What's open to Austin homebuyers right now?
Austin Housing runs City of Austin Down Payment Assistance, which is open and offers up to $40,000 toward down payment, closing costs and prepaids on a single-family home or condo. It's for first-time buyers (or those with no ownership in 3 years, or who were displaced or divorced) at or under 80% MFI, $106,800 for a family of four, with a $440,000 price cap. You'll need a homebuyer education certificate and a Housing-certified participating lender. An older city FAQ describes awards under $15,000 as 5-year forgivable loans and $15,000-$40,000 as shared equity with a 10-year affordability period. The program covers full-purpose city limits, which reach into Williamson and Hays counties.
The Austin Community Land Trust takes a different route: you buy the house at a below-market price and lease the land, with a resale formula that keeps the home affordable for the next buyer. Income limits aren't posted; sign up for home notices through the trust.
Above the city sits Hill Country Home from the Travis County HFC: 4% to 6% of the loan as a 10-year forgivable second, up to 140% AMI and a $364,452 price limit, open to first-time and repeat buyers. Austin ISD and Del Valle ISD teachers, Austin police, Austin firefighters and Austin-Travis County EMS medics can also check Homes for Texas Heroes. Compare options on the Travis County guide. Each of these programs has its own lender list, so ask early which ones your loan officer can deliver. Some Austin lenders work with more than one.
Run by the city of Austin
City of Austin (full-purpose city limits)
- Meant for
- First-time buyers (or no ownership in 3 years / displaced or divorced) buying a single-family home or condo
- How much
- Up to $40,000
- Kind of help
- Loan that is forgiven over time
- Income cap
- 80% MFI ($106,800 for a family of 4)
- Price cap
- $440,000
- First-timers only?
- Yes
- Fine print
- Homebuyer education certificate; Housing-certified participating lender; covers down payment, closing costs and prepaids
Older city FAQ: under $15,000 is a 5-year forgivable loan; $15,000-$40,000 is shared-equity (10-year affordability, 30-year term). Austin city limits reach into Williamson and Hays counties.
Fact-checked November 2026 · our sources
Read our full write-up →Could I get this? →Austin Community Land Trust
Taking applicationsCity of Austin
- Meant for
- Low- and moderate-income buyers
- How much
- Below-market price (buyer leases the land)
- Kind of help
- shared equity
- Fine print
- Ground lease with resale formula
Find homes and sign up for notices via info@ACLT-Homes.org / 512-974-3100. Income limits not on the page.
Fact-checked November 2026 · our sources
Could I get this? →County programs that cover Austin
Travis County, including City of Austin
- Meant for
- Low- to moderate-income buyers; first-time and repeat
- How much
- 4%, 5% or 6% of loan amount (net 4.5%, 3.5% or 2.5% after lender fee options)
- Kind of help
- Loan that is forgiven over time
- Income cap
- 140% AMI ($138,460)
- Price cap
- $364,452
- First-timers only?
- No
- Fine print
- 0% 10-year forgivable second; 30-year fixed FHA/VA/USDA-RD/Freddie Mac HFA Advantage; 640 min FICO; 45% max DTI; homebuyer education for first-time buyers; no manufactured homes
Fact-checked November 2026 · our sources
Read our full write-up →Could I get this? →The statewide layer
Buyers in Austin can also draw on 9 statewide programs, Homes for Texas Heroes among them. The full Texas list · Program matcher
County guide: Travis County, Williamson County, Hays County.
Buyer classes near Travis County
Budget a few hours for a buyer class before closing, because almost every program requires it. These HUD-approved agencies around Travis County teach the class or sit down with buyers one on one:
Pulled from HUD's list of approved counseling agencies. A class that one program accepts may not count for another.
Which class counts? Your lender keeps the list of approved courses for each Texas program, and can open your pre-approval during the same conversation.
Start the eligibility check
Questions from Austin buyers
How much is City of Austin down payment assistance?
Up to $40,000 for eligible first-time buyers at or under 80% MFI ($106,800 for a family of four), on homes priced up to $440,000.
Does Austin DPA apply in Williamson or Hays County?
Yes, if the home is inside Austin's full-purpose city limits, which extend into parts of Williamson and Hays counties.
How does the Austin Community Land Trust work?
You buy the home at a below-market price and lease the land under a ground lease with a resale formula that keeps the home affordable.
