El Paso Down Payment Assistance (TDHCA & TSAHC)
El Paso is one of the most affordable metros in Texas and a major military community at Fort Bliss. Down payment assistance stretches far here. Here is how TDHCA and TSAHC work in El Paso, including the Homes for Texas Heroes track.
How DPA works in El Paso
El Paso combines low prices with a large military and public-service workforce, and both make down payment assistance unusually powerful here. Because homes cost less than in the big central-Texas metros, the 2% to 5% assistance from TDHCA or TSAHC can cover the full down payment and much of the closing costs on a typical El Paso home. Both statewide programs operate here, offering a zero-percent second that is either repayable or forgiven after three years, and a 620 credit score qualifies. El Paso County income and price limits are on the TDHCA limits page; confirm your current figure before you shop.
Buying across El Paso
El Paso gives first-time buyers wide choice. The east side has the newest construction and draws many first-time and military buyers, the west side toward the Upper Valley and the foothills offers established neighborhoods, and the northeast near Fort Bliss is popular with service members. The Lower Valley and central El Paso hold the most affordable homes. Almost nothing in the El Paso market approaches the state price cap, so the question here is income eligibility, not price.
Fort Bliss and the Heroes track
Fort Bliss anchors El Paso, and TSAHC’s Homes for Texas Heroes is built for the community around it. Veterans and active military qualify, the income limits are higher than the general program, and veterans have the first-time-buyer requirement waived. Pair a zero-down VA loan with a Heroes deferred forgivable second covering closing costs, and a Fort Bliss family can buy with very little cash. See our VA + Texas DPA page.
TDHCA income and purchase-price limits vary by county/MSA and are current per the TDHCA limits page; TSAHC limits are on tsahc.org. Figures change; confirm your county before relying on one. See our eligibility page.
Common questions
Is down payment assistance worth it in El Paso?
Yes. El Paso is among the most affordable Texas metros, so the 2% to 5% TDHCA or TSAHC assistance covers most of a typical down payment and closing costs. Both statewide programs operate here with a 620 minimum credit score.
Is there down payment help for Fort Bliss military families?
Yes. TSAHC's Homes for Texas Heroes covers veterans and active military, with higher income limits and the first-time-buyer requirement waived for veterans. It pairs with a VA loan for very low cash to close.
Is El Paso down payment assistance forgivable?
It can be. Both TDHCA and TSAHC offer a 3-year deferred forgivable second lien (no interest, no payment, forgiven after 36 months), alongside a repayable option due at sale or refinance.
Ready to see your options?
Tell us your county, credit range, and price target, and we’ll map your Texas path in a no-pressure 20-minute call. No obligation.