You May Need Less Down Than You Think
Real Texas down-payment assistance programs for Rio Grande Valley buyers. See which ones you may qualify for in under 2 minutes.
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REAL PROGRAMS · NOT GUESSWORK
The Programs We Can Walk You Through
There are real, active assistance programs Valley buyers use every year - and our trusted lenders are approved to help you access them:
TSAHC Home Sweet Texas
3% to 5% DPA as a grant you never repay OR a 3-year forgivable second lien. No first-time buyer requirement.
TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes
DPA + fixed-rate loan for teachers, police, firefighters, EMS, corrections officers, and veterans.
My First Texas Home (TDHCA)
Up to 5% of the loan amount toward down payment and closing costs, paired with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. For first-time buyers and veterans.
My Choice Texas Home (TDHCA)
Up to 5% assistance. No first-time homebuyer requirement.
SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage
Up to 5% assistance as a second loan with no monthly payment. 3-year forgivable option available. No first-time buyer requirement.
Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
Annual federal tax credit up to $2,000 (15% of mortgage interest). Can stack on top of DPA.
Program availability, amounts, and rules can change. Your lender confirms what you actually qualify for.
Help With the Down Payment - And Often Closing Costs Too
Most Valley buyers still think they need 20% down. You don't. These programs can cover much - sometimes all - of your down payment and closing costs.
A Grant
Money you never pay back.
Forgivable Second Lien
Disappears after 3 years if you stay in the home.
Deferred Second Lien
No monthly payment, repaid only when you sell or refinance.
Real example: On a $200,000 loan, 5% assistance = $10,000 toward your down payment or closing costs - money you may never have to repay.
Works With the Loan That Fits You
You don't choose between assistance and your loan type - these programs layer on top of whatever financing makes sense for your situation:
Low down payment (3.5%), flexible credit. DPA can be applied at 2%–5%.
For eligible veterans/active military, often $0 down plus assistance toward closing costs.
For eligible rural properties in the Valley. 81.5% of Hidalgo County is USDA-eligible.
Qualified buyers can pair assistance with a standard fixed-rate loan.
FHA itself doesn't provide the assistance - approved program sources do, and your lender ties it all together.
Built for Valley Incomes
This surprises most people: the income limits are higher than you'd think, and a large share of Valley households fall well within them.
Eligibility is based on household income, household size, and area - not whether you "feel" like you earn too much. Income limits change periodically.
A Few Things Most Valley Buyers Don't Know
- 01
You may not need to be a first-time buyer. TSAHC Home Sweet Texas, My Choice Texas Home, and SETH 5 Star all have no first-time buyer requirement.
- 02
The "previous owner" rule resets. For first-time buyer programs, you qualify again if you haven't owned a primary home in the past 3 years.
- 03
Veterans get extra doors. Veterans can skip the first-time buyer rule on My First Texas Home and have a dedicated Heroes program.
- 04
You can stack benefits. Down payment assistance + Mortgage Credit Certificate = help upfront AND a tax credit every year.
- 05
SETH has helped over 30,000 Texas families with $160M+ in assistance - these aren't obscure programs.
- 06
81.5% of Hidalgo County is USDA-eligible - meaning many Valley properties qualify for $0-down USDA loans on top of assistance.
- 07
Freddie Mac BorrowSmart Access specifically lists the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro as an eligible area for up to $3,000 in assistance.
What Our Trusted Lenders Can Help You With
We're not the lender - and that's the point. We connect you with trusted, program-approved lending partners who do this daily in the Valley, and we stay with you through closing.
Here's the process
- 1
You tell us the basics - where you want to buy, your timeline, and your situation.
- 2
We match you with a trusted lender who's approved for these specific Texas programs.
- 3
Your lender confirms what you qualify for - the real number, the right loan, and the right assistance program.
- 4
We help you find the home - and line everything up to one clean closing.
What we can realistically help you understand
- Whether you fit FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional best
- Whether TSAHC, TDHCA, SETH, or another path is worth reviewing
- Whether you qualify as first-time buyer, repeat buyer, hero profession, or veteran
- Whether assistance covers down payment, closing costs, or both
- What documents a lender will need next
- What price range realistically makes sense before you shop
No obligation. No pressure. No credit pull from this form. This is an inquiry for guidance - not a loan application.
Get Started
Find out if you qualify in under 2 minutes.
Share a few details and our team will reach out with the programs available to you - no obligation, no credit pull.
QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS.
Common Questions From Valley Buyers
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See If You QualifyREAL FAMILIES · REAL RESULTS
What Valley Buyers Are Saying
I thought we needed 20% down. U R Home Texas connected us with a lender who showed us we qualified for assistance - and we closed on our first home 6 weeks later.
The Martinez Family
McAllen, TX
As a teacher, I didn't realize there were programs specifically for my profession. The process was fast, and the lender knew exactly what paperwork I needed.
Sarah G.
Edinburg, TX
We had almost given up on buying. The team reviewed our situation, matched us with the right program, and now we're in a home we love.
The Rios Family
Harlingen, TX
Join the families who found a way home.
See If You Qualify