36 First-Time Home Buyer Grants in Texas

Coming up with the money to make a down payment and cover the closing costs for a mortgage is one of the biggest hurdles of buying a first home. You may be able to get a boost through a first-time home buyer grant program. Dozens are offered across Texas.

What is a first-time home buyer grant?

Grants come in different forms — as outright gifts, zero-interest loans, forgivable loans or deferred payment loans. This assistance provides money to help with a down payment and closing costs. Forgivable loans typically don’t have to be repaid — as long as the borrower continues to own and live in the home for a certain period of time, such as five years. Deferred payment loans usually don't have to be repaid until the borrower moves, sells the home, refinances or pays off the mortgage.

Each grant program has its own terms, conditions and eligibility requirements, but in general you must:

• Be a first-time home buyer, as defined by the program.

• Take a home buyer education course.

• Satisfy income requirements.

• Satisfy purchase price requirements. In many programs, the price must be less than 95% of an area’s median home purchase price.

• Purchase in the approved location.

Besides browsing the grants we’ve listed below, you may want to check out the affordable home loan programs offered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or TDHCA. In addition to low interest rates and tax credits, some of these loan programs also include a grant component.