Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing Grant Program

The St. Johns County Affordable Housing Grant Program provides grants to eligible organizations to fund a wide range of activities to create affordable housing for very low, low, and moderate income residents of St. Johns County.

St. Johns County Housing and Community Development Division is not currently accepting project applications. Project proposals shall provide for affordable housing or for the development of shelter for the homeless within St. Johns County.

Area Rentals

Multi-family Rental Developments

If you are interested in the affordable rental apartments, you must call or visit the individual sites

The funding or subsidies for these apartments come from a variety of Federal and State programs. If there are no vacancies, you are advised to put your name on the waiting list as it usually does not take long for a unit to become available. The rental offices have all the necessary paperwork.

Please Note: The affordable housing properties identified on this page are provided for informational purposes as a resource for current and prospective residents of St Johns County who are seeking options for affordable housing. The County makes no representations beyond affordability with respect to these properties. For inquiries about Section 8 vouchers for St. Johns County please contact the Jacksonville Housing Authority at 904-630-3810.

Mortgage Resources

Fannie Mae

At Fannie Mae, we are in the American Dream business. Our mission is to tear down barriers, lower costs, and increase the opportunities for homeownership and affordable rental housing for all Americans. Because having a safe place to call home strengthens families, communities, and our nation as a whole. Fannie Mae’s Affordable Housing and Community Development activities focus on tackling America’s toughest housing problems by developing solutions to housing barriers faced by underserved populations and communities that traditionally have not been well served by the mortgage industry.

FHA – Federal Housing Information

HUD’s mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships particularly with faith-based and community organizations that leverage resources and improve HUD’s ability to be effective on the community level. This is a HUD insured mortgage program.

FHFC – Florida Housing Finance Corporation

Florida Housing was created by the Florida Legislature more than 25 years ago to help our fellow Floridians obtain safe, decent affordable housing that might otherwise be unavailable to them. Today, Florida Housing continues its mission by increasing affordable housing opportunities and ensuring that its programs are well matched to the needs of those we serve. We know that we cannot accomplish our mission alone. As such, we continue to work with local governments, non-profits, elected officials and others to help spread the importance of affordable housing in Florida’s communities. FHFC – Florida Housing Finance Corporation website.

Freddie Mac

Every day works with lenders around the country to deliver affordable mortgage products to consumers, including low-down payment products, lease-purchase and reduced mortgage insurance mortgages. Housing finance is just one tool Freddie Mac uses to increase homeownership, another is alliance with other similarly committed groups. These groups include local and state government, non-profit organizations and non-lender participants in the housing industry such as Realtors. Freddie Mac is dedicated to working with these organizations to provide the service and innovation necessary to continue the record growth of homeownership in America.

HAP – Florida Homeownership Assistance Program

HAP (Homeownership Assistance Program) is a State funded program.

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program makes homeownership affordable for eligible community workforce.

This program provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time, income-qualified homebuyers so they can purchase a primary residence in the community in which they work and serve. The Florida Hometown Heroes Loan Program also offers a lower first mortgage interest rate and additional special benefits to those who have served and continue to serve their country.

Program Details:

  • Eligible full-time workforce, employed by a Florida-based employer can receive lower than market interest rates on an FHA, VA, RD, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac first mortgage, reduced upfront fees, no origination points or discount points and down payment and closing cost assistance.
  • Borrowers can receive up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount (maximum of $35,000) in down payment and closing cost assistance.
  • Down payment and closing cost assistance is available in the form of a 0%, non-amortizing, 30-year deferred second mortgage. This second mortgage becomes due and payable, in full, upon sale of the property, refinancing of the first mortgage, transfer of deed or if the homeowner no longer occupies the property as his/her primary residence. The Florida Hometown Heroes loan is not forgivable.

SHIP – State Housing Initiative Partnership

SHIP may provide a one-time loan for down payment, closing costs, and/or improvements to qualified persons. The amount of SHIP funds that you can receive are calculated on a case-by-case basis. The SHIP Office and participating lenders work together to determine the amount of SHIP assistance that an individual home purchase requires. Subsidy amounts will be awarded on an as needed basis. More about SHIP.

