City of Tampa DARE to Own the Dream Program — 2026 Buyer Guide

When Tampa Bay buyers talk about down payment assistance, the conversation usually starts with state programs like Florida Hometown Heroes and FL Assist. Those programs are excellent — but buyers purchasing a home within Tampa city limits have access to something most people never hear about: a city-funded program that can deliver up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance before you even layer in anything from the state.

It is called the DARE to Own the Dream program, and in Fiscal Year 2026 it set a record with 71 homebuyer closings — its highest annual total ever. Despite that activity, many Tampa Bay buyers and even some lenders are still unaware of how the program works, how to qualify, and critically, why the application process must start before you go under contract.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about DARE in 2026.

What Is the City of Tampa DARE to Own the Dream Program?

DARE to Own the Dream is a down payment and closing cost assistance program administered by the City of Tampa's Housing and Community Development department. It is funded through federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money and State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) funds, and its purpose is to make homeownership accessible for lower- and moderate-income residents who want to buy within Tampa city limits.

The program provides assistance as a deferred second mortgage that becomes fully forgivable after 20 years of owner-occupied residency. If you stay in the home as your primary residence for 20 years, you owe nothing — the assistance is completely forgiven. If you sell, refinance, or move out before 20 years, a prorated portion of the assistance is due at that time.

The program is exclusively for first-time homebuyers — defined as buyers who have not owned a primary residence in the past three years. The purchased home must be located within Tampa city limits and serve as the buyer's primary residence.

How Much Assistance Does DARE Provide?

DARE provides up to $50,000 in assistance, and the amount you receive is tiered based on your household income relative to the Area Median Income (AMI) for the Tampa-St. Petersburg MSA. Based on program guidelines, the tiers break down as follows:

• 0% to 50% AMI: Up to $50,000
• 50.01% to 80% AMI: Up to $40,000
• 80.01% to 120% AMI: Up to $30,000
• Above 120% AMI: Not eligible

For 2026, 80% of AMI in Hillsborough County is approximately $61,350 for a single buyer and roughly $70,100 for a two-person household — though these figures are updated periodically by HUD. Many moderate-income buyers in Tampa fall in the $40,000 tier, which is still a substantial sum.

What makes DARE particularly valuable is its stackability. A buyer using DARE for $40,000 can still layer state programs on top — adding FL Assist for $10,000 or combining with Florida Hometown Heroes if they qualify as a community workforce professional. The combined assistance can completely eliminate out-of-pocket costs at closing on a mid-priced Tampa home. See our guide on how to stack multiple DPA programs in Florida for more detail.

What Is the DARE Application Process — and Why Does It Start Before You Go Under Contract?

This is the detail that trips up the most buyers: you must begin the DARE application process before you go under contract on a home. The City of Tampa requires buyers to work with one of four approved Housing Counseling agencies first, receive a reservation number, and only then proceed to make an offer on a property.

If you are already under contract when you first contact the program, you are disqualified — there are no exceptions. This is different from most state DPA programs, which can be initiated through your lender at the same time as your mortgage application. DARE requires the city-approved counseling agency to be your starting point.

The application sequence works like this:

1. Contact an approved housing counseling agency. The City of Tampa maintains a current list of four approved agencies on its housing program page. These agencies provide homebuyer education and counseling in English and Spanish.
2. Complete homebuyer education and counseling. You will work through a structured homebuyer education course covering budgeting, credit, mortgage types, and the purchase process. This is a requirement, not optional.
3. Receive your DARE reservation number. Once the agency certifies your completion and eligibility, the city issues a reservation number. This number holds your place in the program and your funding amount.
4. Go under contract on an eligible home. With your reservation number in hand, you can make offers on homes within Tampa city limits. At this stage, you will also work with a participating lender to combine DARE with any state DPA programs you qualify for.
5. Complete the city's HQS inspection. Before closing, the City of Tampa requires a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection of the property. This inspection ensures the home meets minimum livability and safety standards. Any required repairs must be completed before closing.

The HQS inspection requirement is worth flagging in advance. Sellers accustomed to conventional or FHA deals may need to complete minor repairs before closing if the city's inspector finds issues. Work with an experienced buyer's agent who understands the DARE process to set accurate expectations with sellers and structure offers accordingly.

What Homes Qualify Under the DARE Program?

To use DARE assistance, the home must be located within Tampa city limits — not unincorporated Hillsborough County, not Temple Terrace, not Plant City, but within the City of Tampa's boundaries. Many buyers are surprised to find that large swaths of the greater Tampa area, including significant portions of Brandon and Riverview, fall outside city limits and therefore outside DARE eligibility.

The program covers single-family homes, townhomes, and in some cases condominiums, provided the property meets HQS standards and purchase price limits set by the city. The home must become your primary residence — investment properties and second homes do not qualify.

If you are searching for homes specifically within Tampa city limits to maximize DARE eligibility, working with a buyer's agent who can filter MLS results by city boundary is essential. nowtb.com provides a comprehensive Tampa Bay home search tool with neighborhood-level filtering to help you identify qualifying properties quickly.

How Does DARE Compare to the East Tampa CRA Program?

It is worth distinguishing DARE from the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) program covered in our guide on Tampa CRA down payment assistance. The CRA program is specific to the East Tampa redevelopment district and can offer significantly higher assistance amounts — up to $100,000 for buyers in that area. It is a different funding source, different eligibility geography, and a different administrative process.

Buyers in East Tampa may qualify for the CRA program, the DARE program, or potentially both depending on their location and income. If you are targeting East Tampa specifically, check with Barrett Henry, REALTOR® with REMAX Collective, to determine which program applies to your specific address and situation. Call (813) 733-7907 to get clarity before you start the counseling process.

Can DARE Be Combined with Florida Hometown Heroes or FL Assist?

Yes — and this combination is one of the most powerful homebuyer strategies available in Tampa in 2026. DARE is a city-funded second mortgage. Florida Hometown Heroes and FL Assist are state-funded second mortgages. Because they come from different funding sources and different program administrators, they can typically be layered together, subject to subordination and lender approval.

A Tampa buyer using all three programs might receive:

• DARE: $30,000 to $50,000 depending on AMI tier
• FL Assist: $10,000 at 0% interest, deferred
• Florida Hometown Heroes: Up to 5% of the first mortgage amount for qualifying community workforce professionals

The combined assistance in a scenario like this can exceed $60,000 — enough to cover both the down payment and all closing costs on most Tampa homes in the $250,000 to $350,000 range, leaving the buyer with little to nothing out of pocket. For a full picture of how income limits interact across all three programs, see our income limits guide for Florida DPA.

Barrett Henry, REALTOR® with REMAX Collective, works with Tampa Bay buyers to identify which combination of city, county, and state DPA programs maximizes their benefit — and coordinates with approved lenders to structure the transaction correctly. With 23+ years of real estate experience, Barrett navigates this process daily. Call (813) 733-7907 or visit firsttimehomebuyertb.com for first-time buyer resources including a full breakdown of Tampa-specific DPA options.