Texas Down Payment and Homebuyer Assistance Programs
Texas buyers may be able to use state, regional, city, county, employer, nonprofit, or lender-funded assistance toward eligible down-payment or closing costs. Assistance is not free money in every case, and the largest advertised amount is not automatically the best financing structure. The right comparison includes the first mortgage, assistance terms, interest rate, fees, repayment or forgiveness rules, required cash, property, location, and expected time in the home.
Program availability, funding, rates, limits, and participating lenders can change. Verify the current official program and the specific loan officer's participation before writing an offer that depends on assistance.
Start with the real cash question
Do you need help with the down payment? Determine the actual minimum contribution and acceptable sources of funds.
Do you need help with closing costs? Separate lender, title, prepaid, escrow, inspection, appraisal, and other costs.
Could seller or lender credits solve the gap? Compare their cost and limitations with an assistance program.
Is the assistance a grant or a second loan? Confirm repayment, forgiveness, interest, maturity, and lien terms.
Will you remain in the home long enough? Selling, refinancing, renting, or transferring title can trigger repayment.
Is the property in an eligible area? Statewide and local programs use different geographic boundaries.
Is the lender and loan officer approved? Program participation is not automatic.
What matters most
Assistance can reduce cash needed at closing but may affect the first-mortgage rate, fees, or future flexibility.
Eligibility can depend on household or borrower income, property location, purchase price, occupancy, credit, debt, education, and first-time-buyer status.
A forgivable or deferred second lien remains a legal obligation until its terms are satisfied and any lien is released.
Buyers can still need money for earnest money, option fees, inspections, appraisal, reserves, moving, and repairs.
Assistance approval and first-mortgage approval are separate requirements that must work together.
Assistance is a financing structure
Homebuyer assistance can take several forms:
Structure General concept Questions to verify Grant Funds may not require repayment when all conditions are satisfied Are there recapture, occupancy, tax, or other conditions? Forgivable second lien A recorded subordinate loan may be forgiven over time How long is the period, is forgiveness gradual or all at once, and what events trigger repayment? Deferred second lien Payments may be postponed until sale, refinance, maturity, transfer, or another event Is interest charged, when is the balance due, and can it be subordinated? Repayable second lien The buyer may make monthly or future payments How does the payment affect qualification and affordability? Mortgage credit certificate An eligible federal income-tax credit may be available under program rules Is the certificate available, what fees and recapture rules apply, and should a tax professional be consulted? Lender or employer assistance A lender, employer, or other organization may provide credits or funds What first-mortgage pricing, employment, location, or repayment conditions apply?
The program documents control. Marketing labels such as grant, forgivable, free, or no-payment do not replace the note, deed of trust, disclosure, and program agreement.
Who may qualify
Qualification factors can include:
Household income or qualifying income
Number and identity of household members
First-time-homebuyer definition and permitted exceptions
Property address, city, county, census tract, or targeted area
Purchase price or program acquisition-cost limit
Credit score and credit history
Debt-to-income ratio and automated or manual underwriting
Required buyer contribution and acceptable asset sources
Primary-residence occupancy
Property type, condition, and inspection requirements
FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first-mortgage eligibility
Homebuyer education or housing counseling
Participating lender, loan officer, real estate professional, or provider requirements
Funding availability at reservation and closing
Meeting one published criterion does not establish eligibility. The first mortgage, assistance program, property, and transaction must all qualify.
First time homebuyer does not always mean first purchase
Programs define first-time homebuyer differently. A common definition looks at whether a buyer has owned a principal residence during a stated prior period, but exceptions may apply for qualified veterans, targeted areas, displaced homemakers, single parents, or other categories.
Some Texas programs do not require first-time status. Others require it unless an exception applies. Confirm the specific definition rather than assuming that prior ownership automatically includes or excludes the borrower.
Statewide and regional starting points
The programs below are examples of official sources to research. They are not a promise that Arise Lending or a particular Arise loan officer participates, that funding is available, or that the borrower qualifies.
Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation provides homebuyer programs through participating lenders. Current options can include mortgage loans, down-payment assistance, and mortgage credit certificates, subject to program requirements and availability.
Start with the official TSAHC Homebuyer Overview and verify current income, purchase-price, geography, credit, education, lender, rate, assistance, and repayment requirements.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs operates the Texas Homebuyer Program. Its official materials identify programs including My First Texas Home and My Choice Texas Home, along with education, mortgage-credit-certificate, and participating-lender information.
Start with the official Texas Homebuyer Program and TDHCA program descriptions. Rates, limits, assistance options, and approved participants should be checked for the actual reservation date.
Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation
SETH publishes statewide program options with geographic exclusions and participating-lender requirements. Program names, first-mortgage options, assistance structures, education, credit, income, and area requirements can change.
Start with the official SETH programs and SETH lender directory. Do not rely on an unaffiliated lender's summary when current SETH materials are available.
Weatherford and Parker County
Buyers in Weatherford or Parker County should check statewide programs and any current local, nonprofit, employer, builder, or lender-funded options. Program boundaries can follow city limits, county limits, service areas, or funding sources rather than a mailing address alone.
Arise Lending serves borrowers throughout Texas. Weatherford and Parker County examples reflect Arise's office location, but borrowers in every Texas market should use the same official-source verification process for their city, county, property address, program administrator, participating lender, and individual loan officer.
Fort Worth and Tarrant County
The City of Fort Worth publishes a Homebuyer Assistance Program for eligible purchases within Fort Worth city limits. Current official materials address assistance amounts, borrower contribution, education, reserves, inspection, income, first-time-buyer, occupancy, property, lender, and forgiveness requirements. Those requirements are time-sensitive.
Start with the official Fort Worth Homebuyer Assistance Program. Confirm that the property is inside the required city boundary and that the lender and loan officer meet current participation requirements.
Tarrant County programs can use different service areas, including exclusions for cities that operate their own programs. Use the official Tarrant County Community Development and Housing Department and current program materials. Do not assume that a Fort Worth mailing address establishes city or county-program eligibility.
Local programs across Texas
Cities, counties, housing finance corporations, public housing agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, employers, builders, and lenders may offer additional assistance. Borrowers in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston and Harris County, San Antonio and Bexar County, Austin and Travis County, El Paso, Corpus Christi and Nueces County, the Rio Grande Valley, and other Texas communities should begin with the applicable city, county, or official housing-program source. A city name in this guide does not establish current funding, program availability, geographic eligibility, or Arise loan-officer participation. Funding can open, close, or change without long notice.
For any local program, verify:
The official administering organization
The current program year and revision date
Geographic boundaries
Available funding and reservation process
Approved lender or loan-officer requirements
Buyer, household, property, and first-mortgage eligibility
Required education, counseling, inspections, or environmental review
Assistance documents, lien position, and repayment events
Processing time and contract requirements
Compare the assistance and no assistance options
A higher assistance amount does not necessarily produce the lowest payment or total cost. Compare realistic structures using the same purchase price and closing date.
Decision area Questions to compare First mortgage What loan type, rate, points, lender credits, mortgage insurance, and term apply? Assistance How much is provided, and which costs may it cover? Buyer funds What minimum contribution, earnest money, appraisal, inspection, reserves, and other cash remain? Second lien Is it forgivable, deferred, repayable, interest-bearing, or due upon a triggering event? Future flexibility What happens after a sale, refinance, transfer, change in occupancy, or early payoff? Property Are location, price, type, condition, inspection, and occupancy eligible? Timing Can education, reservation, provider review, appraisal, inspection, and closing occur before the contract deadline? Total cost Does assistance change the rate, fees, monthly payment, cash to close, or long-term cost?
Request written comparisons when possible. Do not compare an assistance quote and a market-rate quote that use different dates, assumptions, credits, or loan amounts.
