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San Antonio FRHAP: homebuyer help for SAPD and SAFD
San Antonio police and fire employees, including cadets, can get up to $20,000 to buy inside city limits, or up to $40,000 inside the CRAG area, as a loan forgiven over 10 years of service.
San Antonio First Responders Homebuyer Assistance Program (FRHAP)
Money can run out
City of San Antonio
Meant for
SAPD and SAFD employees (uniformed and cadets)
How much
Up to $20,000 inside city limits; up to $40,000 inside the CRAG area
Kind of help
Loan that is forgiven over time
0% loan forgiven 1/10 per year of continued City employment over 10 years. No income or price limit. First-time (no ownership in 3 years). Must be a primary residence in city limits; buyers outside must relocate. Forgiven amounts are taxable income. Policy effective Oct 1, 2023: https://www.sa.gov/files/assets/main/v/1/nhsd/documents/fhrap-hope-policy.pdf
Heads-up list. San Antonio First Responders Homebuyer Assistance Program (FRHAP) lives on a limited pot that can run dry. Sign up and we'll tell you when a new round is funded.
How forgiveness works
The assistance is a 0% loan forgiven one tenth at a time for each year you keep working for the City of San Antonio, so it disappears after 10 years of service. The policy took effect October 1, 2023. Forgiven amounts count as taxable income, so plan for a modest tax bill each year the forgiveness posts.
Who qualifies?
Uniformed SAPD and SAFD employees and cadets. There is no income limit and no price limit, which sets it apart from the city's HIP programs. You must be a first-time buyer, with no ownership in the past 3 years, and the home must be your primary residence inside San Antonio city limits in Bexar County. Employees who now live outside the city must relocate into it to use the program.
Stacking with Homes for Texas Heroes
Licensed peace officers and full-time firefighters are also hero professions under TSAHC's statewide program, which offers up to 5% of the loan. The city policy does not say whether FRHAP can be layered with a TSAHC loan; a participating lender confirms whether they combine. Review police and firefighter eligibility, and the overtime and shift pay guide for how lenders count your income.
The CRAG area is a designated part of the city where the cap doubles to $40,000. Because forgiveness is tied to years of city service, ask what happens to the unforgiven share if you leave before 10 years, and think about how long you expect to stay with SAPD or SAFD. Since there is no income or price cap, senior officers and fire captains qualify on the same terms as cadets, which is rare among Texas homebuyer programs.
Because the program is funding-dependent, confirm that money is available for the current fiscal year before you sign a purchase contract that relies on it.
How to apply
Apply through the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department's employee assistance page. Funding is limited, so ask about current availability first. Check whether your target address is in the CRAG area, which doubles the maximum. Then check your eligibility for Heroes.
Reader questions on San Antonio First Responders Homebuyer Assistance Program (FRHAP)
How much is San Antonio FRHAP?
Up to $20,000 inside city limits, or up to $40,000 inside the CRAG area.
Summed up from the program's official page as of November 2026. Money and rules change; check current terms with the program or a lender that takes part. Texas Down Payment Assistance has no tie to this program.
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