Florida First & Florida Advantage Help Qualify You For Down Payment Assistance Programs

January 30, 2019 By Dawn

If you’re in the process of buying a home and need down payment assistance, you should know that the State of Florida might have a program that can help you finally become a homeowner! Thanks to Florida Housing, there are a handful of programs to help homebuyers. Two of the most utilized and appreciated programs that people in Florida use are the Florida First program and the Florida Advantage program. Both of these can help buyers automatically qualify for down payment assistance programs.

Florida First

The Florida First program offered by Florida Housing is a means to get a low 30-year fixed-rate on your first mortgage, if you’re a qualified borrower. It isn’t a down payment assistance program, but it does automatically qualify you for one of the state’s down payment assistance programs. So, Florida First is a wonderful place to start, if you need down payment assistance. Plus, it may qualify you for an outstanding affordable mortgage.

Florida Advantage

The Florida Advantage program offered by Florida Housing can help you if you intend to buy a home in an area designated as rural. Keep in mind, the definition of rural is quite broad. So, it is worth looking into, even if you don’t think the home you’re interested in qualifies as rural. This program helps self-help buyers or buyers with at least one disabled family member. To qualify, you also need to be at or below 80% of AMI adjusted for household size. If you do, you also would qualify for the Florida Assist down payment assistance.

Are You Buying a Home on Marco Island?

Considering buying a home on Marco Island? We’d love to help you find one that’s just right for your needs.

First, check out available Marco Island area properties using this helpful search tool. If it’s easier, you can just call us at 239-821-7926 or get in touch with us online to let us know what you’re looking for. We’re happy to contact you however you prefer. Then, we’ll start searching our databases right away using criteria you specify!

In the meantime, you can also easily explore Marco Island real estate by price:

Also, to stay current on the latest listing and community events, connect with your Marco Island area expert on Facebook or Twitter!

How Do I Search For An Elevation Certificate In Marco Island?

September 16, 2018 By Dawn

The City of Marco Island has elevation certificates available to the public. Elevation certificates can be used to determine possible insurance rates. Lenders also sometimes require elevation certificates. If you purchase a home in a high-risk flood area, your insurance company will want an elevation certificate. Knowing your elevation is important in many areas. You can compare your elevation with the estimated height that floodwaters could reach in the event of a major flood.

The elevation certificate found on the City of Marco Island’s database represent the actual hard copies that are maintained by the Building Services Division. They were electronically scanned for your viewing, so they might not be enough for actual official use, but they can still help you get quotes on insurance before purchasing a home.

To search for elevation certificates, check the Marco Island website here.