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Looking to purchase a home? The City of Houston administers multiple programs that can help you achieve the dream of homeownership, with various amounts of assistance and eligibility requirements. We encourage you to explore the available resources in more detail on the pages below.
Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program
- What it provides: up to $30,000 in down-payment assistance
- Who it helps: homebuyers who lived in Houston during Hurricane Harvey (August 25, 2017), who are either purchasing their first home or replacing a home lost due to Harvey
- Income Requirements: at or below 120% of Area Median Income
Homebuyer Assistance Program
- What it provides: up to $50,000 in down payment assistance
- Who it helps: first-time homebuyers
- Income Requirements: at or below 80% of Area Median Income
Homebuyer Choice Program
- What it provides: subsidy up to $150,000 on a home purchased through an agreement with the Houston Community Land Trust
- Who it helps: homebuyers looking to buy a home in an area of their choice, particularly one zoned to an A- or B-ranked school, who are willing to place the land underneath their home into the Community Land Trust
- Income Requirements: at or below 80% of Area Median Income
Note:
The City of Houston accepts applications throughout the year, but cannot wire closing funds from late June through mid-July due to the end of the Fiscal Year. Please do not schedule closing dates during this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should I put a home under contract? - Answer
A: Due to the review period, the City of Houston recommends you DO NOT put a home under contract until you have received a pre-approval letter. Putting a home under contract before receiving a pre-approval letter may put you at risk of losing earnest money.
Q: How long is the application process? - Answer
A: The application process takes about six weeks, provided there are no external delays. Please note that the six weeks is measured from the time the applicant submits a complete application. We cannot begin work on an incomplete application.
Q: Are there credit score requirements? - Answer
A: No, the City of Houston will not ask or require your credit scores for any of our down payment assistance programs.
Q: Is there a maximum home price? - Answer
A: No. The buyer can select any home that fits their needs and budget.
Q: Am I limited to a certain property type? - Answer
A. Please consult the program guidelines and website for further information on how on allowable property types and minimum property standards.
Q: What if I have to sell my home or move? - Answer
A: Please consult the program guidelines and website for further information if you have to sell your home or move.
Overview
New Home Development Program (NHDP)
The New Home Development Program (NHDP) builds new homes in collaboration with the Houston Land Bank and sells them through the Houston Land Bank and Houston Community Land Trust. Construction for this program began in July 2018.
Homes under construction
7
Homes completed
12
Homes Under Construction / Homes Completed
YTD Homes completed
15
Homes completed from start of the program
53
Overview
Homebuyer Choice Program (HCP)
The Homebuyer Choice Program provides new homebuyers with an opportunity to afford a quality home in an area of their choice by placing the land beneath their home in trust with the Houston Community Land Trust. This program began in August 2020.
Pre-Certification Approvals
1
YTD Under Contract
6
First time homebuyer down payment and closing costs approved from the start of the program
14
$2,028,151.28
Overview
Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP/HbAP)
The Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) assists first-time homebuyers with down-payment assistance up to $30,000. In these statistics, it is combined with the Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program (HbAP), which uses disaster recovery funding. These statistics begin in November 2018.
