Texas Down Payment Assistance: TDHCA & TSAHC Programs
Texas has two statewide down payment assistance operators, TDHCA and TSAHC, plus regional and city programs. Here is the full map: who runs what, how much you get, and whether it is repaid or forgiven.
Two statewide operators
Most states have one housing finance agency. Texas has two that both offer statewide down payment assistance, and you can use either. TDHCA, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, runs "The Texas Homebuyer Program." TSAHC, the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, runs its own parallel programs. They have different income limits and slightly different rules, so having both means more buyers qualify. A good lender checks you against both and uses whichever fits.
TDHCA: My First Texas Home & My Choice Texas Home
| Program | First-time required? | Loan types |
|---|---|---|
| My First Texas Home | Yes (veterans exempt) | FHA, VA, USDA (bond program) |
| My Choice Texas Home | No (first-time, repeat, veterans) | FHA, VA, USDA, conventional |
Both provide 2% to 5% of the loan amount as down payment assistance. My First Texas Home is a mortgage revenue bond program and cannot be combined with an MCC; My Choice Texas Home can. Both accept a 620 credit score.
TSAHC: Home Sweet Texas & Homes for Texas Heroes
TSAHC splits its help into two tracks. Home Sweet Texas is for low-to-moderate-income Texans generally. Homes for Texas Heroes is for people in specific service professions, teachers, police, firefighters, EMS, corrections officers, veterans and active military, and nurses and allied-health faculty, and it carries higher income limits. Either way, TSAHC gives you a choice between a grant (never repaid) and a 3-year deferred forgivable second lien. See the full profession list on our Homes for Texas Heroes page.
Repayable or forgivable?
Across both operators, the assistance comes as a zero-percent second mortgage in one of two forms. The repayable version sits behind your first mortgage with no monthly payment and is due when you sell or refinance. The forgivable version is wiped out after three years, as long as you keep the home. Which one is right depends on how long you plan to stay. We break that down on the repayable vs. forgivable page.
Program facts verified August 2026 against TDHCA and TSAHC guidelines. This is not a commitment to lend; rates are posted on the operators’ sites (we never quote one here). Related: County limits · TDHCA vs. TSAHC.
Common questions
What down payment assistance programs are available in Texas?
Texas has two statewide operators. TDHCA runs My First Texas Home (first-time) and My Choice Texas Home (repeat buyers OK). TSAHC runs Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes. Both give 2% to 5% of the loan as a 0% deferred second, repayable or forgiven after 3 years.
What is the difference between TDHCA and TSAHC?
Both are statewide Texas agencies offering down payment assistance, with different income limits and rules. TDHCA (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs) runs the Texas Homebuyer Program; TSAHC (Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation) runs Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes. You can use whichever you qualify for.
What credit score do I need for Texas down payment assistance?
Both TDHCA and TSAHC require a 620 minimum credit score (640 on FHA manual underwriting). Maximum DTI follows automated underwriting, with 45% on manual underwrites.
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.