The City of Tampa’s down payment assistance program closed a record number of home purchases in fiscal year 2026, with more than $5 million in public assistance.

The Dare to Own the Dream, or DARE, Homeownership Program recorded 71 homebuyer closings, topping the previous annual record of 70 set in fiscal year 2025, according to a city announcement. Total assistance for the year reached $5.31 million, including funding from the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency.

DARE provides down payment and closing cost help to eligible first-time buyers purchasing homes within city limits. Depending on household income, qualified buyers can receive up to $50,000. Since 2019, the start of Mayor Jane Castor’s first term, the program has assisted with 426 closings and awarded nearly $20 million in assistance, including East Tampa CRA money.

“Homeownership can change the trajectory of a family’s future, creating stability today and opportunities for generations to come,” Castor said in the announcement.

East Tampa CRA Chair Naya Young said the CRA’s assistance, combined with the city’s, “has made this dream possible for residents who thought this dream was out of reach.”

The program has been funded through state and federal housing grants, including State Housing Initiatives Partnership and federal HOME dollars, according to earlier WUSF reporting. Eligibility is based on income limits, and buyers must work with an approved housing counseling agency and pass a city inspection before closing.

Applications are currently open.

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