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Home Buying Assistance in South Texas
South Texas Home Down Payment Assistance
At the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC), we help people in South Texas and throughout the rest of the state purchase a home. We are a nonprofit organization that was created by the Texas Legislature to help Texans achieve their dream of homeownership.
South Texas is booming. That’s why we have programs and resources for Texans who want to buy a home there.
Are You Eligible for Our Programs?
To qualify, you must have a credit score of 620 and meet certain income requirements.
The first step to see if you qualify is to take our online Eligibility Quiz. It only takes a few minutes and you don’t need to fill out any paperwork. The quiz will let you know if you meet the program requirements and if so, the types of assistance you qualify for.
Two Home Buyer Programs: Which is Right For You?
“Homes for Texas Heroes” Program
If you’re in a hero profession, this is the home loan program for you. Hero professions include:
At A Glance
- Professional educators, which includes the following full-time positions in a public school district: school teachers, teacher aides, school librarians, school counselors, and school nurses
- Police officers and public security officers
- Firefighters and EMS personnel
- Veterans or active military
- Correction officers and juvenile corrections officers
- Nursing faculty and allied health faculty
“Home Sweet Texas” Home Loan Program
If you don’t qualify under one of the professions listed above, this is the best program for you.
At A Glance
- This program offers the same benefits as the Home for Texas Heroes Program.
What Kind of Help Does TSAHC Offer?
If you qualify for our programs, TSAHC will provide you with a mortgage loan and funding to use for your down payment. You can choose to receive the down payment assistance (DPA) as a grant (which does not have to be repaid) or a deferred forgivable second lien loan (which only has to be repaid if you sell or refinance within three years).
Are You A First-Time Home Buyer?
If you are buying your first home, you can also apply for a mortgage interest tax credit known as a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). To qualify, you must meet certain income requirements and the home must meet certain sales price restrictions.
Learn More About Calculate Mortgage Credit Certificate Savings
Ready to Start?
The first step is to take our quick online Eligibility Quiz. This quiz will tell you whether you’re eligible for our assistance.
If you are eligible, the quiz will then direct you to contact a participating lender in your area. The lender will help you fill out the application. You will not submit anything directly to TSAHC.
You will also be required to complete an approved home buyer education course before closing on your home. We don’t require you to work with a specific REALTOR®, but you can use this search tool to find a REALTOR® familiar with our programs.
Homebuyer Success Stories in South Texas
Vanessa Medrano, a single mom of a four-year-old daughter, was in a bind. The rent on her townhome was going up, but she didn’t think she could Her loan officer, Janie quickly realized that because she was a teacher, Vanessa qualified for down payment assistance through TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes Home Loan Program and got her started on the application process. To Vanessa, owning a home is everything. Not only was it the right move financially, but it gave her the confidence to go back to school, to go back to school to obtain her master’s degree to become a school administrator.
“Buying a home not only put a stable, affordable roof over our heads. It gave me the confidence to achieve my dreams and show my daughter that anything is possible.”
Vanessa Medrano
Mariana Martinez and her fiancé Jose Trevino bought a home in the Park Meadows subdivision in Harlingen in December 2019. Because Jose is a teacher, they were also able to access down payment assistance through TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes program. They attended a celebration of the Park Meadows subdivision that TSAHC hosted with state and local officials, where they met Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Mariana Martinez and Jose Trevino
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