Texas Down Payment Assistance Programs for Dallas-Fort Worth Buyers

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Updated September 2026 | By Nitin Gupta, CRS, GRI | Broker Associate, Competitive Edge Realty | 480+ Transactions | $250M+ Career Volume

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Down payment assistance in Texas runs on two levels: statewide programs available to buyers anywhere in Texas, and city-specific programs that only apply inside a particular city's limits. Several DFW cities run their own versions with different terms, so which programs actually apply to you depends on exactly where you're buying, not just that you're buying in the metro generally.

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Statewide Texas programs

The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) is a nonprofit created by the Texas Legislature that offers down payment assistance paired with a first mortgage loan. TSAHC has its own eligibility quiz, requires working with a participating lender, and requires completing an approved homebuyer education course before closing. TSAHC doesn't require using a specific real estate agent, but does offer a search tool for agents familiar with its programs.

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The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) runs the My First Texas Home program, offering down payment and closing cost assistance alongside a competitively priced first mortgage for eligible first-time buyers.

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The Texas Veteran Land Board (TVLB) offers low-interest loan programs specifically for qualified Texas veterans, separate from the general first-time buyer programs above.

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City-specific programs in DFW

Dallas runs its own Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP), structured as a forgivable, deferred second-lien loan -- interest-free with no monthly payments, with the assistance prorated annually over a required residency period. Repayment is generally triggered by selling, leasing, or transferring the property before that period ends. Eligibility is income-limited, based on a percentage of the area's median income.

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Other DFW cities run comparable but distinct programs of their own -- Irving, Arlington, and Grand Prairie each have their own version, with different funding caps, income limits, and administering departments. A program available in one city does not automatically apply just across the city line, so the specific city matters as much as being in the DFW area generally.

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How these programs actually work

Most down payment assistance in Texas is structured as a second lien on the property, not a straightforward cash grant -- commonly forgivable over a set residency period, but still a real lien that shows up in a title search and has real conditions attached. Programs are typically income-limited, generally require working through a participating or approved lender rather than any lender you choose, and often require completing a homebuyer education course before closing. Program terms, income limits, and funding caps change and can also run out of allocated funds before a program's stated end date, so current details need to be confirmed directly with the specific program, not assumed from general information.

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What a buyer's agent handles here

Identifying which programs might realistically apply given where you're buying and your general situation, and coordinating timeline and paperwork between you and a lender who works with these programs, are real estate questions a buyer's agent should help with directly. Income and credit eligibility determinations, loan approval, and program administration belong to the lender and the specific program itself -- those decisions aren't made by a real estate agent and shouldn't be assumed from this page.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get down payment assistance in Texas?

Not always in the strict sense. Many programs count you as a first-time buyer if you haven't owned a home in the past three years, even if you've owned one before that.

Does Dallas have its own down payment assistance program?

Yes. The Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) is a forgivable, deferred second-lien loan for income-eligible buyers purchasing within Dallas city limits.

Do all DFW cities offer the same down payment assistance?

No. Several DFW cities, including Dallas, Irving, Arlington, and Grand Prairie, run their own distinct programs with different terms. Which ones apply depends on the specific city you're buying in.

Does a down payment assistance program require a specific lender or real estate agent?

Most require working through a participating or approved lender, though generally not a specific real estate agent. Confirm the requirements for any program you're considering directly with the program administrator.

Is down payment assistance a grant I never have to repay?

Often not entirely. Many programs are structured as a forgivable second lien tied to a required residency period -- if the home is sold, leased, or transferred before that period ends, repayment can be triggered.

For general relocation guidance, see the Dallas relocation guide. Buyer representation generally: buyer services. Full credentials: designations page. Home tours and buyer education: Nitin Gupta's YouTube channel.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Nitin Gupta does not rate, rank, or characterize schools, districts, or neighborhoods on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability, and provides real estate services to all clients regardless of these characteristics. Down payment assistance program terms, income limits, and funding availability change; verify current information directly with TSAHC, TDHCA, the relevant city program, and your lender before making a decision. Nothing here is lending or financial advice.