- Florida ranks 21st in the nation for housing affordability, with median affordable prices for locals dropping by nearly $29,000 from 2017 to 2021.
- NestGen participants may qualify for up to $25,000 in financial assistance—usable toward down payments and closing costs.
- Over 80% of past NestGen participants were first-time buyers, and two-thirds were from immigrant or minority communities.
- NestGen teaches buyers long-term wealth strategies like house hacking and co-buying—tactics growing in popularity across Florida.
- Applications for the next NestGen cohort are due by May 19, with the program beginning May 21.
For first-time buyers squeezed by rising prices and limited supply, owning a home in Florida feels harder each year. But new tools like the NestGen program offer hope. This program mixes education, financial support, and help focused on different communities. It aims to fix not just money problems but also the lack of knowledge and confidence that often gets in the way. Here’s a look at how it works—and if it can really help more Floridians buy a home.
The NestGen Program at a Glance
NestGen is a five-week education program led by experts. Nestment created it with The Keyes Co., a respected Florida real estate company. Its goal is to guide aspiring first-time homebuyers in Florida through every step of buying a home. It offers lessons, possible financial help, real-world methods, and ways to connect with people in the real estate business.
The program takes students, most of whom are new to real estate, from basic ideas to feeling ready to close on their first home. It’s made with Florida housing challenges in mind, giving details about current prices and how many homes are for sale.
What the NestGen Curriculum Covers
The NestGen program includes weekly lessons and practice steps for key parts of buying a home:
- Home Financing 101: Learn about fixed versus variable-interest mortgages, paying off a loan over time, mortgage insurance, and how credit scores matter.
- Getting Preapproved: See how preapproval makes you a stronger buyer and how to work with lenders to get it.
- Finding the Right Team: Picking an agent and lender who get your goals and budget is key—NestGen shows you how.
- Property Evaluation: Check out properties based on where they are, what they offer, and their value—not just how they look.
- Post-Purchase Prep: Think about long-term plans, how home value grows, keeping up with maintenance, and how to skip common new homeowner mistakes.
This program makes the process easier to understand. It helps buyers feel less overwhelmed, especially in today’s busy market.
Up to $25,000 in Homebuyer Support: Is it Real Help?
One important part of the NestGen program is the chance to get up to $25,000 in homebuyer assistance. But does that amount really help in today’s market?
How the $25K Can Be Used
The money, given to participants who qualify, can be used for:
- Down payments
- Closing costs (which are often 2-5% of the home’s price)
- Certain quick home updates or fees related to getting a good mortgage rate
For example, in less expensive Florida counties where homes cost around $300,000, $25,000 could cover the whole down payment on a 3% down FHA loan, plus other closing costs. Even in more expensive places like Miami, it could lower the money needed upfront when it matters most.
Who’s Eligible?
Exactly who can get it changes based on things like income, if you live in Florida, and if you take part in the whole program. Nestment gives full details on what you need and how the money is given out on its official website.
🗓️ Note: Applications for this round of the program close May 19. Classes begin May 21.
Can It Close the Gap in Florida?
Nestment data shows that the typical Florida household could afford a home priced up to $267,600 in 2017. By 2021, this dropped to $238,800. This means many people can’t afford homes now unless they get extra money help or use smart buying ideas.
When used with options that need a low down payment, like FHA or VA loans, and buying ideas like co-buying, the $25K may help some buyers become homeowners.
Making the Homebuying Process Easier
For many first-time homebuyers in Florida, money help isn’t the only thing missing. They also need trust, understanding, and a step-by-step guide. NestGen aims to provide this by offering what the usual real estate system often doesn’t: clear information and education.
Weekly Steps to Build Confidence
Each of the five weeks covers not just terms but also how to make decisions. This helps potential buyers feel more confident. Topics include:
- Understanding How Much You Can Buy — Figuring out budgets, looking at different loan types, and seeing how income, debt, and savings affect your choices
- Building Your Team — Picking your buyer’s team (agent, lender, inspectors) and making sure they work well with your goals
- Shopping Smart — Learning how to look at properties beyond the photos online and how they are set up
- Checking Things Carefully — Reading inspection reports, understanding repair costs, and how to negotiate
- Thinking Like an Owner — Options for refinancing, planning for long-term upkeep, and ways to build home value
Also, participants get worksheets, checklists, and practice sessions made for different parts of Florida.
Smart Ownership Ideas: House Hacking & Co-Buying
Ideas focused on affordability are needed in a market like Florida’s. NestGen goes past basic advice to share clever money ideas meant to help people own a home sooner.
