Greater Houston · Texas

Houston first-time home buyer programs,stacked and explained.

Houston runs one of the largest city-level down-payment assistance programs in Texas. Combined with state and federal tools, qualified first-time buyers in Harris County can document a meaningful stack — but city HAP funding has been cycle-limited recently, so timing and intake status matter.

See what you qualify for →Full Harris County guide

Median price: ~$340,000 (illustrative)
AMI cap (HAP): ≤ 80%
City program: HAP / HBAP
MCC credit: Up to $2,000/yr

The Houston stack

Programs most Houston buyers never hear about.

Houston first-time buyers stack the city's Homebuyer Assistance Program with TDHCA/TSAHC state programs and the MCC federal tax credit.

1
Houston Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) — down-payment and closing-cost assistance for households at or below 80% AMI inside Houston city limits. Funding levels and award amounts are set annually by City Council.
2
Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program (HBAP) — separate disaster-recovery program for properties impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
3
Harris County DPA — county-level help for properties outside Houston city limits but inside Harris County.
4
TDHCA My First Texas Home — 30-year fixed mortgage with up to 5% DPA, stackable with MCC.
5
TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes / Home Sweet Texas — DPA grants for teachers, first responders, veterans, and qualifying buyers.
6
MCC — annual federal tax credit up to $2,000 for the life of the loan.

Most Houston buyers stack at least three of these. Take the eligibility quiz to see which apply to your situation.

Program status: Houston HAP and HBAP have periodically paused new applications due to funding caps. Always verify current intake status with the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department before counting on a specific award.

Where buyers ask about

Common Houston neighborhoods for first-time buyers

These neighborhoods come up most often from Houston 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.