Every Texas DPA Program Compared (2026)
A side-by-side look at the state and big-city down payment assistance programs Texas buyers can use in 2026 — who each is for, how much they give, and how the money is repaid or forgiven.
What down payment assistance programs are available in Texas?
Texas buyers have two statewide sources of down payment assistance — TSAHC (Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes) and TDHCA (My First Texas Home and My Choice Texas Home) — each offering up to 5% of the loan amount. On top of those, the largest Texas cities run their own forgivable-loan programs: Houston (up to $50,000), Dallas (up to $60,000 in High Opportunity Areas), and San Antonio (up to $15,000). The table below breaks down who qualifies, the form of assistance, and how each is repaid.
Side-by-side comparison
Scroll the table sideways to see every column. Every figure links to the administering agency's official page.
| Program | Who it’s for | Assistance form | Amount basis | First-time required? | Credit minimum | County / area coverage | Stacking rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Sweet TexasTSAHCtsahc.org | Any eligible Texas buyer within county income limits (not first-time only) | Grant, 3-year deferred forgivable 2nd lien, or 30-year repayable Bond 2nd lien | Up to 5% of the loan amount | No | Typically 620+ | Statewide (all 254 counties) | Can add a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC); combinable with HFC gift funds |
| Homes for Texas HeroesTSAHCtsahc.org | Teachers, police, firefighters, EMS, corrections officers, veterans, nurses & other eligible professionals | Grant, 3-year deferred forgivable 2nd lien, or 30-year repayable Bond 2nd lien | Up to 5% of the loan amount | No | Typically 620+ | Statewide (all 254 counties); higher 170% AMI income limit | Can add an MCC; combinable with HFC gift funds |
| My First Texas HomeTDHCAtdhca.texas.gov | First-time buyers and veterans within county income limits | 0% 30-year deferred repayable 2nd lien or 3-year deferred forgivable 2nd lien | Up to 5% of the loan amount | Yes (or a qualifying veteran) | 620 minimum | Statewide (county income & purchase-price limits apply) | Can be paired with the Texas MCC |
| My Choice Texas HomeTDHCAtdhca.texas.gov | Repeat and non-first-time buyers within county income limits | 0% 30-year deferred repayable 2nd lien or 3-year deferred forgivable 2nd lien | Up to 5% of the loan amount | No | 620 minimum | Statewide (county income & purchase-price limits apply) | MCC generally reserved for first-time buyers |
| Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)City of Houstonhoustontx.gov | Houston buyers with household income at or below 80% of area median income | 0% interest forgivable loan (forgiven after 5 years of owner-occupancy) | Up to $50,000 | Verify current requirement with the city | Set by your first-mortgage lender | City of Houston only; 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer course required | Verify current stacking rules with the city |
| Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP)City of Dallasdallascityhall.com | Dallas buyers with income at or below 80% of Dallas area median family income | 0% interest forgivable, deferred 2nd lien (prorated over an affordability period) | Up to $60,000 in High Opportunity Areas; up to $50,000 elsewhere | Verify current requirement with the administrator | Set by your first-mortgage lender | City of Dallas; administered by BCL of Texas since May 1, 2026 | Verify current stacking rules with the administrator |
| Homeownership Incentive Program (HIP 120)City of San Antoniosa.gov | San Antonio buyers within the San Antonio MSA median family income limits | Partly forgivable 2nd lien: 25% is a perpetual loan; 75% forgivable over 10 years | Up to $15,000 (HIP 120 – General Fund) | Verify current requirement with the city | Set by your first-mortgage lender | City of San Antonio; existing-home sales price cap of $305,200 | Verify current stacking rules with the city |
City program details (first-time requirement, credit minimums, and stacking) are administered locally and change periodically; entries marked “verify” should be confirmed with the city before you rely on them. State DPA is a percentage of the loan (2%–5%), with no separate dollar cap, no minimum LTV, DTI per AUS findings, and is generally stackable with HFC gift funds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TSAHC and TDHCA down payment assistance?+
Both are statewide Texas agencies offering up to 5% of the loan amount in down payment assistance. TDHCA’s My First Texas Home is limited to first-time buyers and veterans, while TSAHC’s Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes are open to repeat buyers too. TSAHC also offers an occupation-based track (Homes for Texas Heroes) with a higher income limit for teachers, first responders, veterans and nurses.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get Texas down payment assistance?+
Not always. TDHCA’s My First Texas Home requires first-time-buyer status (or veteran status), but My Choice Texas Home, TSAHC Home Sweet Texas and TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes do not require you to be a first-time buyer. Many city programs do have first-time or long-term-affordability requirements — confirm with the administering city.
Can I combine a city program with a state DPA program?+
Sometimes, but layering rules vary and are set by each administering agency. City programs such as Houston’s HAP, Dallas’s DHAP and San Antonio’s HIP have their own affordability periods and repayment terms. Always confirm current stacking rules with both the state program and the city before assuming you can combine them.
How much down payment assistance do Texas city programs offer?+
City programs are usually larger flat-dollar amounts than the percentage-based state DPA. As of 2026, Houston offers up to $50,000, Dallas up to $60,000 in High Opportunity Areas (up to $50,000 elsewhere), and San Antonio’s HIP 120 up to $15,000. Each is a forgivable or partly-forgivable second lien tied to how long you live in the home.
Which Texas down payment assistance program is best for me?+
It depends on your income, your county, whether you’re a first-time buyer, and your occupation. A good order is to check your county income and purchase-price limits first, then compare the state programs, then see whether your city offers a larger forgivable loan. Talk to a licensed loan officer to confirm eligibility.
Sources & disclosures
- TSAHC Home Sweet Texas & Homes for Texas Heroes — tsahc.org
- TDHCA My First Texas Home & My Choice Texas Home — tdhca.texas.gov
- City of Houston Homebuyer Assistance Program — houstontx.gov
- City of Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) — dallascityhall.com
- City of San Antonio Homeownership Incentive Program (HIP) — sa.gov
This page is for general educational purposes and is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Program terms, amounts and eligibility are set by the administering agencies and change periodically; verify current details with each program before you rely on them. Equal Housing Opportunity.