Increase your buying power in Texas
77 homebuyer assistance programs in Texas put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 77 programs tell us about buying in Texas
Houston pays the most
The Houston Community Land Trust offers grants up to $150,000, and the city’s Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program up to $125,000.
Statewide help is a percentage
TDHCA’s My First Texas Home and TSAHC’s Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes pay up to 5% of the loan or price.
Every big metro runs its own
56 of 77 programs are local, with Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso and dozens of smaller cities offering $5,000 to $60,000.
How the help arrives · 77 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
7 more pay a percentage of the price or loan, which scales with the home you buy. Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
21 programs are available statewide. 56 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 77 Texas programs and 27 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in Texas
A few of the 77 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
My First Texas Home
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs5% of the mortgage for down payment and closing costs for first-time buyers, with a 30-year TDHCA mortgage.
Homes for Texas Heroes
Texas State Affordable Housing CorporationA mortgage plus down payment help for educators, law enforcement and first responders, up to 115% of area median income.
Home Sweet Texas Home Loan
Texas State Affordable Housing CorporationA mortgage and down payment assistance in one package, for low- and moderate-income buyers.
Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program (HbAP 2.0)
City of Houston Housing and Community DevelopmentUp to $125,000 for Houston residents affected by Hurricane Harvey or buying their first home, up to 120% of area median income.
Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP)
City of Dallas Housing and Neighborhood RevitalizationUp to $60,000 in high-opportunity areas and $50,000 elsewhere in Dallas, based on need.
Homeownership Incentive Program 80 (HIP)
City of San AntonioUp to $30,000 at 0% for first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income.
27 multi-state programs also serve Texas
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
TruWest Credit Union WISH Down Payment Assistance
Matched savings · 2 states Check eligibilityFHLBank Dallas Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP)
Grant · 5 states Check eligibilityThese are 4 of the 27 multi-state programs open to Texas buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in Texas
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every Texas program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
Texas homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Texas?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 49 Texas programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $23,800. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
43 of the 77 active programs (56%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 14 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 20 of the 77 Texas programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 10 programs we track in Texas are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. Texas has 21 programs available statewide and 56 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in Texas, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. 2 programs we track are currently paused, out of funds or waitlisted and not counted on this page. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.