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Homebuyer Programs

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Single Family Mortgage Partnership Program (TDHCA)

Since 2020, Harris County Housing Finance Corporation has been awarded $232 million in private activity bonds it subsequently assigned to TDHCA to make mortgages in the Harris County HFC service area.  As of December 2024, TDHCA approved lenders have originated 541 mortgage loans to first time homeowners.  The HCHFC pioneered the bond assignment program with TDHCA and now other HFC’s are similarly assigning bonds to TDHCA.

TDHCA offers two programs that provide a 30-year, low-interest rate mortgage, along with up to 5% of the 1st lien mortgage amount to assist with down payment and closing cost assistance.

My First Texas Home (Texas Homebuyer Program) is available only to Veterans and first-time homebuyers.

  • No first-time homebuyer requirement
  • 30 years, 0% interest 2nd lien
  • 3-Year forgivable 2nd lien available
  • Flexible down payment and closing cost assistance available, up to 5% of the loan amount
  • Combine with Mortgage Credit Certificate MCC Option

An additional $1,000 grant per household may be available to eligible low-to-moderate- and middle-income homebuyers for down payment and closing cost assistance.

Program Eligibility:

  • Minimum credit score = 620
  • Meet household income limits
  • Meet property value limits
  • Be approved for a mortgage with one of The Texas Homebuyer Program-approved lenders
  • Other requirements may apply

My Choice Texas Home (Texas Homebuyer Program) is available to Veterans and repeat homebuyers.

Click to find an approved lender for the TDHCA Program.

Harris County Housing Finance Corporation Down Payment Assistance (with TDHCA only)

HCHFC offers down payment assistance for Harris County to be used only in conjunction with the TDHCA single-family mortgage program. (Assistance is subject to available funds managed by TDHCA for the mortgage program).

Click here to learn more about partnering with local housing finance agencies in eligible Texas counties and accessing additional bond funds that can be used alongside the TDHCA down payment assistance programs, helping you qualify to purchase a home sooner, please reach out for more information.

Click here to learn more about TDHCA and its programs.

SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage Program

Southeast Texas HFC (SETH)

HCHFC has a partnership with SETH that allows SETH to come into our area to make mortgages.

The SETH 5 Star Program offers down payment and closing cost assistance for home purchases, along with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Available mortgage options include FHA, USDA, VA, and conventional financing. The maximum assistance is 5% of the loan amount, provided as a forgivable community second loan that is forgiven after 3 years.

Grants are available with select conventional loan products for borrowers who meet Charter Level Income Limits. Loan officers can help determine the best option for your needs.

This program is available throughout Texas, excluding Travis County and the city limits of El Paso, McKinney, and Grand Prairie. Buyers must meet income eligibility requirements and complete the SETH online Homebuyer Education Course.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Mortgage approval with a program lender
  • Meet program income limits
  • Minimum FICO score = 640
  • Complete SETH HBE course
  • Maximum purchase price: $484,350

For more information, click here

Harris County Community Land Trust (HCCLT)

A community land trust (CLT) is a community-driven organization that creates lasting assets and shared equity homeownership opportunities for families and communities. CLTs are established to manage land over the long term, preserving affordability and ensuring access to housing and other community resources on that land. There are nearly 300 community land trusts active across the United States today.

Harris County Community Land TrustA CLT acquires land through purchase or donation, develops new homes or renovates existing ones, and offers these homes for sale to low-income buyers by reducing the purchase price through public and/or private subsidies. In Harris County, the Harris County Community Land Trust Management Corporation operates as a subsidiary of the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation. The HCCLT Corporation is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors consisting of HCHFC Board Members.

 

Getting Started

If your financial situation makes typical homeownership unattainable, the CLT may be right for you. A community land trust buys or receives donated houses and makes them available for sale to limited-income homebuyers while leasing them the land.

The goals of the Harris County Community Land Trust are:

  • Providing decent, safe, affordable homeownership options to low-income homebuyers;
  • Ensuring housing stays affordable for future low-income community residents.

Visit the Getting Started page to learn more about the Harris County Community Land Trust and how the HCCLT can help you.

Harris County Housing and Community Development (HCHCD)

The Harris County Housing and Community Development Department offers several programs to help homebuyers and homeowners. They include:

  • The Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) provides financial assistance towards the purchase of your dream home within the Harris County service area, outside the City of Houston.
  • The Single Family Reconstruction Program offers assistance to rebuild unsafe, uninhabitable single-family homes for low-to-moderate income families.
  • The Single Family New Construction Program (SFNCP) matches individuals and families with opportunities to purchase affordable new homes within the Harris County service area.
  • The Home Repair Program helps with necessary repairs to ensure the safety and well-being of homeowners.

For more information, click here