Dallas County, TX First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Dallas County buyers can apply to 1 local down payment program, with help up to $60,000 through Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP), on top of Texas's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Dallas County
These are run by City of Dallas, separate from the state housing finance agency, and can usually be combined with a state loan. Check the program page for current funding before you apply.
| Program | Type | Amount | Income limit | First-time only | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) City of Dallas (Business & Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas, administering for the City of Dallas Department of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization) · source | forgivable deferred-payment second | Up to $50,000 (standard eligible areas) or up to $60,000 (High Opportunity Areas) | Household income within DHAP program limits | Yes | Property must be within Dallas city limits; |
- Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP). BCL of Texas became the City-approved DHAP administrator effective February 25, 2026 (Dallas City Council approval). Requires a DHAP-approved lender, executed purchase contract, and homebuyer education certificate.
Income limits in Dallas County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Dallas County) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $121,125 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $96,900 for a four-person household. Limits scale with household size; each program page has the full table. HUD income limits
Texas statewide programs you can also use in Dallas County
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) - The Texas Homebuyer Program (homebuyer programs page) runs 5 statewide programs open to buyers anywhere in Texas, with down payment help up to 5% of the loan (about $17,090 on a median-priced home) through My First Texas Home. Most local programs above can be combined with a state first mortgage; check each program's pairing rule.
| Program | Type | Amount | First-time only | Min. credit | Income limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My First Texas Home source | First mortgage | Down payment and closing cost assistance up to 5% of the mortgage loan amount | Yes | 620 | Varies by county; see TDHCA county income and purchase price limits |
| My Choice Texas Home source | First mortgage | See program page | No | n/a | Varies by county; see TDHCA county income and purchase price limits |
| Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (TMCC) Program source | Tax credit (MCC) | See program page | Yes | n/a | See program page |
| Homes for Texas Heroes Program (TSAHC) source | Program | See program page | No | 620 | Varies; see TSAHC income limits by program |
| Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program (TSAHC) source | Program | See program page | No | 620 | Varies; see TSAHC income limits by program |
Texas also offers a mortgage credit certificate (TSAHC Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)), a federal tax credit worth 15% of your mortgage interest each year. MCC program page
Dallas County closing costs that differ from the rest of Texas
Transfer tax: No local (or state) real estate transfer tax; the Texas Constitution (Art. 8, Sec. 31, added by 2015 Proposition 1, effective Jan. 1, 2016) bars the state and all local jurisdictions from imposing a tax on conveying fee-simple title to real property. Source
Recording the deed costs $25 and the mortgage $25. Fee schedule
Owner's title policy: seller (customary, per Texas Promulgated title rates/local custom)
Dallas County Clerk real property recording fee is $25 for the first page (includes statutory surcharges) and $4 for each additional page, matching the statewide Local Government Code Sec. 118.011 base schedule used across Texas counties;
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Dallas County, TX?
Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) (City of Dallas, up to $60,000). Texas statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Dallas County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $96,900 for a four-person household in Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Dallas County) (FY2026). Some programs allow up to 120% or 150% of median; each program page lists its own table by household size.
Is there a transfer tax in Dallas County?
No local (or state) real estate transfer tax; the Texas Constitution (Art. 8, Sec. 31, added by 2015 Proposition 1, effective Jan. 1, 2016) bars the state and all local jurisdictions from imposing a tax on conveying fee-simple title to real property.
What is the median home price in Dallas County?
About $303,000, per U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dallas County, Texas (median value of owner-occupied housing units, ACS estimate, as republished). Down payment help of up to $60,000 covers roughly 20% of that price.
Official sources
- City of Dallas: Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP)
- Dallas County transfer tax
- Dallas County recording fees
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dallas County, Texas (median value of owner-occupied housing units, ACS estimate, as republished)
Dallas County figures last verified against official sources on September 11, 2026.
Other Texas counties
This is general information, not financial advice. Program funding, limits and terms change; confirm the current rules with the administering agency and your lender before you rely on them.
See down payment help in all covered counties