Adrianne Harden, a 25-year-old fifth-generation Tampanian, recently closed on her first home in the Seminole Heights neighborhood with the help of the City of Tampa’s DARE to Own the Dream program and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funding. She received $100,000 in down payment assistance to make her dream of homeownership a reality.

Path to Homeownership

Harden’s journey to buying a home began after she graduated from college in 2022. She moved back into her family’s house to save every penny from her full-time job. Although she faced a setback when she was unexpectedly laid off, she persevered and completed a required homebuyer education course through Real Estate Education and Community Housing (R.E.A.C.H.) in 2025.

After securing approval for the city’s housing assistance, Harden quickly found a home and finalized the closing in just over a month. Her new home keeps her in the same neighborhood as her family, allowing her to put down roots in the city she loves.

Supporting Homeownership

The DARE program provides down payment assistance loans to income-eligible buyers looking for homes within the Tampa city limits. The city structures the loan as a ‘silent second’ mortgage, featuring a 0% interest rate and $0 monthly payments. The loan stays deferred and ‘silent’ for as long as the buyer lives in the home as their primary residence.

The City of Tampa is hosting a public Homeownership Event on June 26, 2026, to help other residents find similar paths to buying a home. The event will feature face-to-face meetings with lenders, real estate agents, housing counselors, and city staff to provide direct answers about the buying process and financial aid programs.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.