Seller credits lender credits gifts and assistance
These sources are not interchangeable.
Seller contributions are limited by the first-mortgage and transaction rules and cannot cover every item.
Lender credits are generally tied to mortgage pricing and may involve a higher interest rate.
Gift funds require an eligible donor, documentation, and transfer under the selected loan program.
Assistance follows the provider's rules and may create a second lien or repayment obligation.
Buyer funds must be documented and acceptable to both the first mortgage and assistance provider.
Combining sources can be permitted, restricted, or prohibited. Confirm the complete financing structure before the offer is written.
Homebuyer education and counseling
Many programs require an approved education course or housing counseling. The provider, format, timing, certificate, expiration, and borrower-attendance requirements can differ.
Complete the correct course for the selected program. A generic online certificate may not satisfy a city, county, state, first-mortgage, or HUD-related requirement. The CFPB recommends using HUD-approved housing counseling resources when researching first-time-homebuyer assistance.
Property inspections environmental review and repairs
Local programs funded through federal or public sources can require property standards, environmental review, lead-based-paint procedures, repairs, or separate inspections. The assistance provider's inspection is not a substitute for the buyer's independent home inspection.
Do not assume that an assistance provider will approve a property merely because the first-mortgage appraisal is acceptable. Contract options, repair negotiations, access, and timelines should account for every required review.
Repayment forgiveness and lien release
Buyers should understand what happens if they:
Sell the property
Refinance the first mortgage
Pay off the first mortgage early
Move out or convert the home to rental use
Transfer title, add an owner, or place the property into a trust or entity
Fail to satisfy program, occupancy, or certification requirements
A balance described as forgivable may remain due until the full forgiveness period is completed. Some programs forgive gradually; others forgive only after the entire period. A paid or forgiven obligation may still require a recorded release before a future sale or refinance.
What to expect
1. Define the cash gap. Estimate down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, escrows, reserves, and expenses outside closing.
2. Review the first mortgage. Determine which FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, or other eligible options fit before choosing assistance.
3. Research official programs. Use the property location, household, borrower, and transaction facts.
4. Confirm participation. Verify that the lender and individual loan officer can originate the selected program.
5. Complete education early. Use the provider and course required by the program.
6. Compare complete structures. Review rate, fees, payment, cash to close, assistance documents, and future repayment events.
7. Coordinate the contract. Allow enough time for reservation, underwriting, provider approval, inspections, environmental review, and closing.
8. Retain the documents. Keep the note, deed of trust, forgiveness schedule, occupancy terms, and provider contacts after closing.
Assistance and first-mortgage approval are not guaranteed. Funds, rates, guidelines, participating lenders, and processing times can change.
Common myths
Down payment assistance is always free money
No. Some assistance is a grant, but other assistance is a forgivable, deferred, or repayable second loan with specific conditions.
Assistance is only for first time buyers
No. Some programs require first-time status, some provide exceptions, and others do not require it.
Assistance means I need no money of my own
No. Buyers may still need a contribution, earnest money, option fee, inspection, appraisal, reserves, moving funds, and money for repairs.
The program with the most assistance is the best choice
No. Compare the first-mortgage rate, fees, payment, assistance terms, repayment risk, and future flexibility.
Any lender can offer every program
No. Programs can require an approved company, branch, lender, and individual loan officer. Participation must be confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How much down payment assistance can I receive in Texas
There is no universal amount. Assistance depends on the program, first mortgage, loan amount, property, funding, household or borrower income, and current guidelines. Verify the official program rather than relying on an undated chart.
Do I have to repay down payment assistance
It depends on the structure. A grant may not require repayment when conditions are satisfied. Forgivable, deferred, and repayable second liens have different triggers and timelines.
Does assistance increase my interest rate
It can. Some programs pair assistance with program-set first-mortgage rates or pricing. Compare the assisted structure with available alternatives on the same date.
Can I refinance after receiving assistance
Possibly, but the assistance may require payoff, subordination, consent, or satisfaction of a forgiveness period. Review the recorded documents before applying.
