Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation
TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes
Up to 5% of the loan amount for teachers, police, firefighters, EMS, corrections officers, nurses, and veterans.
Accepting new reservations as of our last check.
Assistance amount
Up to $25,000 (about 5%)
Structure
Grant — never repaid
Where it works
Texas statewide
First-time buyer required
No — repeat buyers qualify
Minimum credit score
620
Funding status
Active · verified August 2026
Program overview
Homes for Texas Heroes is the occupation-based half of TSAHC's assistance. If you are a teacher, teacher aide, school librarian, counselor, police officer, corrections officer, firefighter, EMS responder, nurse, allied health professional, or veteran, you can take up to 5% of the loan amount toward your down payment and closing costs — as a grant you never repay, or as a deferred second, depending on the option you select.
Best for: Texas teachers, first responders, nurses, corrections officers, and veterans.
Who qualifies
- First-time buyer rule: There is no first-time buyer requirement, so repeat buyers can use it.
- Credit score: A 620 credit score is the published minimum, which is lower than most state programs.
- Income limits: TSAHC applies household income limits by county and family size, and they are set high enough that most Texas hero households qualify.
- Occupancy: Primary residence only; you must work in an eligible hero profession.
- Eligible loans: FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional
- Occupation: Targeted at teachers, first responders, nurses, healthcare workers, veterans, government employees.
- Homebuyer education: Required before closing. Start it early — certificates take days to issue.
Do you pay it back?
Grant option is never repaid. Deferred second option is repaid on sale or refinance within the first three years.
Check whether you qualify for TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes
The Finder compares your income, household size, credit band, county, and job to this program's published rules and tells you roughly what it is worth in dollars.
Advantages
- Grant option means you never repay the money.
- A 620 credit floor — one of the most accessible in the country.
- No first-time buyer requirement for eligible heroes.
- Can be combined with a Mortgage Credit Certificate for an annual tax credit.
Things to consider
- You must document employment in an eligible profession.
- The grant option carries a higher first mortgage rate than the repayable option.
- Homebuyer education is required before closing.
- You must use a TSAHC-approved lender.
How to apply
- Confirm your household income against the current limit for your county and household size.
- Find a lender approved by TSAHC. You cannot use just any lender — the agency maintains a participating list.
- Get pre-approved on the first mortgage the program requires.
- Complete the homebuyer education course. Do this early; certificates take days to issue.
- Write the offer with the assistance disclosed and a realistic closing timeline.
Ask RED: “Explain TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes to me in plain English.”
Ask REDPairing it with a loan
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes back?
Grant option is never repaid. Deferred second option is repaid on sale or refinance within the first three years.
How much money does TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes provide?
Up to $25,000 (about 5%). The exact figure depends on your loan amount, the option your lender selects, and the funding available at the time you reserve.
What credit score do I need for TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes?
A 620 credit score is the published minimum, which is lower than most state programs.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to use TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes?
No. TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes does not require you to be a first-time buyer, which makes it usable by repeat buyers who have sold a previous home.
Which loans can I use with TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes?
FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional. The first mortgage has to come from a lender approved by TSAHC — you cannot bring your own lender and add the assistance to it.
What are the income limits for TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes?
TSAHC applies household income limits by county and family size, and they are set high enough that most Texas hero households qualify.
Do I have to live in the home?
Primary residence only; you must work in an eligible hero profession.
What credit score do I need for down payment assistance?
Most programs start at 620, some FHA-based programs go to 640, and a handful of manually underwritten paths accept 580. A higher score usually unlocks a larger assistance tier and a better interest rate.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Usually, but 'first-time buyer' almost always means you have not owned a home in the last three years — not that you have never owned one. Some programs waive it entirely for veterans, for buyers in targeted areas, or for certain professions.
Other programs Texas buyers can use
Chenoa Fund Down Payment Assistance
Chenoa Fund · Nationwide
Up to $25,000 (about 5%)
A nationwide 3.5% or 5% second mortgage that covers the entire FHA down payment, available in nearly every state.
Program detailsTDHCA My First Texas Home
Texas Department of Housing · Texas statewide
Up to $15,000 (about 5%)
FTHB program: up to 5% assistance as a 0%-interest deferred second lien.
Program detailsTSAHC Home Sweet Texas Grant
Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation · Texas statewide
Up to $25,000 (about 5%)
Up to 5% grant for down payment and closing costs. No FTHB requirement. Income limits apply by county.
Program detailsRelated resources
- The complete Texas homebuyer guide
- All Texas assistance programs
- How much home can I afford?
- FHA loan requirements
- Conventional loan requirements
- Run my Readiness Score
- Down Payment Assistance Finder
- How to use the DPA Finder (user guide)
- The Homebuyer's Knowledge Center
- Down payment assistance explained
- Ask RED a question
ReadinessIQ is a Homebuyer Readiness Platform, not the agency that funds these programs. We publish what the agencies publish, link to the official source, and tell you when a rule is likely to change. The agency and your lender make the final call on who qualifies.