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Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP)

Downpayment assistance is available to qualified buyers for homeownership.

The minimum requirements for the Harris County Downpayment Assistance Program:

DAP: $14,200 for new construction, $9,500 for resale properties built within the current ten (10) years.  You must live in the house for five (5) years, which is the affordability period.

DAP for disabled borrowers: $14,400 for new construction
and $14,400 for resale properties built within the current ten (10) years.  You must live in the house for five (5) years, known as the affordability period.
 

Homebuyer Information:

Checklist to insure that you meet the minimum DAP requirements:
 

• Buyer must meet income requirements (see income chart below)

• Maximum sales price of homes must not exceed FHA 203(b) limits in Harris County

• Home must be in an unincorporated area of Harris County (cannot be in the City of Houston, Pasadena, or Baytown)

• Homebuyer must be a 1st time homebuyer, or not have owned a home for three years prior to applying for assistance, or have lost previous home in extenuating circumstances such as a loss due to a fire, flood, or hurricane

• Buyer must be credit and program approved through one of Harris County's approved mortgage lenders (see Approved Lenders button below)

• Buyer must have at least $350 or 1/2 of lenders required down payment to invest in the purchase

• Buyer must have at least one credit score of 620

• Buyer's debt to income ratio (DTI) cannot exceed 42%

• Buyer cannot have more than $10,000 in liquid assets
   

• Everyone in the household must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien
   

• To begin the DAP process, all applicants must attend a homebuyer certificate program from a HUD approved homebuyer education course provider (see button below) and select a Harris County approved mortgage lender (see Approved Lenders button below)
   
• To participate in this program, you must live in the new or pre-owned house for a minimum of five years

Income Chart Total Family Gross Income Cannot Exceed the Following: Number of family members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Max annual income * $37,450 $42,800 $48,150 $53,500 $57,800 $62,100 $66,350 $70,650 Your income is not totally determined from your paycheck.  It is also determined by use of your checking, savings, investment, and retirement accounts at a rate of 2 percent, plus any other forms of income you might receive, such as child support, reoccurring gifts, etc. For Information on the Texas First Time Homebuyer Program, click on flag below:       Your Path To Home Ownership $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ How much can you afford to spend on a home? Providing the information below will allow you to calculate how much you can afford to spend on a home.  However, many additional factors play a part in the loan qualification process. To calculate how much you can afford to pay for a house, click here.

The Harris County Community Services Department's (CSD) Downpayment Assistance Program (DAP) can assist you financially with purchasing your dream home, in Harris County, Texas, if you are income eligible and a first-time buyer.  For more information about the DAP, click here.

If you or a family member are physically handicapped, you might be eligible for the United Cerebral Palsy's Home of Your Own Program (HOYO), click here.  HOYO Houston offers additional funding opportunities for buying a home beyond the county or city's down payment assistance programs.   Call (713) 838-9050.

For the City of Houston's Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP), please click here.

Harris County Housing Authority's Independence Downpayment Assistance Program:  For current Section 8 recipients. Click here to view the Brochure

Texas Veteran Land Board 1-(800) 252-VETS Ask about purchasing land and other VA programs.

For a county map that covers the area served by Harris County's DAP program, click here.

Email your comments and questions to the Harris County DAP staff.

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