Can assistance be combined with FHA VA USDA or conventional financing
Some programs support one or more of these first-mortgage types. The assistance provider, first mortgage, lender, loan officer, and transaction must permit the combination.
Can I combine two assistance programs
Sometimes, but layering may be restricted by one or both providers, the first mortgage, lien position, funding source, or lender. Obtain written confirmation before relying on multiple programs.
Does Arise Lending offer every Texas assistance program
No. Program participation is lender- and loan-officer-specific. Arise Lending can discuss available options, but the responsible mortgage loan originator must confirm current approval, training, lender access, guidelines, and capacity to execute the selected program.
Your next step
Begin with the actual cash gap, property location, expected ownership period, and strongest available first mortgage. Then compare assistance with seller credits, lender credits, gifts, additional savings, and other financing structures. Rely on the current official program and written transaction terms.
Contact Arise Lending at (817) 965-6210 or use the approved contact pathway. A conversation or application is not a commitment to lend, a confirmation of program participation, or a guarantee of approval or assistance.
Arise Lending LLC
NMLS 2110233
177 Center Point Rd, Suite 3
Weatherford, TX 76087
Prepared by Arise Lending editorial team
Mortgage subject matter review Christian Lehenbauer, CEO | Residential Mortgage Loan Originator | Mortgage Loan Advisor, NMLS 2058646; approved for publication on September 21, 2026
Published September 21, 2026
Last updated September 21, 2026
Last reviewed September 21, 2026
Educational and licensing notice
This guide provides general educational information and is not individualized financial, legal, tax, accounting, housing-counseling, or real-estate advice. It is not a commitment to lend, confirmation of program participation, reservation of funds, approval, or guarantee of eligibility, assistance, terms, savings, timing, or outcome. Program, agency, provider, lender, and loan-officer requirements vary and can change. Equal housing and fair-lending principles apply.
Verify licensing through NMLS Consumer Access. Texas mortgage-regulatory information is available from the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending.Texas buyers may be able to use state, regional, city, county, employer, nonprofit, or lender-funded assistance toward eligible down-payment or closing costs. Assistance is not free money in every case, and the largest advertised amount is not automatically the best financing structure. The right comparison includes the first mortgage, assistance terms, interest rate, fees, repayment or forgiveness rules, required cash, property, location, and expected time in the home.
Program availability, funding, rates, limits, and participating lenders can change. Verify the current official program and the specific loan officer's participation before writing an offer that depends on assistance.
Start with the real cash question
Do you need help with the down payment? Determine the actual minimum contribution and acceptable sources of funds.
Do you need help with closing costs? Separate lender, title, prepaid, escrow, inspection, appraisal, and other costs.
Could seller or lender credits solve the gap? Compare their cost and limitations with an assistance program.
Is the assistance a grant or a second loan? Confirm repayment, forgiveness, interest, maturity, and lien terms.
Will you remain in the home long enough? Selling, refinancing, renting, or transferring title can trigger repayment.
Is the property in an eligible area? Statewide and local programs use different geographic boundaries.
Is the lender and loan officer approved? Program participation is not automatic.
What matters most
Assistance can reduce cash needed at closing but may affect the first-mortgage rate, fees, or future flexibility.
Eligibility can depend on household or borrower income, property location, purchase price, occupancy, credit, debt, education, and first-time-buyer status.
A forgivable or deferred second lien remains a legal obligation until its terms are satisfied and any lien is released.
Buyers can still need money for earnest money, option fees, inspections, appraisal, reserves, moving, and repairs.
Assistance approval and first-mortgage approval are separate requirements that must work together.
