Travis County, TX First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Help

Travis County buyers can apply to 2 local down payment programs, with help up to $40,000 through Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program, on top of Texas's statewide programs. Figures below were read from the administering agencies' own pages on September 11, 2026.

Local programs in Travis County

These are run by City of Austin, Travis County (countywide, incl. unincorporated areas and some cities), 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
Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program City of Austin (City of Austin Housing Department) · source	deferred 0% forgivable second lien	Up to $40,000	At or below 80% of Austin-Round Rock AMI (4-person: $106,800)	Yes	Property must be within Austin's full-purpose jurisdiction and serve as primary residence;
Homebuyer assistance / down payment programs Confirm with agency Travis County (countywide, incl. unincorporated areas and some cities) (Travis County Corporations) · source	unspecified (not confirmed)			Check	Travis County

Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program. Forgivable after 10 years of continued ownership/occupancy. Requires a HUD-approved homebuyer education course certificate on file before DPA application review. Eligible property types: single-family homes, condos, townhomes.
Homebuyer assistance / down payment programs. Status: it may describe a Travis County-run down payment or homebuyer program distinct from the City of Austin's DPA. Fetch and populate before publish, or remove this entry if it turns out to be informational only.

Income limits in Travis County

Down payment programs here are keyed to HUD's income limits for Austin-Round Rock, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Travis County) (fiscal year 2026): the area median family income is $134,400 and the 80% limit that most programs use is $106,800 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 Travis 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

Full Texas program details, limits and how to apply →

Travis 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)

Travis County Clerk real property recording fee found via search: $25 for the first page, $4 for each additional page (matches the standard Local Government Code base schedule); confirm current total at the source URL before publish.

See Texas closing costs, title insurance and who pays →

Frequently asked questions

What down payment assistance is available in Travis County, TX?

Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program (City of Austin, up to $40,000); Homebuyer assistance / down payment programs (Travis County (countywide, incl. unincorporated areas and some cities)). Texas statewide programs can be used here too.

What is the income limit for first-time buyer programs in Travis County?

Most programs cap income at 80% of HUD's area median, which is $106,800 for a four-person household in Austin-Round Rock, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Travis 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 Travis 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 Travis County?

About $484,350, per Travis County median home value (as republished from county property records). Down payment help of up to $40,000 covers roughly 8% of that price.

Official sources

Travis 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