Loan Program
First-time buyer programs, including the Texas ones most lenders skip.
Down payment assistance and a mortgage tax credit, if you know to ask.
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First-Time Homebuyer Program
Down payment assistance and a mortgage tax credit, if you know to ask.
Three Years Resets the Clock
Not having owned a principal residence for three years generally makes you a first-time buyer again for programme purposes.
Texas Down Payment Assistance
TDHCA and TSAHC both run assistance programmes with county-level income and purchase-price limits.
A Tax Credit, Not a Deduction
A mortgage credit certificate converts part of your annual mortgage interest into a federal tax credit for as long as you keep the loan.
First-Time Homebuyer Program Full Description
Everything you need to know before you apply.
First-time buyer is a looser category than the name suggests. For most programme purposes it means you haven't owned a principal residence in the previous three years, so a good number of people who have owned before qualify again after a stretch of renting. It's not a loan type in itself; it's a set of programmes and pricing concessions that sit on top of conventional, FHA, VA or USDA financing. Which underlying loan you use is a separate decision, and usually the more consequential one.
Not sure if a first-time buyer program fits your situation?
Texas Assistance Worth Knowing About
The part worth knowing about in Texas is state assistance. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation both run down payment assistance, generally structured as a grant or a second lien covering some percentage of the loan amount, alongside a mortgage credit certificate that converts a slice of your annual mortgage interest into a federal tax credit rather than a deduction. Both carry income and purchase-price limits that vary by county, and both require the loan to be placed through an approved lender - which is the practical reason they get skipped. A retail bank with no approval simply won't mention them.
If you would like to explore whether a first-time buyer program matches your purchase price, credit profile and long-term budget, reach out to 3E Lending to speak with our licensed Texas mortgage team in Katy.
First-Time Homebuyer Program - Quick Reference
Straight answers to what borrowers ask most, each one showing the guideline or investor practice it comes from — so you can see where the answer came from, not just take our word for it.
Credit Score
Set by the underlying loan. Assistance programmes often add their own floor, commonly 620-640.
Source: TDHCA / TSAHC program guidelines · varies by lender
Credit History / Strength
Whatever the underlying conventional, FHA, VA or USDA loan requires.
Source: Fannie Mae; HUD Handbook 4000.1 · varies by lender
Interest Rates
Assisted loans sometimes price slightly above market, offset by the assistance itself.
Source: TDHCA / TSAHC program guidelines · varies by lender
Income / Employment Verification
Full doc, plus a programme income test with county-level limits.
Source: TDHCA / TSAHC program guidelines
Self Employment Qualifications
2 years of returns, per the underlying loan programme.
Source: Fannie Mae B3-3.2-01; HUD 4000.1
Documentation Difficulty
The underlying loan plus programme paperwork and a required HUD-approved homebuyer education course.
Source: TDHCA Lender Guide 1.6; TSAHC Guidelines 2.7
Debt to Income (DTI)
Governed by the underlying loan, typically 43-50%.
Source: Fannie Mae DU; HUD 4000.1 II.A.5 · varies by lender
Down Payment Requirement
As little as 0-3.5%, and assistance can cover part or all of it.
Source: TDHCA / TSAHC; HUD 4000.1 II.A.2
Down Payment Collateral Alternatives
Grants, second liens, gifts and employer assistance are all commonly permitted.
Source: TDHCA / TSAHC; Fannie Mae B3-4.3
Out of Pocket Fees
Standard closing costs. Some assistance may be applied toward them.
Source: TDHCA Lender Guide 3.7; TSAHC Guidelines 3.3 · varies by lender
Process Speed / Timeframe
30-45 days, with programme approval and education adding a step.
Source: Industry standard, 2026 · varies by lender
Figures on this page reviewed by Kimberli Pham, Mortgage Broker · NMLS ID 2459395, on . Program terms are set by the lender a file is placed with and change over time — each figure cites its source above.
The figures above are program guidelines and illustrative examples, not a quote. Actual terms vary by circumstances - your credit profile, income, the property, occupancy, loan amount, and the lender the file is placed with. Individual lenders also apply their own overlays on top of agency minimums. Nothing on this page is a commitment to lend. Approval depends on completion of underwriting, and not every applicant qualifies.
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