What is House Hacking?
House hacking means buying a property where you live in one part and rent out another. This could be a duplex, a triplex, or a house with a garage apartment or in-law suite you can rent.
Key Benefits:
- Gives you monthly rent money that can help pay your mortgage and bills
- Increases your buying power because lenders count the rent you expect to get
- Makes it easier to start investing in real estate
This is quite common in South Florida cities like Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Jacksonville, where buildings with more than one home or ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are more often seen.
How Co-Buying Works
More people are co-buying in Florida. This is when two or more people, often friends, siblings, or even college roommates, team up to buy property together.
Pros include:
- Splitting the down payment and monthly mortgage payments
- Sharing jobs like maintenance, repairs, and property taxes
- Being able to afford a better or better-located home with a bigger combined budget
NestGen gives attendees contracts, ways to talk things through, and tips for setting clear roles and staying friends while buying a home.
Dealing with Florida Housing Affordability
The big difference between how much people earn and home prices in Florida is a hard problem. But you can handle it with the right approach.
Important Stats to Know
- Florida is 21st in the country for housing affordability (Nestment, 2024)
- From 2017–2021, the typical household could afford a home priced up to $238,800, down from $267,600
- There are very few starter homes for sale in big areas like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa
Why NestGen Might Make a Difference
While $25,000 won’t fix everything, it can help cover important financial needs. More importantly, learning about different ways to pay and how to buy in a planned way can stop problems later, like foreclosure or taking on too much debt.
Florida vs. Las Vegas: Similar Struggles, Similar Solutions?
It makes sense that active markets like Florida and Nevada are finding new ways to help regular buyers compete with investors, people moving in with lots of money, and big companies buying homes.
In Las Vegas, agents like Steve Hawks are pushing for deal-making based on data and helping buyers feel more in control through methods like:
- Looking for areas with lower prices based on future transport plans
- Calculating what investors would earn to help decide on bid prices
- Using private money networks when banks won’t give traditional loans
Programs like NestGen do something similar but with more focus on education—teaching buyers how to think like investors even when they’re just building their first home value.
Real Estate Experts Agree: Smart Buyers Win More Deals
Real estate pros all over Florida say it’s true: the more you know, the better your offers. First-time buyers who finished NestGen are coming into the market with real benefits:
- Pre-approval letters that sellers trust
- A group of informed agents and lenders who want the same things you do
- Real ideas about bidding wars, inspections, and costs you don’t see at first
Even in markets where people offer over the asking price, buyers who know what they’re doing often close deals below the list price because they negotiate better—something taught directly in the NestGen curriculum.
Long-Term Thinking: Building Wealth Beyond the Purchase
Owning a home isn’t just about getting a mortgage—it’s about using one of the most effective ways to build wealth today. That’s why NestGen teaches long-term ideas most beginner classes don’t cover:
- Taking care of your home to keep its value up
- Refinancing or using HELOCs (Home Equity Lines of Credit) to invest in other things
- Buying bigger properties later (“trading up”) once home value grows
This guidance can be very helpful for first-time homebuyers in Florida who rented before and haven’t managed a home or assets.
Who’s Eligible and How to Apply
Are you a Florida resident who dreams of owning a home? Here’s what to know about the NestGen program:
- Made for first-time buyers (meaning you haven’t owned a home in the last three years)
- Focuses on Florida residents—especially those in communities often left out
- You need to take part in the full five-week group
- You might be able to get up to $25,000 toward your purchase
Your first step? Apply before May 19. Classes start on May 21.
Could Programs Like This Work Nationally?
The short answer: Yes. States like California, Texas, and Nevada have many of the same housing problems Florida does. NestGen’s model, which focuses on education first and gives financial help where it’s needed, could work in other places.
In fact, working with local real estate pros, lenders, and housing nonprofits in each area could easily do what Florida is doing.
Leaders like Steve Hawks in Las Vegas show that with the right education and market knowledge, even buyers in busy markets can do well. More focus on teaching buyers across the country could help many people who rent become first-time buyers.
Final Verdict: Is NestGen Worth It?
For anyone dealing with Florida’s busy housing market, the NestGen program offers a clear, smart way forward. It won’t fix Florida housing affordability all by itself—but when combined with smart preparation, creative budgeting, and personalized support, it’s a good step toward buying a home.
From real-world methods like house hacking to up to $25,000 in financial assistance, the program offers practical help and useful ideas. As prices keep climbing and there aren’t many homes for sale, programs like NestGen are more needed—and helpful—than ever.
If owning a home is part of your future, this might be the most important step you take before buying.