Most renters I meet in DFW assume owning a home is years away. Then we read the actual program rules together and find out it was closer than they thought. Here is what Texas's two state housing agencies offer as of October 2026, taken from their own sites.
You Might Be a "First-Time Buyer" Even If You Owned Before
For the mortgage credit certificate, TSAHC counts you as a first-time buyer if you have not owned a principal residence in the last three years. Owned a condo years ago and rented since? You may qualify. Qualified veterans and buyers in designated Targeted Areas are exempt from the rule, and TDHCA's My First Texas Home has the same exceptions (TDHCA).
The Money on the Table
- TSAHC Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes: up to 5% of your loan amount for down payment and closing costs, as a grant, a second lien forgiven after three years, or a deferred repayable second lien. Credit scores as low as 620. On a $300,000 loan, 5% is $15,000.
- Homes for Texas Heroes covers full-time public school educators, police and public security officers, firefighters and EMS, veterans and active military, correctional and juvenile corrections officers, and nursing and allied health faculty, and includes the MCC free.
- TDHCA My First Texas Home (first-time buyers): 30-year loans with 3% to 5% assistance as a deferred repayable second lien, or 2% to 4% as a 3-year forgivable second lien when paired with the MCC. My Choice Texas Home (no first-time rule): 2% to 5% as a repayable or 3-year forgivable second lien. All per the Oct 19, 2026 rate notice. A homebuyer education course is required.
- Mortgage Credit Certificate: both TSAHC and TDHCA list a 15% credit rate, so $15,000 of mortgage interest in a year means a $2,250 federal tax credit. Apply before you close. TSAHC's stand-alone MCC is discontinued, so its MCC currently works only with a TSAHC down payment assistance or No-DPA (0%) loan; TDHCA still offers a stand-alone MCC with no minimum credit score while supplies last.
One catch: help usually costs rate. On TDHCA's notice, a My First Texas Home government loan was 6.750% with no assistance and 7.250% with 5% repayable assistance. For context, Freddie Mac's national 30-year average was 7.40% on Oct 15, 2026. We compare the payment both ways before you pick.
DFW Income and Price Limits
For My First Texas Home and the TDHCA MCC in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall counties (effective July 13, 2026): $121,100 income for one or two people, $139,265 for three or more, and a $589,596 purchase price limit outside targeted areas (TDHCA). Everyone who signs the deed of trust counts toward income. TSAHC limits vary by county, so we check yours.
Credit Is a Starting Point
Under HUD's FHA handbook, a 580 score qualifies for maximum financing and 500 to 579 is limited to 90% loan to value. TSAHC starts at 620. If you are short, we build a specific plan with a date to revisit.
Why Fall 2026 Can Work for You
Sellers are negotiating: 78.4% of Frisco sales closed below list in August 2026 (Zillow), and 65% of builders nationally used sales incentives in October 2026 (NAHB). Seller paid closing costs or a builder buydown can stack with these programs.
Your First Step Costs Nothing
One consultation shows which programs fit you and your real payment with and without assistance. Start here.