Updated · Mike Certo, NMLS #260555
Texas Down Payment Assistance Programs Guide
Texas has two statewide DPA program families (TSAHC and TDHCA) plus city and county programs in every major metro. Here's the practical Texas DPA program map.
TSAHC program family
TSAHC (Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation) is a self-sustaining nonprofit charged with helping low- and moderate-income Texans become homeowners. Its assistance runs 3-5% of the loan amount at a 620 minimum credit score (verified August 2026).
Homes for Texas Heroes
Down payment grant of 3-5% of loan amount. Grant. NO repayment required. For eligible professions including teachers, school employees, firefighters, EMS, police, corrections officers, veterans, and many others. Income limits by county.
Home Sweet Texas
Statewide down payment grant for any qualifying buyer (not profession-restricted). 3-5% of loan amount. Grant. NO repayment required. Income limits by county.
TDHCA program family
TDHCA (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs) is the state housing agency. Programs use below-market rate first mortgages paired with DPA second mortgages.
My First Texas Home
For Texas first-time home buyers (waived in federally targeted areas and for qualified Veterans). A first mortgage paired with a DPA second lien. Income and purchase-price limits apply by county and household size; the current tables are published by TDHCA, and we confirm your county's figure before you apply.
My Choice Texas Home
For repeat buyers (not first-time-buyer restricted). Similar DPA structure to My First Texas Home.
Texas MCC (Mortgage Credit Certificate)
Federal tax credit converting portion of mortgage interest into annual federal tax credit. Not cash assistance, reduces federal tax owed each year. Can sometimes layer with another DPA program.
Major Texas city DPA programs
- City of Houston HOAP (Homebuyer Assistance Program), up to $30,000 for income-eligible Houston buyers
- City of Dallas DPA
- City of Austin DPA
- City of San Antonio HHSD DPA
- City of Fort Worth Homebuyer Assistance Program
- City of El Paso DPA
- City of Arlington DPA
- City of Plano DPA
Major Texas county DPA programs
- Harris County DPA
- Dallas County DPA
- Bexar County DPA
- Travis County DPA
- Collin County DPA
- Tarrant County DPA
Eligibility variables
- Income limit: Set per county and household size (tied to area median income), there is no single statewide cap; TDHCA and TSAHC publish current tables
- Purchase-price limit: County-specific; confirmed against the current program tables at application
- Credit score: 620 base floor for TSAHC and TDHCA (lender overlays vary); some national programs accept 600+
- Occupancy: Primary residence only
- First-time buyer: Required for TDHCA My First Texas Home; not required for TSAHC or My Choice Texas Home
- Homebuyer education: Required for most programs
- Profession: Homes for Texas Heroes requires eligible profession
One assistance program per transaction
Texas DPA programs do not combine with each other (with the MCC tax credit being the limited exception). You select ONE DPA program per home purchase.
Next step
20-minute call. Bring city/county, household income, FICO ballpark, target purchase price, profession (Homes for Texas Heroes check). We map your top 2-3 program fits.
Related
FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Texas?
TDHCA and TSAHC offer up to about 5% of the loan amount (for example, about $15,000 on a $300,000 loan), structured as a 0% deferred second lien that is often forgiven after about three years.
What are the income limits for Texas down payment assistance?
There is no single statewide number. TDHCA and TSAHC set income limits by county and household size and publish current tables each year, with higher ceilings in metros like Austin and Dallas. Any online guide quoting one flat figure is unreliable, we pull your county's actual 2026 limit before you apply.
Do Texas DPA programs still have a fixed statewide income cap?
No, and this is a common myth. Neither TDHCA nor TSAHC publishes a single statewide income cap; both determine eligibility by county and household size (TDHCA through its published income-limit tables, TSAHC through its eligibility quiz). Treat any blog claiming one flat dollar amount as out of date.
Can I combine TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes with City of Houston HOAP?
No. You select one DPA program per transaction. Most Texas DPA programs don't combine with each other.
Is TSAHC a grant?
It can be either, your choice at application: a true grant (never repaid) or a 3-year forgivable second lien, which is forgiven after 3 years in the home and repaid only if you sell or refinance inside that window. TDHCA's assistance is a 0%-interest deferred forgivable second. We walk both structures before you pick.
What's the credit floor for Texas DPA?
The base floor is 620 for both TSAHC and TDHCA; individual lender overlays can run higher, and some national programs accept 600+.
Can the Texas MCC layer with another DPA?
Sometimes, the MCC is a federal tax credit, not cash assistance, so it can layer with DPA in specific scenarios. Know the 2026 sourcing: TDHCA still offers the MCC stand-alone; TSAHC's MCC now comes only bundled with its DPA (free for eligible Heroes buyers). We verify the pairing per program rules at application.