Harris County Community Services Department Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP)

If you purchase a home in unincorporated Harris County, TX you could be eligible for down payment assistance through the Harris County Community Services Department Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP). 

The program offers flexible down payment assistance that can also be used to cover closing costs and other upfront expenses.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for the Harris County Community Services Department Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP), you must meet the following eligibility requirements.

1. You must be a first-time homebuyer or have not owned a home in the past three years.
2. The home you buy must be in unincorporated Harris County, TX.
3. The final purchase price cannot exceed $268,000 for newly constructed homes and $261,000 for existing homes.
4. Buyer must have at least one credit (FICO) score of 580 or higher.
5. Your total household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). 
6. Your mortgage payments cannot exceed 39% of your monthly income, and your total debts (including mortgage) cannot exceed 42% of your monthly income.
7. Your liquid assets must be worth less than $15,000. (Assets such as cash, stocks, and bonds are considered liquid.)

*For all DPA programs, income and purchase price limits are regularly reviewed and updated. These amounts were correct at publication but may change with time.

Type of loan

The Harris County DAP program provides down payment assistance in the form of a forgivable loan. If you meet certain basic requirements, the loan can be forgiven after either five or ten years, depending on how much funding you receive.

• Loans up to $14,999: Eligible for forgiveness after five years.
• Loans from $15,000 to $23,800: Eligible for forgiveness after ten years. 

In either case, you must consistently make your mortgage payments on time and maintain the home as your primary residence for the entire forgiveness period to qualify for full loan forgiveness.

Amount of down payment assistance

This program offers homebuyers in Harris County up to $23,800 in flexible down payment assistance.

In addition to making a larger down payment, you can use the money to pay closing costs as well as the following upfront expenses: owner’s title policy; a one-year flood insurance policy; a three-year home warranty up to a maximum of $500 per year (if the home is not newly constructed). 

Minimum borrower contribution

This program asks that you put $1,000 of your own money toward your down payment to qualify. 

Purchase price limits

The purchase price limits for this program are $261,000 for existing homes and $268,000 for newly constructed homes. These purchase price limits are very near the median home sale price in Harris County (currently $279,853). 

Income limits

The total household income limit for this down payment assistance program is 80% of the area median income (AMI). In Harris County, this is currently between $52,200 and $98,450, depending on the size of your household.

Program income limits are regularly reviewed and updated to match housing market and economic conditions. To see if you qualify for this program based on your income, use our free down payment assistance finder.

How to qualify for the Harris County Community Services Department’s Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP)

To qualify for this down payment assistance program, you must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in this article. Use our free down payment assistance finder to see if you qualify.

How to apply for the Harris County Community Services Department’s Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP)

To get funding through the Harris County Down Payment Assistance Program, you need to apply through a lender who is approved to participate. Harris County does not accept direct applications. Use our free down payment assistance finder to locate approved lenders who can help you apply.