TDHCA vs. TSAHC
Which statewide program fits you.
All Texas Down Payment Assistance Programs (2026)
Texas buyers have more options than most: two statewide programs, a strong regional one in Houston, and city programs in Dallas and Irving. Here is the full menu, statewide and local, and who each one fits.
Statewide programs (the main event)
For most Texas buyers, the two statewide programs are the simplest and strongest path, they work anywhere in the state and are well funded. TDHCA runs My First Texas Home (first-time) and My Choice Texas Home (repeat buyers welcome). TSAHC runs Home Sweet Texas and the profession-based Homes for Texas Heroes. Both give 2% to 5% of the loan as a zero-percent deferred second, repayable or forgiven after three years, and both take a 620 credit score. Full detail on the TDHCA & TSAHC page.
Regional and city programs
On top of the statewide options, some areas have their own assistance. SETH, the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation, runs its 5 Star and GoldStar programs across the greater Houston and Southeast Texas region. The City of Dallas runs the Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) for homes in targeted areas, and the City of Irving has its own down payment program. These local programs have their own rules, funding cycles, and service areas, and they generally are not combined with the statewide programs, so it is a matter of picking the one that fits your address and situation.
The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
An MCC is not down payment assistance, it is a federal tax credit that gives back a portion of the mortgage interest you pay each year, for the life of the loan. Both TDHCA (with My Choice Texas Home, not the bond loan) and TSAHC offer MCCs, and they can be layered with some assistance tracks. For a buyer who will keep the home and the loan for years, an MCC can be worth real money over time. We can model it against your numbers.
Compare the programs
Homes for Texas Heroes
Teachers, first responders, veterans, nurses.
Repayable vs. forgivable
How the 0% deferred second is paid back — or not.
FAQ
Common questions
What down payment assistance programs are there in Texas?
Statewide, TDHCA (My First / My Choice Texas Home) and TSAHC (Home Sweet Texas, Homes for Texas Heroes) each give 2% to 5% assistance. Regionally, SETH serves greater Houston. Locally, the City of Dallas (DHAP) and City of Irving run their own programs. An MCC tax credit is also available.
Can I combine Texas down payment assistance programs?
Generally no. The statewide TDHCA and TSAHC programs are used one at a time, and local programs like Dallas DHAP are separate with their own rules. You use the one that fits your address and situation. An MCC can layer with some tracks.
What is a Texas MCC?
A Mortgage Credit Certificate is a federal tax credit that returns a portion of your annual mortgage interest for the life of the loan. Both TDHCA (with My Choice) and TSAHC offer MCCs. It is separate from down payment assistance but can add long-term savings.
See which Texas program fits you
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.