Austin Housing

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Homebuyer Resources

Homebuyer Education

Homebuyer education classes inform first-time buyers about money management, understanding credit, securing a mortgage loan, and shopping for a home. Review the nonprofit partners below who offer these Homebuyer Education classes. 

Homebuyer Education Partners

These nonprofit organizations provide homebuyer education courses (with a HUD-approved curriculum), online classes, and homeownership counseling. Upon completing the course, you will receive an official Certificate of Completion.  

The homebuyer education course costs $99. You must also purchase the course handbook, Neighbor Works America: Realizing the American Dream.

Purchase Handbook

Frameworks Community Development Corporation

Frameworks CDC assists residents in Central Texas with home purchasing, financial literacy, credit education seminars, and business development. Complete their online homebuyer education class or call 512-385-1500.

Access Frameworks Homebuyer Education Class

Business & Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas

BCL provides financial literacy, homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention counseling, and other various community programs. Complete their online homebuyer education course or call 512-912-9884. 

Access BCL Homebuyer Education Course

Down Payment Loan Assistance

Income-eligible first-time homebuyers may qualify for down payment assistance. You must complete homebuyer education classes to learn more about the home-buying process before you can qualify for assistance.

The program covers down payment and closing costs, including prepaid expenses associated with home buying. Homebuyers may qualify for up to $40,000 in assistance. Note: Sales price of the home cannot exceed $440,000.

Who is Eligible?

You may qualify for Austin's Down Payment Assistance Program if you:

  • Are a first-time homebuyer
  • Have not owned a home in the last three years
  • Have been displaced or divorced
  • Are buying a single-family home or condominium in Austin's Full Purpose city limits. Check the City of Austin Jurisdictions Web Map
  • Make a low-income household, as defined as at or below 80% Median Family Income (MFI). See table below. For mobile users: please scroll right to view the entire table.
1 person/persona2 people/personas3 people/personas4 people/personas5 people/personas

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$74,800

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$85,450

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$96,150

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$106,800

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$115,350

Application Process
  1. You will first need to confirm that the property you seek to purchase is within Austin City Limits. Check this map (web) to verify the property's location.
  2. Potential homebuyers will need to complete a Homebuyer Education Course (details above) and obtain an official Certificate of Completion.
  3. Additionally, you must be approved for a mortgage loan from one of our participating lenders. See list below. For mobile users: please scroll right to view the entire table.
DPA Participating Lender List
Mortgage CompanyLoan Officer/NMLS#PhoneEmail
CMG Home Loans, Inc.Michel Harrell #276766512-657-8284mharrell@cmgfi.com
American BankTiffany Oliva361-653-5297toliva@americanbank.com
First Community MortgageRoman Vonhapsburg512-565-9654roman.vonhapsburg@fcmhomeloans.com
Guardian MortgageKristin Fox512-522-4122TeamFox@gmc-inc.com
Guild MortgageDianne Acuna - #219210512-699-3056dacuna@guildmortgage.net
Guild MortgageLara Rinier #2067546512-964-2800lrinier@guildmortgage.net
Guild MortgageMarshall Sanders III #1070036512-589-3877msanders@guildmortgage.net
Newrez, LLCChristine Doolittle #508398707-303-2902chris.doolittle@newrez.com
Republic MortgageThomas Sawyer512-804-8165tsawyer@rsmc.net

Applicants will need to provide the following documentation items:

Identification
  • Social Security card
  • Picture identification: Texas Driver's License, Texas Permanent ID card, or passport
  • Permanent Residency Card (if applicable)
Verification of income
  • Last 2 consecutive months' paycheck stubs from all household members above 18 years old
  • Most recent 2 years of W-2 forms or 1099s
  • If self-employed, last quarter's Profit & Loss Statement and 2 years of tax returns
Verification of other income
  • Most recent 6 months of checking account statements and 6 months of savings for the accounts of all household members
  • Verification of assets

Once you have confirmed you have all required documents, your registered, trained loan officer can help you submit your Down Payment Assistance Application. 

Down Payment Assistance Application

Down Payment Assistance Loan Officer Training

To register as a Housing-certified participating lender, loan officers must attend Housing training. 

The Down Payment Assistance Lender Training can be provided upon request to groups of five or more interested parties. For more information, call 512-974-3100 or email Housing@austintexas.gov. 

ACLT home

Austin Community Land Trust

Community Land Trusts let buyers purchase a home while leasing the land for a small monthly fee. By removing the land cost from the real estate transaction, land trust homes are more affordable than houses on the open market. 

This model provides quality housing for low- and moderate-income families and keeps housing affordable for future buyers by controlling resale prices on CLT land through a ground lease and resale formula. CLT developers are required to enter an Austin Housing Finance Corporation pre-approved ground lease with the affordable buyer.

Find ACLT homes for sale

To be notified of new information about Community Land Trust opportunities, email info@ACLT-Homes.org or call 512-974-3100. 

Community Land Trust (CLT) Designations

The purpose of a CLT designation is to make certain properties owned by non-profit organizations eligible for exemption only from City of Austin ad valorem taxes.

The Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 373B, and Section 11.1827 of the Texas Property Tax Code authorize local governments to designate non-profit organizations as CLTs by ordinance.  To qualify as a CLT, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit, created to acquire and hold land for the benefit of developing and preserving long-term affordable housing within the jurisdiction of the unit of local government.  Organizations designated as CLTs must provide a copy of a City Ordinance designating them as a CLT to the Travis Central Appraisal District by July 1 each year in order to receive the exemption.

Applications for CLT Designations are only taken during the month of April. 

Long-Term Affordable Housing

Long-term housing generally refers to homeownership, whether in individual homes, subdivisions, or multi-unit properties (e.g., duplexes, condominiums).  The availability of reasonably priced housing is important to ensuring affordability in communities citywide. The City of Austin strategically provides resources to help in the construction and preservation of such housing.

Long-Term Affordability Restrictions (Condo)

Developers who build a condominium with a long-term affordability requirement must enter into an Austin Housing Finance Corporation pre-approved land use restriction that is recorded against the property. 

A second land-use restriction will be entered into with the condo's affordable buyer at closing.  By restricting the original sales price and resale value, these homes are more affordable than houses on the open real estate market. 

Affordable Housing Partners

The City of Austin partners with developers to finance and permit the construction of affordable housing. Below you’ll find the contact information for each affordable housing partner.

Austin Habitat for Humanity

Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation

Homebase

Industry ATX

Mueller Affordable Homes Program

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