Miami-Dade County’s new Welcome H.O.M.E. program opens for online applications Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Demand could end the application period well before the advertised September 30 deadline, so applicants should prepare their household and financing information before the portal opens.
By SoFlo Times Staff
Miami-Dade County says Welcome H.O.M.E. applications open online Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and close after 200 qualified applications or on September 30, whichever comes first. The program page incorrectly labels September 30 a Saturday; it is Wednesday. Source: Miami-Dade County Welcome H.O.M.E. page, accessed August 28, 2026.
What the Welcome H.O.M.E. Program Offers—and What It Does Not
Welcome H.O.M.E., short for Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone, offers eligible households a chance to purchase one of three newly constructed homes through a public lottery.
The county’s program page says buyers may receive up to $150,000 in down-payment assistance, subject to available funding. That is a maximum, not a guaranteed award.
The homes are not free. A selected applicant must still qualify for a mortgage from a lender or financial institution and complete the purchase process. As of August 28, the county has not published the homes’ prices, floor plans, bedroom counts, insurance estimates or street addresses on the main program page.
Welcome H.O.M.E. covers three newly constructed homes in Miami-Dade County Commission District 9. The county’s main program page lists zero street addresses, so applicants should not assume a specific South Dade neighborhood or commute. Source: Miami-Dade County Welcome H.O.M.E. page, accessed August 28, 2026.
District 9 is the only confirmed location. The August information workshop was held at JL (Joe) and Enid W. Demps Park, 11350 SW 216th Street, but that workshop address should not be mistaken for a home site.
Who Is Eligible to Apply in Miami-Dade County
The county’s August 13 announcement and current program materials identify three basic conditions:
- The home must become the applicant’s primary residence.
- Only one application may be submitted per household.
- Household income must fall within the program’s 140% Area Median Income limit.
There is a small wording difference to clarify before submitting: the announcement says income must be “below” 140% of AMI, while the program FAQ says households earning “up to” 140% may apply. Applicants near the boundary should use MDEAT’s current income chart and ask whether exactly 140% qualifies.
AMI is adjusted for household size. Count everyone who will live in the home, then compare the household’s combined qualifying income with the county’s 2026 limit—not a statewide figure or an online estimate based on a different metro area.
The public summary does not say that an applicant must be a first-time buyer. It also does not fully explain how residency, immigration status, prior ownership or co-borrowers will be treated. Do not assume eligibility either way; check the live application and MDEAT’s instructions on September 1.
Documents and Financing Preparation to Complete Before September 1
Miami-Dade says applicants must complete a prescreening form and provide documentation confirming eligibility. However, as of August 28, its main page does not publish a complete, itemized upload list.
Two preparation steps are specifically recommended by the county:
- Complete an eight-hour HUD-certified homebuyer counseling course.
- Obtain a mortgage preapproval from an accredited lender or lending institution.
“Recommended” is not the same as “required.” Still, both could reduce delays if an applicant is selected.
For application day, prepare a clearly labeled digital folder containing current government identification, recent pay stubs, benefit or retirement statements, tax returns, bank statements, proof of household composition and the lender’s preapproval. These are practical preparation items, not a claim that MDEAT will require every document. Upload only what the official form requests.
Ask the lender to explain the estimated principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, flood insurance and mortgage insurance. Assistance may reduce the cash needed at closing, but it does not erase recurring ownership costs. New owners should also understand how Miami-Dade’s annual TRIM notice and property-tax review process works.
How to Submit Before the 200-Applicant Cutoff
Applications are online only. Miami-Dade says it will not accept paper submissions, there is no application fee, and residents should not pay anyone to complete the form.
Use this application-day procedure:
- Open the official Welcome H.O.M.E. page rather than a link from an unsolicited text, social post or paid service.
- Read the live eligibility and upload instructions; they may be more detailed than the pre-launch summary.
- Enter household names, income and contact information consistently with the supporting documents.
- Review the one-application-per-household rule with every adult in the household before submitting.
- Save the confirmation page, confirmation number and submission email. Take a screenshot showing the date and time.
- If the portal fails, document the error and contact MDEAT immediately.
The cutoff is based on 200 qualified applications, not necessarily the first 200 people who click submit. The county has not said whether it will display a live qualified-application count, and eligibility review may take time. Waiting for September 30 is therefore risky.
How the Public Lottery and Ranking Work
Submitting first does not appear to determine the purchase order. Once the qualified pool is complete, the county says it will conduct a randomized public lottery and rank applicants from one through 10.
After the pool reaches 200 qualified households, Miami-Dade County says applicants enter a randomized public lottery and are ranked 1 through 10. The top six get an opportunity to qualify; three homes are available, with alternates contacted if top-ranked applicants fail to qualify. Source: Miami-Dade County, accessed August 28, 2026.
The top six receive an opportunity to complete purchase qualification. The three available homes go to qualifying applicants at the top of that process; if someone in the initial group cannot qualify, MDEAT says it will contact the next ranked applicant.
As of August 28, MDEAT has not posted the lottery date, viewing instructions or results. Keep the submitted contact information active and check spam folders regularly.
What Selected Applicants Must Do Within the Financing Window
Selected applicants must contact their lender, secure financing, submit the required purchase documents and move through MDEAT’s sales and closing process.
The county currently gives two different timelines. Its main FAQ says the top six have 60 days to qualify. Its separate Pathway to Homeownership page says selected borrowers should secure financing within 60–90 days.
Until MDEAT reconciles those instructions, plan around the shorter 60-day period. A selected applicant should request the controlling deadline in writing, including the date the clock starts and whether the requirement is lender approval, a loan commitment or closing.
Dates, Rules and Status to Verify With MDEAT
Before applying, verify:
- Whether the portal is still accepting applications.
- The exact household-size income limit.
- The required upload list and accepted file formats.
- Whether counseling and preapproval are mandatory.
- The lottery date and public-access details.
- The homes’ addresses, prices and property specifications.
- Whether the financing deadline is 60 days or as long as 90 days.
MDEAT’s main office is at Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW First Court, Suite 2132, Miami. The agency’s official contact page lists 305-375-5661.
This guide is current as of August 28, 2026. Sign up for the SoFlo Times newsletter for updates when the application closes, MDEAT schedules the lottery or the county releases the home addresses and results.