💰 Down Payment Assistance
The money most Texas buyers never claim
Every year, down payment assistance goes unused because buyers don’t know it exists. The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) offer grants and forgivable or deferred second liens that can cover down payment and closing costs for qualified buyers — stackable with FHA, VA, USDA and conventional first mortgages. Houston and Harris County run their own programs too.
Is this you?
Down Payment Assistance tend to be a great fit for…
- First-time buyers (and repeat buyers under My Choice Texas Home and TSAHC programs)
- Teachers, first responders, corrections officers, nursing faculty and veterans (Homes for Texas Heroes)
- Households within program income limits
- Buyers who qualify on income but are short on savings
Questions buyers actually ask
Down Payment Assistance: straight answers
How does down payment assistance work in Texas?
TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes and Home Sweet Texas programs offer assistance as either a grant or a zero-interest second lien that is forgiven after three years if you stay in the home. TDHCA’s My First Texas Home and My Choice Texas Home pair a fixed-rate first mortgage with a second lien that is either deferred for 30 years or forgivable after three. Fairway participates in these programs and Trey handles the pairing for you.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get assistance?
Not always. TDHCA’s My First Texas Home is for first-time buyers (veterans exempt), but My Choice Texas Home and both TSAHC programs are open to repeat buyers. Income limits and, for some programs, purchase price limits apply and vary by county.
Is down payment assistance free money or a loan?
It depends on the program. Some TSAHC assistance is a true grant with no repayment; other assistance is a second loan — often deferred with no monthly payment, forgiven or repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. Trey will walk you through exactly what your version costs, in plain English, before you commit.
Keep exploring
Conventional Loans
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Learn more →FHA Loans
The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Learn more →VA Loans
For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Learn more →Not sure if down payment assistance are right for you?
That’s literally what Trey and the team are for. One conversation, all your options side by side, zero pressure to move forward.