My First Texas Home in Houston is a TDHCA program that pairs a 30-year fixed-rate loan at a competitive rate with down payment and closing-cost assistance of up to about 5 percent of the loan amount. It is built for first-time buyers and qualified veterans who meet income and price limits. Eligibility and amounts are subject to program rules and full loan qualification.

My First Texas Home in Houston is one of the clearest paths a first-time buyer has to get into a home with less cash up front. Run by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the program combines a fixed-rate mortgage with help toward your down payment and closing costs, which matters in a market where the Houston median sale price sits near $350,000. In this guide I walk through how the program works, the income and price limits, who qualifies, and how to apply through an approved lender. If you want the full road map first, my guide to buying your first home in Houston pairs well with this one.

What Is the My First Texas Home Program for Houston Buyers?

My First Texas Home is a statewide program from TDHCA, now delivered through what the agency calls The Texas Homebuyer Program. It does two things at once. First, it offers a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a competitive rate, set up as an FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loan. Second, it adds down payment and closing-cost assistance, so the cash you bring to the table shrinks.

The assistance is generally up to about 5 percent of the loan amount and arrives as a second lien behind your main mortgage. Depending on the structure, it can be deferred or forgiven over time, so many buyers never repay it as long as they follow the rules. It does not replace your lender or change the underwriting on your loan, which is why the loan and the assistance need to be set up together from the start.

Figures are approximate and subject to change under TDHCA’s current rules and your full loan qualification. Income limits, price ceilings, and assistance amounts change over time. Confirm current terms at The Texas Homebuyer Program (TDHCA).

How My First Texas Home Helps Houston First-Time Buyers

For most first-time buyers in Houston, the down payment is the wall, not the monthly payment. My First Texas Home is designed to lower that wall. The assistance can cover much of the down payment and a share of closing costs, so a buyer who has steady income but thin savings can still get to the closing table.

There is a second benefit that is easy to miss. Many buyers can add a Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate to the program, which gives a yearly federal tax credit on part of the mortgage interest. So a Houston teacher or a young couple buying in Spring Branch might get help at closing and again every April. To see how that credit works on its own, read my guide to the Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate.

My First Texas Home Income and Purchase-Price Limits in Houston

Because this is an income-targeted program, both your household income and the price of the home are capped, and both limits vary by county and household size. For much of the Houston area, income ceilings have run near the high $90,000s for a one or two person household and higher for larger families. Purchase-price limits generally fall in a range from roughly $350,000 to $500,000 depending on the county and loan type.

These figures move, so I treat them as a starting point and confirm the current Harris County numbers against your specific profile. The reason this matters is timing. Knowing the price ceiling before you shop keeps you from writing an offer on a home the program will not fund, which is the delay I see most often.

Who Qualifies for My First Texas Home in Houston?

Eligibility for My First Texas Home starts with first-time buyer status, then layers in the usual loan requirements. A few rules decide whether the door is open for you.

The first-time rule has an important exception. Qualified veterans can use My First Texas Home even if they have owned a home before, which opens the program to a large slice of Houston’s military community near Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base. Each requirement is subject to qualification, so we confirm them during pre-approval rather than at the closing table.

How to Apply for My First Texas Home in Houston

You do not apply to TDHCA directly. My First Texas Home is delivered through a network of approved lenders, so the path runs through a loan officer who offers the program. The order of steps keeps your closing on track.

Step 1: Get pre-approved with an approved lender

We start with a full pre-approval, which sets your loan type, price range, and verified income. That income figure is what the program measures you against, so documenting it early tells us which doors are open.

Step 2: Confirm limits and choose your structure

Next, we check your income and target price against the current Harris County limits and decide how much assistance to use. This is also where we weigh adding a Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate for the yearly tax credit.

Step 3: Finish homebuyer education and shop within the rules

Complete the required homebuyer education course early, then shop within the program’s price ceiling. Knowing that limit before you tour homes keeps your offer inside what the program will fund.

My First Texas Home vs. Other Houston Assistance

My First Texas Home is one strong option, not the only one. TDHCA also runs My Choice Texas Home, which is open to repeat buyers, while TSAHC offers programs for teachers, first responders, and veterans. The City of Houston Homebuyer Assistance Program offers up to $50,000 for income-qualified buyers inside city limits, with its own lower income test.

Each program has a different income limit, so a buyer who earns slightly too much for one may still fit another. This is where a Houston-based advisor earns their keep, since I can line up your income, first-time status, and target area against several programs at once. For the full landscape, see my Houston down payment assistance guide.

My First Texas Home in Houston: Frequently Asked Questions