Forgivable loan
Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)
First-time homebuyers · Income limits · Single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, PUD. Must be primary residence.
Down payment assistance · Harris County
Buying a home in Houston, TX
5 Houston programs, 3 county programs and 50 statewide.Houston has 5 programs of its own, 3 more across Harris County, and 50 statewide. Here is what each one offers, what the local market looks like, and who near you can walk you through it.
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Only for Houston addresses
Houston’s own programs
Forgivable loan
Houston First-Time Homebuyers Program
First-time homebuyers · New construction · Income limits · Single Family · Condo · Townhouse
Assistance grant
Harris County Housing Finance Corporation Down Payment Assistance
First-time homebuyers · Income limits · Single-family
Forgivable loan
Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program
Income limits · Single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, PUD. Must be primary residence.
Assistance grant
Houston Habitat for Humanity Down Payment Assistance
First-time homebuyers · New construction · Income limits · Single-family
Anywhere in HarrisAnywhere in Harris County
3 county programs3 county programs a Houston homebuyer can also use
The Houston marketThe Houston housing market
Kinds of homes hereWhat’s for sale here, and what the programs accept
Kinds of homes in Houston
- 42.7% single-familysingle-family
- 4.9% townhousetownhouse
- 6.8% 2–4 units2–4 units
- 44.5% 5+ unitscondo & apartment buildings (5+ units)
- 1.1% mobile & othermobile home & other
Condos count. 4 of Houston’s 8 local and county programs accept condos.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year (2020–2024). Table B25024.
When Houston’s homes were built
pre-19401970s2020+
47%
of Houston 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
County area median income, 4 people (HUD)HUD area median income, Harris County, 4-person household (2026)
$64,813
Houston median household incomeMedian household income in Houston (Census, 2024)
28 of the 120 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 nearbyFree help near Houston
11 HUD-approved counseling agencies within 15 miles11 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies within 15 miles
8 programs here ask for a homebuyer class first. Create a free account to see who’s near you and pick one.All 8 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.
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Across Texas and nationwide
112 statewide & federal programs50 statewide programs, plus federal options
Houston questions
Does Houston have its own down payment program?
Yes, 5: Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP), Houston First-Time Homebuyers Program, Harris County Housing Finance Corporation Down Payment Assistance, Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program and Houston Habitat for Humanity Down Payment Assistance. Each is for homes inside Houston.
Can I use assistance on a condo in Houston?
4 of Houston’s 8 local and county programs accept condos. Each program’s page lists the kinds of homes it accepts, and the agency confirms it for the home you choose.
What is the income limit in Harris County?
Each program sets its own. 28 of the programs here set theirs as a share of HUD’s area median income for Harris County, adjusted for household size. HUD publishes the median each year; the 2026 figure is shown above and on the published limits page.
Where can I take a homebuyer class near Houston?
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies teach homebuyer classes, and 11 agencies are within 15 miles of Houston. Create a free account and take the 90-second match to see the ones near you.
ZIP codes
77001 · 77002 · 77003 · 77004 · 77005 · 77006 · 77007 · 77008 · 77009 · 77010 · 77011 · 77012 · 77013 · 77014 · 77015 · 77016 · 77017 · 77018 · 77019 · 77020 · 77021 · 77022 · 77023 · 77024 · 77025 · 77026 · 77027 · 77028 · 77029 · 77030 · 77031 · 77032 · 77033 · 77034 · 77035 · 77036 · 77037 · 77038 · 77039 · 77040 · 77041 · 77042 · 77043 · 77044 · 77045 · 77046 · 77047 · 77048 · 77049 · 77050 · 77051 · 77052 · 77053 · 77054 · 77055 · 77056 · 77057 · 77058 · 77059 · 77060 · 77061 · 77062 · 77063 · 77064 · 77065 · 77066 · 77067 · 77068 · 77069 · 77070 · 77071 · 77072 · 77073 · 77074 · 77075 · 77076 · 77077 · 77078 · 77079 · 77080 · 77081 · 77082 · 77083 · 77084 · 77085 · 77086 · 77087 · 77088 · 77089 · 77090 · 77091 · 77092 · 77093 · 77094 · 77095 · 77096 · 77097 · 77098 · 77099 · 77201 · 77202 · 77203 · 77204 · 77205 · 77206 · 77207 · 77208 · 77209 · 77210 · 77212 · 77213 · 77215 · 77216 · 77217 · 77218 · 77219 · 77220 · 77221 · 77222 · 77223 · 77224 · 77225 · 77226 · 77227 · 77228 · 77229 · 77230 · 77231 · 77233 · 77234 · 77235 · 77236 · 77237 · 77238 · 77240 · 77241 · 77242 · 77243 · 77244 · 77245 · 77248 · 77249 · 77251 · 77252 · 77253 · 77254 · 77255 · 77256 · 77257 · 77258 · 77259 · 77261 · 77262 · 77263 · 77265 · 77266 · 77267 · 77268 · 77269 · 77270 · 77271 · 77272 · 77273 · 77274 · 77275 · 77277 · 77279 · 77280 · 77281 · 77282 · 77284 · 77287 · 77288 · 77289 · 77290 · 77291 · 77292 · 77293 · 77297 · 77298 · 77299
Nearby in Harris
Sources
Sources: agency sites (July–August 2026), Census ACS 2024 5-year, HUD FY2026, HUD counseling list. Hey Prescott is not a lender.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). Income: HUD FY2026 income limits. Counselors: HUD list of approved housing counseling agencies. Hey Prescott is not a lender.