Assistance is a financing structure
Homebuyer assistance can take several forms:
Structure General concept Questions to verify Grant Funds may not require repayment when all conditions are satisfied Are there recapture, occupancy, tax, or other conditions? Forgivable second lien A recorded subordinate loan may be forgiven over time How long is the period, is forgiveness gradual or all at once, and what events trigger repayment? Deferred second lien Payments may be postponed until sale, refinance, maturity, transfer, or another event Is interest charged, when is the balance due, and can it be subordinated? Repayable second lien The buyer may make monthly or future payments How does the payment affect qualification and affordability? Mortgage credit certificate An eligible federal income-tax credit may be available under program rules Is the certificate available, what fees and recapture rules apply, and should a tax professional be consulted? Lender or employer assistance A lender, employer, or other organization may provide credits or funds What first-mortgage pricing, employment, location, or repayment conditions apply?
The program documents control. Marketing labels such as grant, forgivable, free, or no-payment do not replace the note, deed of trust, disclosure, and program agreement.
Who may qualify
Qualification factors can include:
Household income or qualifying income
Number and identity of household members
First-time-homebuyer definition and permitted exceptions
Property address, city, county, census tract, or targeted area
Purchase price or program acquisition-cost limit
Credit score and credit history
Debt-to-income ratio and automated or manual underwriting
Required buyer contribution and acceptable asset sources
Primary-residence occupancy
Property type, condition, and inspection requirements
FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first-mortgage eligibility
Homebuyer education or housing counseling
Participating lender, loan officer, real estate professional, or provider requirements
Funding availability at reservation and closing
Meeting one published criterion does not establish eligibility. The first mortgage, assistance program, property, and transaction must all qualify.
First time homebuyer does not always mean first purchase
Programs define first-time homebuyer differently. A common definition looks at whether a buyer has owned a principal residence during a stated prior period, but exceptions may apply for qualified veterans, targeted areas, displaced homemakers, single parents, or other categories.
Some Texas programs do not require first-time status. Others require it unless an exception applies. Confirm the specific definition rather than assuming that prior ownership automatically includes or excludes the borrower.
Statewide and regional starting points
The programs below are examples of official sources to research. They are not a promise that Arise Lending or a particular Arise loan officer participates, that funding is available, or that the borrower qualifies.
Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation provides homebuyer programs through participating lenders. Current options can include mortgage loans, down-payment assistance, and mortgage credit certificates, subject to program requirements and availability.
Start with the official TSAHC Homebuyer Overview and verify current income, purchase-price, geography, credit, education, lender, rate, assistance, and repayment requirements.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs operates the Texas Homebuyer Program. Its official materials identify programs including My First Texas Home and My Choice Texas Home, along with education, mortgage-credit-certificate, and participating-lender information.
Start with the official Texas Homebuyer Program and TDHCA program descriptions. Rates, limits, assistance options, and approved participants should be checked for the actual reservation date.
Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation
SETH publishes statewide program options with geographic exclusions and participating-lender requirements. Program names, first-mortgage options, assistance structures, education, credit, income, and area requirements can change.
Start with the official SETH programs and SETH lender directory. Do not rely on an unaffiliated lender's summary when current SETH materials are available.
Weatherford and Parker County
Buyers in Weatherford or Parker County should check statewide programs and any current local, nonprofit, employer, builder, or lender-funded options. Program boundaries can follow city limits, county limits, service areas, or funding sources rather than a mailing address alone.
Arise Lending serves borrowers throughout Texas. Weatherford and Parker County examples reflect Arise's office location, but borrowers in every Texas market should use the same official-source verification process for their city, county, property address, program administrator, participating lender, and individual loan officer.
Fort Worth and Tarrant County
The City of Fort Worth publishes a Homebuyer Assistance Program for eligible purchases within Fort Worth city limits. Current official materials address assistance amounts, borrower contribution, education, reserves, inspection, income, first-time-buyer, occupancy, property, lender, and forgiveness requirements. Those requirements are time-sensitive.
Start with the official Fort Worth Homebuyer Assistance Program. Confirm that the property is inside the required city boundary and that the lender and loan officer meet current participation requirements.
