Rob-

Thanks for your insightful comment.  Yes, Orange County has I believe from $20K-$35K available for first-time buyers but of course they must qualify with income and debt restrictions.  Seminole County had from $60K, $90K, and $130K! available but buyers flooded that down payment assistance program and they are OUT of that money for a while, as you may imagine.  I am looking into Volusia County DPA (I have all the paperwork) b/c I'm taking a listing in Deltona here soon and if the property is under $225,000, then buyers may access up to $50K.  I'm not sure if that money is available at this time, though. 

But I agree:  First-time Buyers do not seem to know what's available to them in the way of assistance.  They sometimes get stuck with a loan officer whose company doesn't offer a wide variety of programs or who doesn't have the back-line number to the different DPA programs.  It's sometimes sad.  Or, the LO will say that the buyer doesn't qualify, when in fact the LO company doesn't offer that particular program.  But, there are a lot of good Loan Officers out there. 

I guess the point of this post is that Buyers need to meet ethical people in the real estate industry (from agents, to lenders, etc.) so that they can get set up with the best house for their needs and the best loan for their 5- and 10-year plans. 

Hello, Julia-

I do like many of the areas in Orlando, like Windermere and Dr. Phillips.  In terms of those locations, if a home is too close to Sand Lake and John Young Pkwy., then it's a little unpleasant to drive by Sand Lake's Water Reclamation Facility.  Stinky at times!  If you are looking West of I-4 on Sand Lake Rd., then it's not really a problem. 

In about an hour, I'm going to a seminar held at IKEA (awesome store!) in their community room upstairs about how to get $20,000 for first-time Buyers for the City of Orlando, which is (basically) in the areas in which you are looking.  I'll get the specifics on everything and plan on posting them on my blog.  The City of Orlando is a needs-based, income-based program for specific properties the lie within the boundaries of the City of Orlando.  Also interesting is the Orange County Down Payment Assistance Program.  Their program is a little more confusing now.  But-first things first--I'm off to go listen to (and hopefully speak directly with) Erika Little of the City of Orlando Housing & Community Development.  She is presenting on "How To Utilize the Down Payment Assistance Program."