Harris County Down Payment Assistance Program
Silent second · Forgiven over 5 yrs · Income limit 80% of AMI
Single Family
See details Jul 2026
Down payment assistance · Texas
Buying a home in Harris County, TX
4 county-wide programs, 2 cities with their own, plus 41 statewide and 62 nationwide.Harris has 4 programs that cover the whole county and 2 cities with a program of their own. On top of those, 41 statewide and 62 nationwide programs are open here. Start with your city or ZIP to see which apply to the home you want.
Free · No credit pull · No SSN
Anywhere in HarrisAnywhere in Harris County
4 programs for every Harris address4 programs that cover every Harris address
All 4 are for first-time homebuyers and ask for a homebuyer class.These are run for the whole county, so a home in Houston, Baytown or Pasadena can use them. All 4 are for first-time homebuyers and ask for a homebuyer class.
Harris County Housing Finance Corporation Down Payment Assistance
Assistance grant · Forgiven over 5 yrs · Income limit 80% of AMI
Single-family
See details Aug 2026
Harris County Housing Finance Corporation + TDHCA Partnership DPA
Assistance grant · New construction · Income limits
Single-family
See details Aug 2026
Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP)
Forgivable loan · Forgiven over 10 yrs · Income limit 80% of AMI
Single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, PUD. Must be primary residence.
See details Jul 2026
AMI is HUD’s area median income for Harris, adjusted for household size. Each program publishes its own dollar limits.
Only inside city limits
2 cities with their own program2 Harris cities with their own program
For a home inside that city, on top of the county-wide 4.A city program is for a home inside that city. Buying there? It sits on top of the 4 county-wide programs above.
The Harris marketThe Harris housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat kinds of homes are here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Harris
- 56.5% single-familysingle-family
- 3.8% townhousetownhouse
- 5.1% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 32% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 2.6% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. 1 of the 4 county-wide programs and 4 of the 6 city programs list condos as eligible.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Harris’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
37.1%
of Harris homes were built before 1980. Pre-1978 homes come with a federal lead-paint disclosure.of homes were built before 1980. A home built before 1978 comes with a federal lead-paint disclosure, and some programs require an inspection.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25034.
$104,000
HUD area median income, 4 people (FY2026)HUD area median income, Harris County, 4-person household (FY2026)
$74,983
Median household income (ACS 2024 5-year)Median household income in Harris (Census ACS 2024 5-year)
54.7%
of occupied homes are owner-occupied (Texas: 62.6%)
The two income figures measure different things. HUD’s area median income is the one programs use. 26 of the 113 programs here set their income limit as a share of Harris County’s area median income, adjusted for household size. See the published limits for Harris County
Free help in HarrisFree help in Harris
13 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in the county13 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies with an office in Harris County
10 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.All 10 local programs here ask for a homebuyer class. A HUD-approved counselor teaches it and can walk you through your options. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.
Find my counselor
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Counted from HUD’s list of approved agencies: active offices whose ZIP code is in Harris County.
38 cities and placesA to Z
All cities in Harris CountyAll 38 cities and places in Harris County
has a program of its own
- Aldine
- Alief
- Atascocita
- Barrett
- Baytown
- Bellaire
- Bunker Hill Village
- Channelview
- Cloverleaf
- Crosby
- Cypress
- Deer Park
- El Lago
- Galena Park
- Hedwig Village
- Highlands
- Houston
- Hudson
- Humble
- Hunters Creek Village
- Jacinto City
- Jersey Village
- La Porte
- Nassau Bay
- Oak Cliff Place
- Pasadena
- Piney Point Village
- Seabrook
- Sheldon
- Shoreacres
- South Houston
- Southside Place
- Spring
- Spring Valley
- Taylor Lake Village
- Tomball
- Webster
- West University Place
Harris questions
Can I use a county program anywhere in Harris?
The 4 county-wide programs cover homes anywhere in the county. City programs, like Baytown’s and Houston’s, are only for homes inside that city’s limits. Each agency sets its own rules, so confirm on the program’s official site.
Can I combine a county program with a city program?
Sometimes. Combining ("stacking") programs is set by each administering agency, and some do not allow a second program on the same home. Each program’s page links to the agency that can say.
What is the area median income in Harris County?
HUD publishes it once a year; the 2026 four-person figure is shown above. Programs set their limits as a share of it, adjusted for household size, and the published limits page lists each one.
Do Harris programs accept condos?
1 of the 4 county-wide programs and 4 of the 6 city programs list condos as eligible. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.
Where can I take a homebuyer class in Harris?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 13 agencies have an office in Harris County. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
Keep exploring
Sources
Programs: Hey Prescott catalog of 2,000+ programs, each verified with its agency (July–August 2026). Market: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024), tables B01003, B25077, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B19013. Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.