Homes for Texas Heroes takes applications all year: up to 5% of the loan amount, paid toward your down payment and closing.(800) 555-0100Run the 2-minute check
Tarrant County, home to about 2.25 million people and the county seat of Fort Worth, has its own Heroes metro figure from TSAHC. Eligible teachers and first responders can get up to 5% of the loan.
SeatFort Worth
Residents2,248,466
Metro income figure$187,510
The local picture
Buyers here look across Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, North Richland Hills and Euless. Fort Worth ISD, Arlington ISD, Northwest ISD, Keller ISD and Mansfield ISD are big employers of eligible educators, from classroom teachers to school librarians.
Fort Worth Police Department and Arlington Police Department officers and Tarrant County Sheriff's Office deputies qualify as peace officers. Fort Worth Fire Department firefighters qualify with TCFP certification. Full-time EMTs and paramedics, including crews at MedStar Mobile Healthcare, can qualify with DSHS certification.
Tarrant sits in TDHCA's Fort Worth-Arlington area rather than the Dallas one, so its companion limits differ from its neighbors to the east.
Income and price limits in Tarrant County
TSAHC lists $187,510 for the Fort Worth metro, and a lender confirms the exact Heroes limit for Tarrant County; TDHCA's Fort Worth-Arlington limits are $110,300 for 1-2 people and $126,845 for 3+, with a $589,596 price limit. Statewide limits · What can I afford?
Local money in Tarrant County
Programs run by cities, counties and employers here. Some can sit on top of the state help, some replace it. A loan officer sorts out which pairings are allowed.
First-time buyers (no ownership in 3 years) purchasing in Fort Worth city limits
How much
Up to $25,000 (down payment + closing costs; closing-cost help up to 3% of loan amount within the cap)
Kind of help
Loan that is forgiven over time
Income cap
80% AMI ($88,250 for a family of 4, updated June 2026)
Price cap
$309,000 existing / $329,000 new construction (guidelines, as of June 15, 2024)
First-timers only?
Yes
Fine print
0% deferred loan; 620 min credit; HUD-certified homebuyer education; minimum contribution $1,000 or 2% of price, whichever is less; 2 months reserves; inspection and environmental review
Affordability 5 years (up to $14,999) or 10 years ($15,000-$25,000) per Sept 2026 guidelines; page overview says 5 years. Acceptance 'depends on the availability of funds.'
Budget a few hours for a buyer class before closing, because almost every program requires it. These HUD-approved agencies around Tarrant County teach the class or sit down with buyers one on one:
Agency
Town
Miles away
Offers
Languages
How
Housing Channel
Fort Worth
3
Buyer class, One-on-one prep
English
By phone
Fort Worth Area Habitat for Humanity Inc
Fort Worth
11
Buyer class, One-on-one prep
English, Spanish
In person, By phone, Online
Transformance Dba Services of Hope Entities
Dallas
25
Buyer class, One-on-one prep
English
By phone
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Dallas
25
Buyer class, One-on-one prep
English, Spanish
In person, By phone
Dallas County Home Loan Counseling Center
Dallas
26
Buyer class, One-on-one prep
English
By phone
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
Local employers whose staff can qualify
Fort Worth ISD
Arlington ISD
Northwest ISD
Keller ISD
Mansfield ISD
Fort Worth Police Department
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office
Fort Worth Fire Department
Arlington Police Department
MedStar Mobile Healthcare (EMS)
Educators in Fort Worth, Arlington, Northwest, Keller and Mansfield ISDs, plus Fort Worth and Arlington police, sheriff's deputies, Fort Worth firefighters and MedStar EMS crews, are the local eligible pool. The full list of eligible jobs.
Questions from Tarrant County buyers
Do MedStar paramedics qualify?
TSAHC's EMS category covers full-time EMTs, EMT-Intermediates, EMT-Paramedics and licensed paramedics, verified through DSHS. A full-time MedStar paramedic with that certification fits; your lender confirms it.
Why is the Fort Worth figure lower than Dallas?
TSAHC sets limits by area median family income, and its July 2026 table shows $187,510 for Fort Worth and $205,870 for Dallas. A lender confirms which figure applies to your county.
Should I take the grant or the forgivable loan?
Both give up to 5% of the loan. The grant is never repaid; the second lien is forgiven after three years if you don't sell or refinance. Your lender can compare the rate on each.
I'm Linda, and I answer the phones for this desk. See if you're eligible for down payment assistance in Texas. A few taps and you'll know where you stand.
