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As the calendar turns to November, and Veterans Day is on the horizon, we’d like to honor the more than 1.4 million Veterans who call Texas home.
We recognize the bravery of the Texas men and women that have dedicated themselves to defending our country. That’s why we dedicate an On the House entry each year to spotlight programs and services that help military members live comfortably and affordably in the communities they worked to protect.
TSAHC’S TOOLS FOR VETERAN HOMEOWNERSHIP
We strive to give Texas Veterans every opportunity to pursue the dream of homeownership. Our Home for Texas Heroes program is a home buyer assistance program designed to help Veterans buy a home by offering down payment assistance worth up to 5% of the mortgage loan amount.
As added recognition, Veterans who pair TSAHC’s down payment assistance (DPA) with a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) are eligible to receive their MCC for free (a $400 savings). An MCC reduces the federal income tax liability every year, allowing home buyers that claim it to save thousands over the life of a loan.
OTHER HOME BUYING RESOURCES FOR VETERANS
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: provides a home loan guaranty benefit to help Veterans buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home to suit their occupancy needs. Although VA loans require zero down payment, they can also be paired with other programs such as TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes program.
- Texas Veteran’s Land Board: provides low-interest land, home, and home improvement loans that require little or no down payment. The home loan program also offers an interest rate reduction to qualifying Veterans with a disability.
- Pen-Fed Foundation: periodically offers grants for down payments to Veterans who are first-time homebuyers.
- Some mortgage lenders offer additional home buying incentives and credits for Veterans. Be sure to ask if these are offered when searching for a lender.
Employment Resources
- Texas Workforce Commission: connects returning Veterans with employment and training resources, as well as medical, benefits, and educational assistance.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Career Resources: resources for Veterans who are experiencing career challenges.
- HireHeroesUSA: provides personalized employment training and corporate engagement to create job opportunities for Veterans and their spouses.
- Brenham Community Center also pointed us to this collection of business ideas for Veterans, put together by Commercial Capital Training Group.
- This Veteran’s guide to starting a small business and article on how to fund a business were also helpfully provided by Cadet Ryan Cirbo.
Legal Resources
- State Bar of Texas: supports pro bono legal clinics throughout Texas for military Veterans who cannot afford to access the legal services they need.
- U.S. Deparment of Veterans Affairs Office of General Counsel: list of legal assistance resources for Veterans.
- Texas Legal Services Center: provides free legal assistance via telephone to Texas Veterans, with an emphasis on serving disabled Veterans in rural areas of the state.
physical and mental health care
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care: list of physical and mental health care resources for Veterans including resources tailored to specific populations and health-related issues.
General Resources
- Texas Veterans Portal: The Texas Veterans Portal connects veterans, their families, and caregivers to the benefits and services earned through their military service. There are resources for health and wellness, education and training, disabilities and claims, among others.
- Texas Veterans Commission: The Texas Veterans Commission was created to assist Veterans and to serve as the state appointed advocate for Texas Veterans as they attempt to secure the benefits they earned in exchange for their service. Their programs include claims services, employment and education resources, an entrepreneurship program, a Veterans’ assistance fund, and more.
- TexVet: Funded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, TexVet helps Veterans locate resources, services, and information near them. With resources for VA claims assistance, legal assistance, housing assistance, and more, TexVet is another great website to check out.
On the House blog posts are meant to provide general information on various housing-related issues, research and programs. We are not liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the information provided by blog sources. Furthermore, this blog is not legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney.
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