First-time home buyer programs in Fort Worth, Texas — down payment assistance

Fort Worth Down Payment Assistance

First-Time Home Buyer Programs & Down Payment Assistance in Fort Worth, Texas

In Fort Worth, TX, the down payment is the hurdle more often than the payment; the first-time home buyer programs here clear it: a grant with nothing to repay, forgivable second liens, and a repayable option that covers closing costs, on an owner-occupied home of one or two units (the nothing-to-repay option reaches four).

See my offer Size My Down Payment

Current Program Snapshot

Current down payment assistance guidelines, updated from one source.

The snapshot below is not typed onto this page — it is pulled from one down payment assistance guideline source and refreshed when that source changes, so Fort Worth, TX always shows the options in force.

Down Payment Help

Up to 5%

Of the purchase price

Up to this share of the price can come from assistance: the largest option reaches closing costs as well as the down payment, while the smaller options cover the 3.5% FHA minimum, in whole or, on the lowest tier, in part.

Nothing to Repay

3.5%

Covers the FHA down payment, in whole or in part

Nothing to repay, ever: this option pays the 3.5% FHA minimum down payment in whole or, on its lower tier, in part, and leaves no lien behind, for buyers within the area income limit or in a qualifying category.

Income Limit

None

On the forgivable and repayable options

The forgivable and repayable options have no income limit at all — one of the biggest advantages of this program. Only the nothing-to-repay option asks for income at or below 140% of the area median, or a qualifying category.

Credit

620

Credit score to start

The score that opens the nothing-to-repay option; the forgivable options start a step higher and the repayable options higher still. Two-borrower files may use a blended score on the second-lien options.

Assistance options offered in Texas — how much, what it costs to carry, and the credit it takes
Option	Assistance	What you repay	Credit · mortgage · units
Grant-style assistance — nothing to repay	2% or 3.5% of the price	Nothing — released at closing	620+ · FHA 203(b), FHA repair escrow, FHA Limited 203(k), FHA Standard 203(k) · 1–4 units
Forgivable second lien — three-year	3.5% of the price	Nothing after 36 on-time mortgage payments	640+ · FHA 203(b), FHA Limited 203(k), HUD-184, USDA · 1–2 units
Forgivable second lien — five-year	3.5% of the price	Nothing after 60 on-time mortgage payments	640+ · FHA 203(b), FHA Limited 203(k), HUD-184, USDA · 1–2 units
Repayable second lien — thirty-year amortization, ten-year balloon	3.5% or 5% of the price	Second lien, 30-year amortization, balloon in year 10	660+ · FHA 203(b), FHA Limited 203(k), HUD-184, USDA · 1–2 units
Closing-cost repayable second lien	3.5% or 5% of the price	Second lien, 30-year amortization, balloon in year 10	660+ · FHA 203(b) · 1–2 units
Refinance-cost second lien (repayable)	1% to 3.5% of the balance	Second lien, repaid	660+ · FHA 203(b) · 1–4 units

Current down payment assistance snapshot · updated September 7, 2026 · six options offered in Texas · no option requires a first-time buyer · no option combines with another assistance program · owner-occupied primary residences only.

Program Notice

This page describes down payment assistance at the program level. The option for any file comes from the credit tier, the first lien, the property, and the eligibility category; the first lien’s approval, the appraisal, and full underwriting decide the actual terms, subject to lender program eligibility. Nothing here is a quote, a fee, or a commitment to lend; the calculator’s rate is a market benchmark you can edit and its payment an estimate. Lendmire is never the lender and is not affiliated with FHA, USDA, HUD, or the federal government. Lendmire, LLC — NMLS #2371349. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Fort Worth Down Payment Assistance Guide

What down payment assistance is — and how the options differ.

For Fort Worth, TX buyers, the first-time home buyer programs come down to three parts: the first lien carries most of the price, the assistance covers the minimum investment, and the shape of the assistance — nothing to repay, forgivable, or repayable — decides what it costs to carry.

For the program overview, see Lendmire’s down payment assistance program, or the statewide guide at Down Payment Assistance in Texas.

01.

Assistance covers the FHA down payment

An FHA purchase asks for a minimum investment from the buyer; the assistance covers it, measured as a percentage of the lesser of price or value, and the largest option carries a further share for closing costs and prepaids.

02.

Four shapes: grant, forgivable, repayable, refinance

The assistance comes as a grant where it is offered, as a forgivable second lien, or as a repayable second lien, with a refinance-cost version for an existing FHA loan; each pairs with the first lien differently, and the options table on this page shows what is offered in Texas.

03.

Credit floors, mortgage programs, and unit counts

Two-borrower files can qualify on a blended score on the second-lien options when the higher earner has the higher score and an automated approval is in hand; every borrower still needs a score of their own, and the first lien and the unit count place the file as the options table shows.

04.

Eligibility without a first-time-buyer rule

No option requires a first-time buyer. The nothing-to-repay option asks for one qualifying category — income at or below the area limit, a community-service occupation, a first purchase, or an underserved tract — and a homebuyer education course; the second-lien options ask for neither.

The Core Calculation

Purchase price × the FHA minimum down payment = your down payment; assistance covers it, and the larger option covers closing costs too

Enter a price, choose an option, and add your own cash. The calculator sizes the minimum investment, splits the assistance between the down payment and closing costs, and estimates the FHA payment with mortgage insurance, taxes, insurance, and dues.

Size My Down Payment Call (828) 256-2183

Fort Worth Market Context

Where Fort Worth’s first-time and moderate-income buyers shop — and how the assistance fits.

Census estimates give the backdrop for a down payment assistance file: where Fort Worth, TX’s renters live, what a median home costs, and what a median household earns.

Market context only. The renter share says how many households the program could serve; the median value says how far the minimum investment sits from a typical price; the two together describe where the program closes most files.

963,194Population (ACS 2020–2024)

$303,000Median owner-occupied home value (ACS 2020–2024)

43.0%Households that rent (ACS 2020–2024)

$79,507Median household income (ACS 2020–2024)

Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2024) housing and population estimates, including tenure, home values, gross rents, and household income.

Fort Worth Submarkets

Distinct Fort Worth submarkets, distinct property rules.

Across Fort Worth’s condominiums, townhomes, and older neighborhoods close to work, the same program produces different closings because prices, property types, and first liens differ block by block.

01.

Manufactured homes on owned land

For Fort Worth buyers looking at manufactured housing, the assistance is available on owned land, with single-width homes reaching only the option that accepts them. On a home at Fort Worth’s median value, the FHA minimum investment comes to about $10,600 — the figure the assistance is built to cover.

Width and title decide the option

Market data: U.S. Census Bureau — Fort Worth.

02.

Townhomes and attached homes

Attached homes and townhomes in Fort Worth sit at price points where the minimum investment is smaller in dollars but no easier to save; the assistance closes that gap, and the association’s documents are reviewed with the file. Median gross rent in Fort Worth is about $1,509 a month — the payment many renters already carry.

PUD review, lower price points

Market data: U.S. Census Bureau — Fort Worth.

03.

Older neighborhoods and renovation loans

Renovation purchases in Fort Worth qualify for the assistance on the price before repairs, which lets a buyer take on a home that needs work without also finding the minimum investment. Fort Worth itself counts a population near 963K; it sits within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX area.

203(k) with the assistance attached

Market data: U.S. Census Bureau — Fort Worth.

04.

Condominiums close to work

Condominiums are often the entry point in Fort Worth, and the assistance follows the first lien: the building needs FHA approval, or a single-unit approval, before the down payment help can attach to it. The median owner-occupied home value in Fort Worth runs near $303,000 on the latest Census estimate.

FHA project approval decides the file

Market data: U.S. Census Bureau — Fort Worth.

05.

New construction and infill

A newly built Fort Worth home is eligible; the buyer’s own funds requirement is covered by the assistance, and the builder’s closing date is met once the first lien is approved. About 43% of Fort Worth’s households rent — roughly 147,054 renter households, the pool the program exists for.

Builder timelines and appraisal

Market data: U.S. Census Bureau — Fort Worth.

06.

Small multi-unit homes, owner-occupied

A buyer who lives in one unit of a Fort Worth duplex can use the program on the whole building; the nothing-to-repay option, which reaches four units, makes a house-hacking purchase reachable with the minimum investment covered. Median household income in Fort Worth sits near $79,507 on the latest Census estimate.

Live in one unit, rent the others

Market data: U.S. Census Bureau — Fort Worth.

Read the submarkets as orientation. The file’s figures come from the first lien, the option, and the program’s rules.

How Fort Worth Buyers Use the Program

Four ways Fort Worth buyers put down payment assistance to work.

The same assistance serves several purposes in Fort Worth, TX; four of the most common are below.

Renovation

Buy a home that needs work with a renovation mortgage

Renovation purchases in Fort Worth, TX qualify for the assistance on the price before repairs, so the down payment help and the repair budget close together at one table.

Refinance

Cover the costs of an FHA refinance

Owners in Fort Worth with an FHA loan and little cash for a refinance use the refinance-cost option, subject to its own credit floor and the combined-leverage limit it carries.

Government mortgages

Pair the assistance with a USDA or HUD-184 mortgage

A Fort Worth, TX buyer on a USDA or HUD-184 first lien uses the second-lien options, forgivable or repayable; the nothing-to-repay option pairs only with FHA first liens.

Closing costs

Cover closing costs too on the larger option

A Fort Worth buyer who needs more than the minimum investment uses the repayable option that covers down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items, including costs paid outside closing.

Assistance Sizer

Size the assistance on a Fort Worth price before requesting a quote.

The calculator does what a loan officer’s first pass does for a Fort Worth file — sizes the minimum investment, applies the option, builds the FHA loan with mortgage insurance, and estimates the payment — using the current program figures and an editable benchmark rate.

Editable FHA scenario with assistance

Fort Worth FHA payment with assistance

Starting assumptions reflect Fort Worth’s home values; change any field and the loan, the mortgage insurance, and the payment are recalculated.

