See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 6, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Brownsville, TX (2026)
Brownsville is a city of over 192,000 residents at the southern tip of Texas in Cameron County along the U.S.-Mexico border, and it offers some of the most affordable housing in the state with a median home price around $265,000. The City of Brownsville Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to $25,000 as a zero-interest deferred loan for down payment and closing costs, one of the largest city-level DPA programs in Texas. At the state level, the My First Texas Home program and Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program each offer up to 5% of the loan amount in additional assistance, and the Homes for Texas Heroes Program provides the same benefit for teachers, first responders, and veterans. Habitat for Humanity Rio Grande Valley also serves the area with zero-interest mortgages on affordable homes. By combining the city program with state assistance, eligible buyers could stack over $35,000 in total help toward purchasing a home.
City Programs in Brownsville
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Brownsville Homebuyer Assistance Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to $25,000 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $25,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Texas
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program | Grant | 2%, 3%, 4% or 5% of the total loan amount (borrower chooses); grant on FHA/VA/USDA loans or 0% 3-year forgivable second lien | No | View → |
| Homes for Texas Heroes Program | Grant | Up to 5% of the loan amount (between 3% and 5%) | No | View → |
| My First Texas Home | Forgivable Loan | Up to 5% of the first lien mortgage amount | Yes | View → |
| SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 5% of the loan amount | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- 2%, 3%, 4% or 5% of the total loan amount (borrower chooses); grant on FHA/VA/USDA loans or 0% 3-year forgivable second lien
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of the loan amount (between 3% and 5%)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of the first lien mortgage amount
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of the loan amount
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity Rio Grande Valley Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage sold at no profit | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage sold at no profit
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The City of Brownsville Homebuyer Assistance Program requires household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. You must be a first-time homebuyer, meaning you have not owned a home in the past three years.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. A HUD-approved homebuyer education course is required before closing. cdcb (Come Dream. Come Build.), a NeighborWorks affiliate based in Brownsville, offers housing counseling services and can be reached at (956) 541-6167 at 901 E. Levee Street.
Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Contact one of the City of Brownsville's participating lenders to get pre-approved. If you plan to use state programs like My First Texas Home or Home Sweet Texas, you'll need a TSAHC-approved lender.
Step 4: Contact the City of Brownsville Grants and Community Development department to begin your HBA Program application. Visit brownsvilletx.gov or call the department directly for current application windows and required documentation.
Step 5: Find a home within program guidelines. The property must be a new or existing single-family home within Brownsville city limits.
Step 6: Submit your application and complete closing. The city will review your application, verify income eligibility, and process the deferred loan. Work with your lender and housing counselor to coordinate the timing of multiple assistance programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Brownsville?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can purchase?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What makes the Brownsville HBA Program unique compared to other Texas cities?+−
Free eligibility check
Buying a home in Brownsville? 13 programs could help.
How soon are you looking to buy?