Tarrant County programs can use different service areas, including exclusions for cities that operate their own programs. Use the official Tarrant County Community Development and Housing Department and current program materials. Do not assume that a Fort Worth mailing address establishes city or county-program eligibility.
Local programs across Texas
Cities, counties, housing finance corporations, public housing agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, employers, builders, and lenders may offer additional assistance. Borrowers in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston and Harris County, San Antonio and Bexar County, Austin and Travis County, El Paso, Corpus Christi and Nueces County, the Rio Grande Valley, and other Texas communities should begin with the applicable city, county, or official housing-program source. A city name in this guide does not establish current funding, program availability, geographic eligibility, or Arise loan-officer participation. Funding can open, close, or change without long notice.
For any local program, verify:
The official administering organization
The current program year and revision date
Geographic boundaries
Available funding and reservation process
Approved lender or loan-officer requirements
Buyer, household, property, and first-mortgage eligibility
Required education, counseling, inspections, or environmental review
Assistance documents, lien position, and repayment events
Processing time and contract requirements
Compare the assistance and no assistance options
A higher assistance amount does not necessarily produce the lowest payment or total cost. Compare realistic structures using the same purchase price and closing date.
Decision area Questions to compare First mortgage What loan type, rate, points, lender credits, mortgage insurance, and term apply? Assistance How much is provided, and which costs may it cover? Buyer funds What minimum contribution, earnest money, appraisal, inspection, reserves, and other cash remain? Second lien Is it forgivable, deferred, repayable, interest-bearing, or due upon a triggering event? Future flexibility What happens after a sale, refinance, transfer, change in occupancy, or early payoff? Property Are location, price, type, condition, inspection, and occupancy eligible? Timing Can education, reservation, provider review, appraisal, inspection, and closing occur before the contract deadline? Total cost Does assistance change the rate, fees, monthly payment, cash to close, or long-term cost?
Request written comparisons when possible. Do not compare an assistance quote and a market-rate quote that use different dates, assumptions, credits, or loan amounts.
Seller credits lender credits gifts and assistance
These sources are not interchangeable.
Seller contributions are limited by the first-mortgage and transaction rules and cannot cover every item.
Lender credits are generally tied to mortgage pricing and may involve a higher interest rate.
Gift funds require an eligible donor, documentation, and transfer under the selected loan program.
Assistance follows the provider's rules and may create a second lien or repayment obligation.
Buyer funds must be documented and acceptable to both the first mortgage and assistance provider.
Combining sources can be permitted, restricted, or prohibited. Confirm the complete financing structure before the offer is written.
Homebuyer education and counseling
Many programs require an approved education course or housing counseling. The provider, format, timing, certificate, expiration, and borrower-attendance requirements can differ.
Complete the correct course for the selected program. A generic online certificate may not satisfy a city, county, state, first-mortgage, or HUD-related requirement. The CFPB recommends using HUD-approved housing counseling resources when researching first-time-homebuyer assistance.
Property inspections environmental review and repairs
Local programs funded through federal or public sources can require property standards, environmental review, lead-based-paint procedures, repairs, or separate inspections. The assistance provider's inspection is not a substitute for the buyer's independent home inspection.
Do not assume that an assistance provider will approve a property merely because the first-mortgage appraisal is acceptable. Contract options, repair negotiations, access, and timelines should account for every required review.
Repayment forgiveness and lien release
Buyers should understand what happens if they:
Sell the property
Refinance the first mortgage
Pay off the first mortgage early
Move out or convert the home to rental use
Transfer title, add an owner, or place the property into a trust or entity
Fail to satisfy program, occupancy, or certification requirements
A balance described as forgivable may remain due until the full forgiveness period is completed. Some programs forgive gradually; others forgive only after the entire period. A paid or forgiven obligation may still require a recorded release before a future sale or refinance.
What to expect
1. Define the cash gap. Estimate down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, escrows, reserves, and expenses outside closing.
2. Review the first mortgage. Determine which FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, or other eligible options fit before choosing assistance.
