Why Stacking Works — And How Buyers Save $25K+ in 2025

Florida is one of the only states where buyers can combine **statewide and local housing programs** into a complete financial strategy. When done right, stacking grants can reduce your out-of-pocket to under $2,000 — even on a $300K home.

💡 What Is Grant Stacking?

Grant stacking means using multiple approved programs on one purchase — like SHIP + Hometown Heroes + MCC — without double-dipping. Each program covers different parts of the transaction:

• ✅ SHIP: Local grant for down payment or repairs
• ✅ Hometown Heroes: Statewide 0% loan for closing + down payment
• ✅ MCC: Annual tax credit based on mortgage interest
• ✅ FHA 203(k): Renovation loan for fixer-uppers

Used together, they can eliminate your upfront costs, increase your tax refunds, and allow you to upgrade the home during the loan — all with one closing.

👉 Next: The most effective program combinations and what they cover.

The Best Grant Combinations for Florida Buyers in 2025

Stacking isn’t about getting more money — it’s about using the right program for the right purpose. These are the most effective Florida combinations for 2025 buyers:

🏠 SHIP + Hometown Heroes

Use SHIP for your down payment and Hometown Heroes for your closing costs. This combo is ideal for frontline workers and low-to-moderate income households.

• 🔹 $15K–$50K (SHIP) + up to $35K (Heroes)
• 🔹 $0 out-of-pocket possible in many counties

💵 Hometown Heroes + MCC

Use Heroes for upfront funding and MCC for long-term tax savings. You’ll reduce your monthly tax burden for the life of the mortgage.

• 🔹 $2,000/year in tax credit (MCC)
• 🔹 Works with FHA, VA, and conventional loans

🧱 203(k) + SHIP or Heroes

Want to buy a fixer-upper? Pair your 203(k) renovation loan with a grant to cover your closing. You fix the home and build equity fast.

• 🔹 Renovate up to $35K–$50K into your loan
• 🔹 Get upfront costs covered with grants

Most buyers never realize these can be layered. At The Alpha Order, we build a grant map for each buyer and customize it based on income, location, and loan type.

👉 Next: What to know about income limits, loan types, and sequencing to make stacking actually work.

Income Limits, Loan Types, and How to Qualify for Multiple Programs at Once

To successfully combine Florida housing grants, you need to meet each program’s specific income and loan requirements — and sequence them correctly during the approval process.

📊 Income Limits (2025 Estimates):

• 🔹 SHIP: Typically 80%–120% of Area Median Income (AMI)
• 🔹 Hometown Heroes: Up to 150% of AMI
• 🔹 MCC: Varies by county, often up to 140% AMI

AMI depends on location and household size. For example, in Marion County, 120% AMI for a family of 3 is around $86,000.

✅ Eligible Loan Types:

• ✔️ FHA (most common for grant stacking)
• ✔️ VA (for veterans and active duty)
• ✔️ Conventional (3% or 5% down)
• ✔️ FHA 203(k) (for homes needing repairs)

🧠 How to Stack Successfully:

• 🔹 Work with a lender approved for
• 🔹 Submit all grant applications at the pre-approval stage
• 🔹 Ensure lender underwrites with grant credits included
• 🔹 Use a grant strategy team (like The Alpha Order) to guide the order of operations

When done right, these programs can be approved simultaneously and applied at closing — reducing your cost without delaying the deal.

👉 Final section next: Let’s build your stack — step-by-step — with our free Housing Help Plan.

How to Build Your Grant Stack With The Alpha Order (Free Plan)

Grant stacking isn’t complicated when you have the right team. At The Alpha Order, we create a personalized step-by-step plan based on your income, job, loan type, and goals.

💼 Your Free Plan Includes:

• ✅ Custom grant combinations (SHIP, Heroes, MCC, 203k)
• ✅ Approved lender referral for your programs
• ✅ Income and credit review to ensure eligibility
• ✅ Timeline and document checklist to keep it simple

We’ve helped Floridians close with as little as $0 to $2,000 — and we’d love to help you next. Let’s build your grant strategy today.

Build My Housing Grant Plan →

The Alpha Order | Where Housing Meets Strategy

Most People Use One Program — You’ll Use Four.

Florida offers more housing support than almost any state — but only if you know how to combine it. With the right plan, you can walk into your home with nearly nothing out of pocket and thousands saved every year.

At The Alpha Order, we stack SHIP, MCC, Hometown Heroes, and 203(k) into one unified plan — tailored to your income, profession, and property. You serve. You qualify. Now let’s build your path.

Create My Grant Plan →

The Alpha Order | $0-to-Close Housing Strategies. Built for Florida.