USDA Rural Development

Section 502 Program – Guaranteed. The loan guarantee program provides guarantees to lenders. Lenders may approve loans up to 100 percent of the appraised value for moderate income applicants. An approved lender originates the loan and the agency will guarantee 90 percent of the mortgage.

Section 502 Program – Direct. A single-family housing direct loan program that provides opportunities for very-low and low-income families and individuals to purchase or construct their own homes with a direct loan from Rural Development. The homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment is based on income. For more information, please visit the USDA Rural Development website.

VA – Veterans Affairs

The main purpose of the VA home loan program is to help veterans finance the purchase of homes with favorable loan terms and at a rate of interest which is competitive with the rate charged on other type of mortgage loans. For VA housing loan purposes, the term “veteran” includes certain members of the Selected Reserve, active duty service personnel and certain categories of spouses. Loans can be up to 100of the appraised value of the home and no mortgage insurance is required.

Please Note: This page is for informational purposes only. Some programs may or may not be available.

The St. Johns County Housing & Community Services Division has developed relationships with various affordable housing resources to provide more opportunities for homeownership for very-low, low, and moderate-income families. Your income, credit, and housing needs will determine which program best fits your situation. In some instances, programs may be combined to reach the ideal “fit” for you.

Credit Resources

Finding the Right Fit

The St. Johns County Housing and Community Development Division has developed relationships with various affordable housing programs to provide more opportunities for homeownership for very-low, low- and moderate-income families.

Your income, credit and housing needs will determine which program will best fit your specific situation. In some instances, programs may be combined to reach the ideal fit for your situation.

To begin your journey toward homeownership, contact Housing & Community Services at (904) 827-6890.

Get Your Credit Report

Equifax, TRW-Experian and Trans Union

A consumer credit report (CR) is a document that contains factual records of an individual’s credit payment history. It is mainly used to judge his/her credit worthiness by lenders.

The CR not only lists basic information such as your name and social security number, but other information pertaining to your credit, especially your borrowing and repaying habits. This information is collected and compiled independently by major credit bureaus such as Equifax, TRW-Experian and Trans Union. Basically, the credit report shows how you treat credit and your relationships with creditors. As people pay their bills, most lenders report credit payment history information to credit bureaus.

Your credit will determine what you can buy, what type of car you drive, and even where you can live. It is important to maintain the best credit report possible. Each person should check his or her credit report and make sure it is correct.

What does a credit report contain? Although the style, format and coding may be different among companies and credit reporting bureaus, the typical person’s credit report can include the following types of information:

Personal Information

Your full name, nicknames, birth date, social security number, and current and previous addresses and employers. This information comes from any credit application you have completed.

Public Record Information

Any relevant court records, such as legal judgments, tax liens, bankruptcies, or, in some states, overdue child support. This information comes from public records. Bankruptcies can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years. Other public record information can remain for up to 7 years.

Credit History

A snapshot of your past actions. The credit report lists all loans and credit lines in your name from recent years. Credit reports vary from bureau to bureau, but generally they show the type of loan, the date you began the loan or opened the credit line, the amount of the loan or credit limit, the amount you still owe, and your payment pattern. For example, the credit report may list the number of times you’ve paid late, including the times you were more than 30, 60, and 90 days late. This information comes from companies that do business with you.

Most information, whether positive or negative, remains on your credit report for 7 years from the date it is first reported, and then cycles off automatically. If there is inaccurate information in your credit report, you have the right to dispute it and have it removed.

Inquiries & Credit Reports

A list of those who have obtained a copy of your credit report within the past two years. Inquiries indicate to other credit grantors that you have applied for new credit that could result in additional debt. Potential lenders view multiple recent inquiries on your credit report as a sign that you are overextending yourself. It’s common for a potential lender to turn you down because of “excessive inquiries.” This information comes from the credit-reporting agency. Most inquiries stay on your credit report for up to two years. To obtain a copy of your credit report click below:

Get Your Credit Report
  • Free Annual Credit Report
    The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies. 
  • The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law — annualcreditreport.com.
  • To order, visit Annual Credit Report, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The form is on the back of this brochure; or you can print it from ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through Annual Credit Report, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

You may also order your credit reports from the following national credit bureaus.

Related Services