Down Payment Assistance Programs in North Texas: What Buyers Need to Know
If you've been putting off buying a home because you don't think you have enough saved, this post is for you. Between city, county, and statewide programs, North Texas buyers have more down payment help available right now than most people realize — some of it doesn't even have to be paid back. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what's out there and who qualifies.
What Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Actually Is
DPA programs provide funding — through grants, forgivable loans, or deferred second liens — to help cover your down payment and sometimes closing costs. Some of this money is free and clear. Some has to be repaid only if you sell or refinance within a certain window. Either way, it can be the difference between renting another year and closing on a home this year.
Fort Worth: Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)
The City of Fort Worth offers up to $25,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing within Fort Worth city limits.
Who qualifies:
- Must be a first-time homebuyer (haven't owned a home in the last 3 years) or a displaced homeowner
- Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
- U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
- Sales price must fall within 95% of the area median sales price
- Homebuyer education course required
The property also has to pass a City of Fort Worth inspection, environmental review, and lead hazard evaluation before funds are released — so factor that into your closing timeline.
Tarrant County: Homebuyer Assistance Program
Tarrant County offers up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance — but there's an important catch: the property must be located in Tarrant County outside the city limits of Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie, since those cities run their own separate programs.
Assistance comes as a zero-interest deferred loan, forgivable after an affordability period of 10 to 20 years, depending on the amount received.
Dallas: Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP)
For buyers purchasing within Dallas city limits, DHAP provides financial assistance to eligible low- and moderate-income households. Amounts and terms vary based on need and household size, so it's worth a direct conversation with the program administrator to see what you'd qualify for.
Arlington: Homebuyers Assistance Program
The City of Arlington offers up to $14,999 in down payment and closing cost assistance, funded through the city's federal HOME program, for income-eligible buyers purchasing within Arlington city limits.
Who qualifies:
- Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
- Minimum credit score around 620
- Property must be within Arlington city limits
- Homebuyer education course required
Grand Prairie: Buying Power Program
The City of Grand Prairie offers down payment and closing cost assistance for income-eligible buyers purchasing within city limits through its Buying Power Program.
Who qualifies:
- Income eligibility requirements apply (contact the city's housing office for current limits)
- Property must be within Grand Prairie city limits
- Specific assistance amounts should be confirmed directly with the city, as current figures weren't publicly available at time of writing
Denton: Homebuyers Assistance Program
The City of Denton offers up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for income-eligible first-time homebuyers — one of the more generous city programs in North Texas.
Who qualifies:
- Must be a first-time homebuyer (haven't owned a home in the last 3 years)
- Household income limits apply
- Property must be within Denton city limits
- Homebuyer education course required
Plano: First-Time Homebuyers Assistance & Education Program
The City of Plano offers two tiers of assistance for income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing within Plano city limits — up to $10,000 or up to $55,000, depending on the program tier.
Who qualifies:
- Must be a first-time homebuyer (haven't owned a home in the last 3 years)
- Household income limits apply, with tighter restrictions for the higher assistance tier
- Property must be within Plano city limits
- Homebuyer education course required
McKinney: First-Time Homebuyers Purchase Assistance Program
The City of McKinney offers up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing within city limits.
Who qualifies:
- Must be a first-time homebuyer (haven't owned a home in the last 3 years)
- Household income limits apply
- Property must be within McKinney city limits
- Homebuyer education course required
Mesquite: Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP)
The City of Mesquite offers up to $10,000 as a zero-interest forgivable loan for income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing within city limits.
Who qualifies:
- Must be a first-time homebuyer (haven't owned a home in the last 3 years)
- Household income limits apply
- Property must be within Mesquite city limits
- Homebuyer education course required
Frisco: City/FISD Employee Down Payment Assistance Program
The City of Frisco offers up to $10,000 as a forgivable loan for down payment and closing costs — but this one's narrower than most. It's only available to full-time employees of the City of Frisco or Frisco ISD.
Who qualifies:
- Must be a full-time employee of the City of Frisco or Frisco ISD for at least 6 months
- Loan forgives over 5 years as long as you stay in the home and keep your job with the city or district
- Household income and purchase price limits apply and vary by family size
- 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer class plus a one-hour counseling session required
Statewide Texas Programs (Available Anywhere in North Texas)
A few programs aren't tied to a specific city, which makes them useful if you're buying anywhere across Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Parker, Johnson, or Hood counties.
My First Texas Home (TDHCA)
A below-market mortgage loan paired with down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 5% of your loan amount.
Homes for Texas Heroes
Low-interest mortgages plus DPA for eligible public service professionals (teachers, firefighters, healthcare workers, veterans, and more).
Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program
Home loans and down payment help for low- and moderate-income families, available as a grant or a deferred forgivable second loan.
TSAHC Programs
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation offers grants and deferred second liens that pair with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans.
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
If you qualify as a first-time buyer, this program can convert a portion of your annual mortgage interest into a direct federal tax credit — not just a deduction.
A Few Things Every Buyer Should Know
- You usually don't need to be a "first-time" buyer in the traditional sense — in Texas, if you haven't owned a home in the last 3 years, most programs count you as a first-time buyer.
- Programs can often be stacked. Combining a city program with a statewide one may cover most or all of your upfront costs.
- Homebuyer education courses are required for nearly every program — they're usually online, a few hours long, and genuinely useful.
- Income limits and sales price caps vary by program and household size, so what you qualify for in Fort Worth may look different than in unincorporated Tarrant County or Dallas.
Ready to See What You Qualify For?
Down payment assistance can change the entire timeline for buying your first home — but the programs, paperwork, and eligibility rules can be a lot to sort through alone. I work with buyers across Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Parker, Johnson, and Hood counties and can help point you toward the right lender and program for your situation.
Brent Reiter
Brent Sells DFW
brentsellsdfw.com | brent@brentsellsdfw.com | 817-874-1602
Note before publishing: Program amounts, income limits, and eligibility rules change year to year and can vary further by lender. Verify current figures and requirements directly with each program (city, county, or TDHCA/TSAHC) before publishing, since a few of the specific dollar amounts above are subject to annual updates. The Grand Prairie amount in particular wasn't confirmed in research and should be verified directly with the city before this goes live.
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