Down Payment Assistance

First-Time Home Buyer Grants in Florida: What Actually Exists, What It Covers, and What It Doesn't

Douglas Wilkerson

Published on: 24/10/2026

Florida first-time buyer 'grants' explained honestly: FL Assist's $10,000 deferred loan, Hometown Heroes up to $35,000, the 5% forgivable PLUS second, and why Jacksonville's H2H program is closed right now.

first-time home buyer grants floridaflorida assistflorida hometown heroesdown payment assistance jacksonvillefl hlp second mortgagehfa preferred plush2h jacksonville closedfirst-time buyer programs

Down Payment Assistance in Florida: The Honest Fine Print Behind Hometown Heroes

Douglas Wilkerson

Published on: 30/09/2026

Florida's Hometown Heroes offers up to $35,000 in down payment help — but it's a loan, not a grant. The honest fine print: who qualifies, what it costs, and when it comes due.

florida down payment assistancehometown heroes programflorida hometown heroes 2026deferred second mortgagefirst time homebuyer floridadown payment assistance vs grant640 credit score home loanflorida housing finance corporation

Private Credit Default Rate Hit a Record 6.3% — What Homebuyers Should Actually Know

Douglas Wilkerson

Published on: 29/09/2026

Private credit defaults hit a record 6.3% in August 2026, with redemption gates spreading across the industry. Here's what that means for homebuyers — and why your mortgage is a different animal. By Douglas Wilkerson, Mortgage Broker.

private creditprivate credit default rateBDC non-accrual loansdirect lendingredemption gatescredit tighteningmortgage rates 2026fixed-rate mortgageshome equity

Housing Market Frozen, Not Broken: The Real Story Behind 7% Mortgage Rates

Douglas Wilkerson

Published on: 29/09/2026

Mortgage rates above 7% have frozen home sales — but not broken them. With $34.1 trillion in equity, fixed-rate mortgages, and delinquencies near historic lows, this is a volume problem, not a credit problem.

housing market 2026mortgage rates above 7 percenthome price forecasthousing affordabilityfirst-time homebuyer tipsfixed-rate mortgagehomeowner equitymortgage delinquency rateshousing inventorynew construction homes