3. Research official programs. Use the property location, household, borrower, and transaction facts.
4. Confirm participation. Verify that the lender and individual loan officer can originate the selected program.
5. Complete education early. Use the provider and course required by the program.
6. Compare complete structures. Review rate, fees, payment, cash to close, assistance documents, and future repayment events.
7. Coordinate the contract. Allow enough time for reservation, underwriting, provider approval, inspections, environmental review, and closing.
8. Retain the documents. Keep the note, deed of trust, forgiveness schedule, occupancy terms, and provider contacts after closing.
Assistance and first-mortgage approval are not guaranteed. Funds, rates, guidelines, participating lenders, and processing times can change.
Common myths
Down payment assistance is always free money
No. Some assistance is a grant, but other assistance is a forgivable, deferred, or repayable second loan with specific conditions.
Assistance is only for first time buyers
No. Some programs require first-time status, some provide exceptions, and others do not require it.
Assistance means I need no money of my own
No. Buyers may still need a contribution, earnest money, option fee, inspection, appraisal, reserves, moving funds, and money for repairs.
The program with the most assistance is the best choice
No. Compare the first-mortgage rate, fees, payment, assistance terms, repayment risk, and future flexibility.
Any lender can offer every program
No. Programs can require an approved company, branch, lender, and individual loan officer. Participation must be confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How much down payment assistance can I receive in Texas
There is no universal amount. Assistance depends on the program, first mortgage, loan amount, property, funding, household or borrower income, and current guidelines. Verify the official program rather than relying on an undated chart.
Do I have to repay down payment assistance
It depends on the structure. A grant may not require repayment when conditions are satisfied. Forgivable, deferred, and repayable second liens have different triggers and timelines.
Does assistance increase my interest rate
It can. Some programs pair assistance with program-set first-mortgage rates or pricing. Compare the assisted structure with available alternatives on the same date.
Can I refinance after receiving assistance
Possibly, but the assistance may require payoff, subordination, consent, or satisfaction of a forgiveness period. Review the recorded documents before applying.
Can assistance be combined with FHA VA USDA or conventional financing
Some programs support one or more of these first-mortgage types. The assistance provider, first mortgage, lender, loan officer, and transaction must permit the combination.
Can I combine two assistance programs
Sometimes, but layering may be restricted by one or both providers, the first mortgage, lien position, funding source, or lender. Obtain written confirmation before relying on multiple programs.
Does Arise Lending offer every Texas assistance program
No. Program participation is lender- and loan-officer-specific. Arise Lending can discuss available options, but the responsible mortgage loan originator must confirm current approval, training, lender access, guidelines, and capacity to execute the selected program.
Your next step
Begin with the actual cash gap, property location, expected ownership period, and strongest available first mortgage. Then compare assistance with seller credits, lender credits, gifts, additional savings, and other financing structures. Rely on the current official program and written transaction terms.
Contact Arise Lending at (817) 965-6210 or use the approved contact pathway. A conversation or application is not a commitment to lend, a confirmation of program participation, or a guarantee of approval or assistance.
Arise Lending LLC
NMLS 2110233
177 Center Point Rd, Suite 3
Weatherford, TX 76087
Prepared by Arise Lending editorial team
Mortgage subject matter review Christian Lehenbauer, CEO | Residential Mortgage Loan Originator | Mortgage Loan Advisor, NMLS 2058646; approved for publication on September 21, 2026
Published September 21, 2026
Last updated September 21, 2026
Last reviewed September 21, 2026
Educational and licensing notice
This guide provides general educational information and is not individualized financial, legal, tax, accounting, housing-counseling, or real-estate advice. It is not a commitment to lend, confirmation of program participation, reservation of funds, approval, or guarantee of eligibility, assistance, terms, savings, timing, or outcome. Program, agency, provider, lender, and loan-officer requirements vary and can change. Equal housing and fair-lending principles apply.
Verify licensing through NMLS Consumer Access. Texas mortgage-regulatory information is available from the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending.