See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in La Porte, TX (2026)
La Porte is a waterfront community along Galveston Bay in southeast Harris County, Texas, with a median home price around $289,000. First-time buyers in La Porte can access up to $23,800 through the Harris County Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP), which covers down payment, closing costs, and pre-paids. State programs like My First Texas Home and the Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program each offer up to 5% of the loan amount in additional assistance. Bay Area Habitat for Humanity also serves La Porte with affordable homeownership opportunities featuring zero-interest mortgages. By combining county and state programs, buyers in La Porte can significantly reduce their upfront costs.
County Programs in Harris County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County Community Land Trust Homeownership Program | Silent Second Mortgage | Reduced purchase price (buyer purchases home only, not land) | No | View → |
| Harris County Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $23,800 | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Silent Second Mortgage
- Amount:
- Reduced purchase price (buyer purchases home only, not land)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $23,800
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with zero-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Harris County DAP requires household income at or below 80% of the area median income and a minimum credit score of 580. You must not have owned a home in the past three years.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Harris County DAP requires an 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer education course before applying. Contact Avenue, a Houston-area HUD-approved counseling agency, at (713) 864-8099 to register.
Step 3: Get pre-approved with a participating lender. Contact a Harris County CSD participating mortgage lender who can pre-approve you and help you apply for the DAP program simultaneously.
Step 4: Apply for state programs. Ask your lender about My First Texas Home or Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program, which provide up to 5% of the loan amount in down payment assistance.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. Your home must be located in Harris County and meet the purchase price requirements of whichever programs you're using.
Step 6: Submit your full application. Your lender will package your DAP and mortgage applications together. Expect the approval process to take 30 to 60 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in La Porte?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price in La Porte?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Does Bay Area Habitat for Humanity serve La Porte?+−
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