Tarrant County, TX First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help
Tarrant County buyers can apply to 1 local down payment program, with help up to $25,000 through Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP), on top of Texas's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.
Local programs in Tarrant County
These are run by City of Fort Worth, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) City of Fort Worth (City of Fort Worth Neighborhood Services Department (homebuyer education/intake via Housing Channel, a HUD-approved counseling agency)) · source | Forgivable second loan | Up to $25,000 | Below 80% of Area Median Income | Yes | Inside Fort Worth city limits |
- Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP). Applicant must qualify for a fixed-rate mortgage through an approved lender and complete a Homebuyer Orientation class. Forgiveness period tied to award size. Call (817) 392-7540 (city) or (817) 924-5091 (Housing Channel) to check current funding availability.
Income limits in Tarrant County
Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Fort Worth-Arlington, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Tarrant County) (fiscal year 2025): the 80% limit that most programs use is $85,350 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 Tarrant 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
Tarrant 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 $20 and the mortgage $20. Fee schedule
Owner's title policy: seller (customary, per Texas Promulgated title rates/local custom)
Tarrant County Clerk real property recording fee found: $20 for the first page, $4 for each additional page (per search-indexed fee schedule, dated as old as 2019 in one cached PDF - confirm current schedule at the source URL before publish, since Dallas/Harris show $25 first-page under the same statutory formula).
Frequently asked questions
What down payment assistance is available in Tarrant County, TX?
Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) (City of Fort Worth, up to $25,000). Texas statewide programs can be used here too.
What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Tarrant County?
Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $85,350 for a four-person household in Fort Worth-Arlington, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Tarrant County) (FY2025). 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 Tarrant 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 Tarrant County?
About $323,900, per Census-derived median property value, Tarrant County, TX (2024 vintage, as republished by Data USA). Down payment help of up to $25,000 covers roughly 8% of that price.
Official sources
- City of Fort Worth: Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)
- Tarrant County transfer tax
- Tarrant County recording fees
- Census-derived median property value, Tarrant County, TX (2024 vintage, as republished by Data USA)
Tarrant 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