Federal, Texas state, and local programs that may help cover down payment, closing costs, or property taxes when buying a home in Harris County. Information below is educational and links to the administering agency's official page.
Cities included: Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Spring, Cypress
Up to $75,000 in subsidy (HAP Guidelines v8.0) for income-qualified first-time buyers purchasing inside Houston city limits; the exact amount is based on documented household need. Intake is suspended for the Fifth Ward / Kashmere Gardens EPA sampling zone - confirm current status with the city.
Community Development Block Grant funds providing forgivable loans for down payment to qualified unincorporated Harris County residents.
30-year fixed-rate mortgage with down payment and closing cost assistance up to 5% of the loan amount for first-time buyers and veterans.
Down payment and closing cost assistance available to all Texas buyers - first-time or repeat - meeting income limits.
Down payment assistance and competitive mortgage loans for teachers, police, firefighters, EMS, corrections officers, nurses, and veterans.
Down payment assistance as a grant or second lien loan for low-to-moderate income Texas buyers statewide.
Below-market interest rate loans up to $832,750 for Texas veterans to buy a primary residence - combinable with VA financing.
Government-insured loan with down payments as low as 3.5% and flexible credit requirements. Ideal for first-time buyers and those with limited savings.
Zero down payment loans for eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses. No private mortgage insurance (PMI) required.
100% financing for low-to-moderate income buyers in eligible rural and suburban Texas areas. No down payment required.
Federal tax credit on a share of annual mortgage interest paid - the credit rate is set by the issuer. TSAHC and TDHCA both currently issue at a 15% credit rate, so the federal $2,000 annual cap (which applies only to credit rates above 20%) does not apply to either Texas program today.
50% discount on the list price of homes in revitalization areas for law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters, and EMTs.
Up to 5% of the final loan amount in down payment and closing cost assistance, provided as a second loan - either forgiven after 3 years or deferred with no payments and no interest until sale, refinance, or year 30. No first-time buyer requirement. Not available in Travis County or the city limits of El Paso, Grand Prairie, and McKinney.
SETH down payment and closing cost assistance option for buyers who do not fit the 5 Star structure. Terms and availability are set by SETH and vary by lender - confirm current terms before relying on them.
Texas homeowners who occupy a property as their primary residence on January 1 can file a homestead exemption with their county appraisal district — for free — to lower property taxes. The general school-district exemption is $140,000 of assessed value.
Read the homestead exemption guideThe free 31-page Texas Buyer Playbook walks through every program above plus tax credits, MCC, and county-level resources.
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