If you work as a teacher, firefighter, police officer, EMS provider, veteran, or correctional officer, the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) has a program built specifically for you — and it’s one of the most underused benefits we come across in Fort Worth.
Quick Answer
• Who qualifies: Teachers, firefighters, EMS personnel, police officers, veterans, and correctional officers, statewide (including Tarrant, Dallas, and surrounding counties)
• What you get: Down payment assistance as either a grant (never repaid) or a deferred forgivable second loan (only repaid if you sell or refinance within 3 years)
• Credit score: Typically 620+
• Can combine with: FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional first mortgages
Who Qualifies for Homes for Texas Heroes?
This program is built around specific public-service professions defined by TSAHC — currently including public school teachers and staff, firefighters, EMS personnel, police officers, veterans and active military, and corrections officers. If you fall into one of these categories, this is worth exploring before you assume you need to save a large down payment on your own.
What the Program Actually Provides
TSAHC offers the assistance in one of two forms: a straight grant that never has to be repaid, or a deferred forgivable second lien loan that only becomes repayable if you sell or refinance the home within the first three years. Either way, it’s designed to reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket down payment, not to replace your mortgage.
How It Works With Your Mortgage
Homes for Texas Heroes assistance is paired with a first mortgage — FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional — so you’re not choosing between the program and a standard loan type. Your loan officer applies for both together, and the assistance funds show up at closing.
How to Apply
1. Confirm your profession qualifies under TSAHC’s current eligibility list.
2. Get pre-approved for your first mortgage at the same time you apply for the assistance program — not after.
3. Complete any required homebuyer education if applicable to the specific program option.
4. Close with your combined mortgage and assistance funds applied together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to use this program?
Not necessarily — eligibility is based primarily on your profession, not always on first-time buyer status. We can confirm your specific eligibility.
Can I combine this with other down payment assistance?
Program stacking rules vary and change over time — this is exactly the kind of detail worth confirming with a lender before you assume what’s possible.
Is the assistance taxable income?
Down payment assistance programs are generally structured to avoid this, but for tax-specific questions, we’d recommend confirming with a tax professional.
Ready to Talk Through Your Options?
Every buyer’s situation is different — the best way to know exactly what fits you is a quick, no-obligation conversation.
Cristina Calk
Team Calk | Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
Phone: 817-929-6239
Website: TeamCalk.com
Cristina Calk has over 23 years of experience helping DFW-area buyers navigate the home financing process.
NMLS# 497446 (Cristina Calk) | Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, NMLS# 2289. Equal Housing Lender. Programs and eligibility requirements are subject to change without notice and are current as of the publish date of this article; contact us for current terms. This is not an offer to extend credit or a commitment to lend, and no interest rate or Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is quoted in this article unless explicitly labeled as such and sourced. Contact us for a personalized rate quote and Loan Estimate, which will disclose your actual interest rate, APR, estimated payment, and closing costs in compliance with the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z). This article is for informational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice.