Harris County Community Services Department DPA Program
Financial Assistance for Homebuyers in Texas
Available Assistance
The amount of DAP assistance available for new and pre-existing homes is up to $23,800. This includes the down payment, customary closing costs, owners title policy, a 3-Year Home Warranty up to a maximum of $500 per year, on pre-existing homes, and a 1-year Flood Insurance Policy up to a maximum of $500.
Eligibility Requirements
- First-time homebuyer that has not owned a home for three years prior to applying for assistance
- Buyer must have at least one credit score of 580.
- Buyer must be credit approved through one of the participating mortgage lenders.
- Buyer front-end ratio (debt) cannot exceed 39% and the back-end ratio or Debt-to-Income ratio (DTI) cannot exceed 42%.
- Buyer is required to successfully complete an 8-hour homeownership education course before applying for DAP assistance. Course must be provided by a HUD-approved homebuyer education course provider, performed by a Certified Counselor, and buyer is required to submit a final signed household budget from their HUD approved provider.
- Buyer must contribute a minimum of $1000 towards the purchase of the home.
- Buyer cannot have more than $15,000 in liquid assets, such as stocks, cash, or bonds.
Income Limits
80% AMI
1-person household: $44,350
2-person household: $50,700
3-person household: $57,050
4-person household: $63,350
5-person household: $68,450
6-person household: $73,500
7-person household: $78,600
8-person household: $83,650
*Seller-funded down payment programs were eliminated in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, but State and local government agencies are still permitted to help borrowers finance their homes with second mortgages and grants. These agencies set different requirements that a borrower needs to meet in order to qualify for the grant programs, such as property location, and purchase price, and income limits.
Note: All figures mentioned above were accurate at the time of publication and may no longer be current. Visit the program website for updated information
Down payment assistance programs and/or grants were researched by the team at FHA.com. Please note that all programs listed on this website may involve a second mortgage with payments that are forgiven, deferred, or subsidized in some manner until resale of the mortgaged property.
FHA.com's compilation is not a complete list, but it can serve as a starting point in your search for the down payment assistance program or grant for your situation. It is up to the consumer to contact these entities and find out the specifics of each program.
Down Payment Grants in Texas
5 Star Texas Advantage Program
The Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) offers Texas residents the 5 Star Texas Advantage Program, which helps eligible applicants with down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a grant.
Austin Down Payment Assistance Program
The Austin Down Payment Assistance Program helps low-income families purchase their first home by offering up to $40,000 in assistance funds, to help cover the upfront costs of a mortgage.
Harris County Community Services Department DPA Program
In order to help more residents purchase their first homes in Harris County, the Community Services Department offers eligible applicants help with its Down Payment Assistance Program.
Homeownership Across Texas
Homeownership Across Texas grants 5 percent of the loan amount with VA, FHA, or USDA financed loans. Borrowers with conventional loans receive 3 percent grants. Grants do not come with any repayment or recapture period, nor is there a first-time homebuyer requirement.
Homes for Texas Heroes Program
This initiative provides teachers, police and correctional officers, fire fighters and EMS personnel, and veterans with down payment assistance between 3 and 5 percent of the loan amount and a 30-year fixed rate mortgage with several rates and loan options.
My First Texas Home
Along with a competitive, fixed interest, 30-year home loan, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs offers the My First Texas Home Taxable Mortgage Program (TMP) offers down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 5 percent of the mortgage loan.
Travis County - Hill Country Home Down Payment Assistance
This program is designed for homebuyers to purchase a home anywhere in Travis County, including the City of Austin, by helping them overcome the obstacle of down payment costs. A grant of up to 6% percent of the loan amount is applied towards the down payment or closing costs.
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