How qualification works
Afford Florida pre-screens you for income-restricted apartments using the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's official 2026 AMI and rent-limit schedules. The math is transparent — here's exactly how it works.
What is AMI?
AMI is the Area Median Income for your county, set annually by HUD. Income-restricted rentals — like those built under Florida's Live Local Act — reserve units for households earning at or below a percentage of AMI (typically 80% or 120%). The lower the AMI band, the lower the maximum rent.
- Essential Housing ≤80% AMI — for workers under ~80% of the county median. The deepest affordability tier.
- Workforce Housing 100–120% AMI — teachers, nurses, first responders, and middle-income earners.
- Middle-Market 120%+ AMI — newer market-rate apartments, often in Live Local buildings.
What we use to match you
- Your county (income limits vary widely between Florida counties).
- Household size (income caps scale 1–10 people).
- Estimated gross annual household income.
- Bedroom count (rent caps scale by bedroom; bathrooms don't affect AMI).
We do not ask for SSN, paystubs, DOB, or tax returns on the search screen. Document verification happens later, at the property, after you express interest.
What "Live Local" means
The Florida Live Local Act (SB 102) created tax incentives and zoning preemptions for property owners who reserve at least 71 units (or 10% of total units) at or below 120% AMI. Properties applying for or already approved in the Florida Housing 2026 MMM cycle appear here, with their applied unit counts at 80% and 120% AMI.
The pre-screen disclaimer
Our match shows whether your household profile likely qualifies under program ceilings. Final eligibility is set by each property at lease-up and considers asset tests, rental history, household composition, and other program-specific rules.