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Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Brownsville, Texas.

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The program asks for

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: FTHB waived for displaced homemakers.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: 600 minimum FICO.
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through CDCB is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency providing 8-hour homebuyer education in English and Spanish.
  • Residency: Property within CDCB RGV service area; primary residence.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying non-permanent resident alien per HOME.
  • FTHB required. Property within RGV service area (Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr counties). Income <=80% AMI Brownsville-Harlingen MSA ($38,150-$71,900 by HH size). 600 FICO. CDCB 8-hour homebuyer education. $500 borrower investment. Owner-occupancy required. HQS inspection. HOME affordability period.
  • A home in Cameron County

It doesn’t cover

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 80% of area median income
  • Homes outside Cameron County

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

Income limit

80% of Cameron County’s area median income

HUD sets the area median income each year. The limit changes with household size, so a family of five has a higher limit than a single homebuyer.

$64,600
Area median income, 4-person household (HUD, 2026)

Where it applies

Cameron County’s homes

  • 64.7% single-family
  • 2.8% townhouse
  • 7.9% 2–4 units
  • 13.8% 5+ units
  • 10.9% mobile & other

A tick marks a kind of home the program’s record lists. The agency confirms it for the home you choose.

$136,500

Cameron County median home value

29.8%

built before 1980

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year. More about buying in Cameron County

How to apply

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through CDCB is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency providing 8-hour homebuyer education in English and Spanish..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Apply directly to CDCB; subject to CDFI/HOME funding cycle., and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Questions about this program

What is Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program is a deferred second loan for homebuyers in Brownsville, Texas. CDCB Brownsville RGV CDFI HBA up to $10,000 deferred second; 0%, balloon at sale/refi; 600 FICO; 80% AMI Cameron and surrounding RGV counties. Community Development Corporation of Brownsville (CDCB) - a regional CDFI serving the Rio Grande Valley - provides up to $10,000 as a deferred 0% second mortgage for income-eligible FTHBs in Cameron and the surrounding RGV counties. Funds may be applied to down payment, closing costs, prepaids. Repayment due at sale, refinance, or non-occupancy. Funding comes from CDFI, HOME, and Local.

Do you have to pay it back?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program is deferred, so no payments are due until the home is sold, refinanced, or the first mortgage is paid off. Repayment is triggered by Full balance due at sale, refinance, transfer, or cessation of owner-occupancy. No monthly payments. HOME affordability period applies. The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position. Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program is open to first-time homebuyers and homebuyers who will live in the home as their primary residence. "First-time" has exceptions here: FTHB waived for displaced homemakers. On credit, the program states: 600 minimum FICO. A homebuyer education course is required, through CDCB is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency providing 8-hour homebuyer education in English and Spanish. Residency requirement: Property within CDCB RGV service area; primary residence. Citizenship or immigration status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying non-permanent resident alien per HOME. FTHB required. Property within RGV service area (Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr counties). Income <=80% AMI Brownsville-Harlingen MSA ($38,150-$71,900 by HH size). 600 FICO. CDCB 8-hour homebuyer education. $500 borrower investment. Owner-occupancy required. HQS inspection. HOME affordability period.

What are the income limits?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size. <=80% AMI Brownsville-Harlingen MSA: $38,150 (1-person) to $71,900 (8-person) HH size. The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower&rsquo;s. The program lists a maximum household size of 8. Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program caps the purchase price as follows: Per HUD HOME 95% area median Brownsville-Harlingen MSA. Eligible property types include Single-family detached, townhouse, condominium, PUD and CDCB also originates Colonia Self-Help Housing (separate program). New construction is eligible. Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, and surviving spouses among the groups it serves. Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program serves homebuyers purchasing in Brownsville, Texas. The program targets specific areas: RGV Colonias and HUD-designated Targeted Areas in Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Starr counties.

How do you apply?

Applications for Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site. Funds are reserved through Apply directly to CDCB; subject to CDFI/HOME funding cycle. Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a homebuyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

Program terms are set by the administering agency and can change; confirm on the official site before you apply.