Saving up for a down payment can feel like climbing a mountain that keeps getting taller. You’re putting money aside every month, but then the car needs repairs, or medical bills pop up, or your rent goes up again. Before you know it, homeownership seems like something that’s always just out of reach.
That’s why down payment assistance programs matter so much. Down payment assistance, or DPA, is usually money that helps you cover part of the down payment and sometimes closing costs when you buy a home. It can come as a grant you never repay, a forgivable second lien, or a deferred loan that sits in the background until you sell, refinance, or pay off the mortgage.
Down payment assistance, usually shortened to DPA, is funding that helps cover your down payment and sometimes your closing costs. Down payment assistance, or DPA, is usually money that enables you to cover part of the down payment and sometimes closing costs when you buy a home. It typically comes in one of three forms:
Grants that do not have to be repaid.
Deferred second liens that require no monthly payment, and may be forgiven after you meet certain terms.
Low-interest second liens that sit behind your first mortgage and are repaid under specific conditions.
In Corpus Christi, you can layer state programs with local city offerings in some situations, which is where a good loan officer becomes incredibly helpful. The goal with all of these options is simple: to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses so that homeownership is within reach sooner, without draining every dollar of your savings.
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) is one of the best-known statewide resources for down payment assistance, and its programs are available to eligible buyers in Corpus Christi.
TSAHC offers:
This is designed for teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, corrections officers, and some other public servants. Qualifying “heroes” can receive the same type of DPA, but sometimes with more favorable terms.
This one is for low- to moderate-income Texans who do not necessarily fall into a hero category but still need help with a down payment.
TSAHC also offers a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), a federal tax credit that can reduce the amount of income tax you owe each year by a portion of the mortgage interest you pay. For first-time buyers in Corpus Christi, pairing the TSAHC down payment assistance with an MCC can be a powerful combination.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or TDHCA, runs its own programs that Corpus Christi buyers can use.
This is geared toward first-time buyers and offers a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at below-market interest rates. It can be used with FHA, VA, or USDA loans and includes down payment and closing cost assistance up to 5 percent of the loan amount as a deferred, no-interest second lien. That second lien is repaid when you sell, refinance, or fully pay off the loan.
This program is open to both first-time and repeat buyers and allows conventional financing through Fannie Mae’s HFA Preferred option, as well as FHA, VA, and USDA. It also offers up to 5 percent assistance toward down payment and closing costs.
Both TDHCA programs have income and purchase price limits that vary by county, as well as minimum credit score requirements. The nice thing is that these guidelines are designed specifically for low and moderate-income buyers, people who are ready for homeownership but simply need help bridging the initial cash gap.
You can often pair TDHCA programs with an MCC, which adds a long-term tax benefit to the immediate help with your down payment.
The City of Corpus Christi offers homebuyer assistance programs through its Neighborhood Services Department, though availability varies depending on funding. These programs have historically focused on low- to moderate-income families and first-time buyers.
The City of Corpus Christi Homebuyer Assistance Program offers up to $25,000 in down payment assistance, plus $10,000 toward closing costs, depending on current guidelines.
The city’s programs sometimes target specific neighborhoods to encourage homeownership and stabilization. If you’re open to different areas of Corpus Christi, it’s worth checking whether there are targeted programs that offer extra assistance for buying in those communities.
Nueces County also provides housing assistance, particularly through Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds. These federal programs flow through the county and can be used for down payment assistance and home rehabilitation.
Most down payment assistance programs in Texas share some common requirements. You’ll typically need to:
Not always. TSAHC and TDHCA both offer options for repeat buyers, as long as you meet income, credit, and purchase price limits, while the City of Corpus Christi program is generally focused on first-time buyers.
Amounts vary by program and structure. TDHCA program materials describe assistance options that can be up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount in certain cases. TSAHC allows assistance as a grant or a deferred forgivable second lien, depending on the option you select.
Sometimes, but not always, and it depends on program rules, funding sources, and your lender’s ability to layer benefits properly. The safest approach is to have your lender evaluate stacking options early, before you write offers, so you’re not scrambling later.
Each program publishes income and purchase price limits by county. Your lender can pull those numbers for Nueces County and Corpus Christi, then compare them to your income, family size, and the home you are shopping for to see which programs are a fit.
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Ready to explore down payment assistance options and see what you qualify for? Our team specializes in Texas homebuyer programs and can help you navigate the TSAHC, TDHCA, and local assistance options in Corpus Christi. We’ll walk you through the programs, run the numbers, and help you find the best path to homeownership.
Call us today at (877) 280-4833 to speak with a loan specialist who understands how to make these programs work for you.
