hastings
- Marineland
- Palm Valley
- Sawgrass
- Saint Augustine Beach*
- Saint Augustine Shores
- Saint Augustine South
- World Golf Village
Other populated places:
- Amity Anchorage MH Park
- Anastasia
- Araquey
- Armstrong
- Bakersville
- Bass Haven
- Beachwood Trailer Park
- Bernards Trailer Park
- Blacks Ford
- Breeze Trailer Park
- Breezy Brae MH Park
- Brentwood MH Park
- Byrd
- Casa Cola
- Cedar Landing
- College Park
- Coquina Crossing MH Park
- Coquina Gables
- Coquina Oaks MH
- Davis Shores
- Dimarco Trailer Park
- Dobbs MH Park
- Dupont Center
- Durbin
- Easy Street MH Park
- El Rey Residential Court
- Elkton
- Elwood
- Florence
- Fort Matanzas
- Fort Peyton
- Frog Hollow Court MH Park
- Gaines MH Park
- Gopher Ridge
- Graceland MH Park
- Hidden Oaks MH Park
- Hilden
- Hill Creek MH Park
- Hilltop MH Park
- Kingsley MH Park
- Lane Landing
- Lazy C MH Park
- Meldrim Park
- Mickler Landing
- Molasses Junction
- Moultrie
- Moultrie Junction
- Moultrie Oaks MH Park
- Newts Trailer Park
- Orangedale
- Palm Valley Landing
- Palmo
- Picolata
- Pine Bluff
- Ponte Vedra
- Ponte Vedra Beach
- Riverdale
- Saint Augustine Family Park MH Park
- Saint Johns
- Sampson
- Saybrook
- Sea Horse Retirees MH Park
- Seven Pines MH Park
- Shady Pines II MH Park
- Siesta MH Park
- South Ponte Vedra Beach
- Southgate MH Park
- Spanish Trail MH Park
- Spuds
- Summer Haven
- Switzerland
- Taylor MH Park
- Tocoi
- Twentymile
- Usina Beach
- Vermont Heights
- Vilano Beach
- Whispering Oaks Gardens MH Park
- Whites Ford
- Woodlawn
Conclusion
Frequently, consumers who want to be able to become homeowners soon enough do not have the financial resources needed to own their very own homes.
First-time homeowners are typically stressed out about the entire process and exploring how to get things started for their future.
The Hometown Heroes Loan Program in St. Johns County, Florida, can make things easier when getting your new home sooner than later.
