What down payment assistance is available in El Paso, Texas?

El Paso buyers can typically combine statewide assistance from TSAHC or TDHCA with a Mortgage Credit Certificate, plus any city or El Paso County program operating locally. Assistance is applied for through a participating lender, not directly with the city.

Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get help in El Paso?

Not always. Several Texas programs serve repeat buyers within income limits, and the first-time requirement is commonly waived for veterans and for homes in designated targeted areas.

How much are property taxes in El Paso County?

Texas has no state income tax, so property tax rates run higher than the national average. Rates vary by school and city district within El Paso County; filing a homestead exemption removes $140,000 of school-district assessed value for a primary residence.

West Texas · Texas

El Paso first-time home buyer programs,stacked and explained.

El Paso's median price keeps the math friendly. Many qualifying buyers can document a 0% effective down payment by layering city DPA with TSAHC or TDHCA, plus claim the MCC tax credit.

See what you qualify for →Full El Paso County guide

Median price: ~$235,000 (illustrative)
AMI cap: ≤ 80%
Top DPA: Varies by program
USDA eligible: Yes (outlying)

The El Paso stack

Programs most El Paso buyers never hear about.

El Paso's lower price points plus city and state DPA programs make it one of the most affordable Texas metros for first-time buyers.

1
City of El Paso Homebuyer Assistance Program — DPA for qualifying first-time buyers at or below 80% AMI.
2
TDHCA My First Texas Home — first-time buyer mortgage with up to 5% DPA.
3
TSAHC Home Sweet Texas Home Loan — statewide DPA, especially helpful for educators and first responders.
4
USDA Rural Development — zero-down loans for qualifying outlying areas of El Paso County.
5
MCC — up to $2,000/yr federal tax credit.

These may be compatible with one another depending on each program’s rules, your first mortgage, and your lender. Take the eligibility quiz to see which apply to your situation.

Where buyers ask about

Common El Paso neighborhoods for first-time buyers

These neighborhoods come up most often from El Paso buyers using our calculators. Inclusion here is informational only and not a recommendation — eligibility for any program depends on the specific address and current funding.