Purchase price

Assistance option

Your own cash toward the down payment (% of price)

Term

Rate (%) — editable benchmark

Editable benchmark: 7.28% as of October 1, 2026 · Freddie Mac 30-year average via FRED®. A conventional market reference, not an FHA loan quote.

Property taxes (per year)

Homeowners insurance (per year)

Association dues (per month)

Gross monthly household income (optional)

Other monthly debt payments

—FHA minimum investment on this price.

—Annual mortgage insurance rate applied, and for how long.

Illustrative starting assumptions: a $305,000 price near Fort Worth’s median owner-occupied home value, the strongest assistance option offered in Texas applied against the FHA minimum investment, a thirty-year term at the current Freddie Mac benchmark, property taxes and insurance estimated for Texas (U.S. Census Bureau). Every field is editable.

Estimated total monthly housing payment

—

Principal and interest, FHA mortgage insurance, taxes, insurance and dues, on the total loan with the upfront premium financed.

—Total down payment (your cash plus assistance)

—Assistance applied to the down payment

—Assistance left toward closing costs and prepaids

—Your cash toward the down payment

—Base loan amount

—Upfront mortgage insurance premium, financed

—Total loan amount

—Principal and interest

—Monthly FHA mortgage insurance

—Taxes, insurance and dues

—Housing and total debt ratios (with income entered)

—Where the file lands

See my offer Call 828-256-2183

Illustrative estimate only — not a Loan Estimate, approval, quote, or commitment to lend. The rate field carries the weekly Freddie Mac thirty-year conventional benchmark, a market reference and not an FHA loan quote; your rate is set by the lender at lock. FHA mortgage insurance follows HUD’s published schedule for the term, leverage and loan size entered; taxes, insurance and dues are editable estimates; closing costs are not included; a repayable second lien adds its own payment, which is not shown here. Consumer mortgage lending licensed in sixteen states. Lendmire is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of FHA, USDA, HUD, or the federal government.

Down Payment Assistance vs. the Alternatives

Same buyer, three very different closings.

Down payment assistance is one of the ways a Fort Worth buyer covers the minimum investment; each has a different cost after closing.

Structure Comparison

Assistance on an FHA loan, your own down payment, or assistance on a USDA or HUD-184 loan.

FHA with down payment assistance

Covers the FHA minimum investment as a percentage of the price in four shapes — the lightest a nothing-to-repay option released at closing, the largest a repayable second lien that reaches closing costs and prepaids — with credit floors in the low six hundreds and no first-time-buyer rule.

FHA with your own minimum investment

Paying the minimum investment yourself keeps the closing simplest — no second lien, no category, no course; the trade is the months or years of saving that the assistance replaces. For the first lien itself, see Lendmire’s FHA loan program.

USDA or HUD-184 with assistance

Where the property is USDA-eligible or the buyer qualifies for HUD-184, the forgivable options and the ten-year repayable option carry the Fort Worth file; the separate closing-cost option is FHA only. For the USDA first lien, see the USDA loan program.

Where each one fits

Assistance fits the buyer short of cash to close; the plain purchase fits the buyer with savings; the USDA and HUD-184 pairing fits eligible properties and borrowers — Lendmire places the Fort Worth, TX file where it reads best.

Typical File Components

What to prepare for a Fort Worth scenario review.

The documents a lender reads first on an assistance file.

Property detailUnit count, condominium approval status, manufactured-home width and title, USDA eligibility, and any association documents on file.

Credit reportA tri-merge report with a score for every borrower; the option’s floor and the first lien’s rules both apply, and a blended score may apply on the second-lien options.

Assistance (second-lien) disclosuresOn the forgivable and repayable options, the second lien is a separate loan with its own number and disclosures; the repayable option carries a balloon disclosure.

Income documentationPay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, and any fixed income, read against the first lien’s rules and, for the nothing-to-repay option, the area income limit.

Assets and reservesStatements showing the buyer’s own funds for anything the assistance does not cover, plus any reserves the first lien itself requires.

Seasoned fundsAny gift funds or personal savings used alongside the assistance, documented in the way the first lien requires those funds to be.

This is a general preparation guide, not a universal checklist. The selected lender may request additional information based on the mortgage, the assistance option, the property, and the eligibility category. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.

Fort Worth File Considerations

Local details that can change the loan.

Every Fort Worth file is underwritten individually, but the same handful of considerations recur; they are worth settling before the contract is signed.

Before You Move Forward

Use these checks to keep the Fort Worth file clean and fundable.

Settle the option, the first lien, the property’s eligibility, and the category before the appraisal is ordered; a Fort Worth file that clears these reads cleanly.

Know the option: choose by cost to carry first, amount second.
Confirm the category: settle which category applies before the application is signed.
Understand the clock: keep the first lien current through the forgiveness period.

The option decides what you owe afterward

The same minimum investment can be covered three ways on a purchase in Fort Worth, TX, and the difference is entirely in what happens after closing: nothing, nothing if the first lien stays current, or a second loan that comes due; the options table shows what is offered.

ii.

The eligibility category for the nothing-to-repay option

The nothing-to-repay option opens on any one of four categories — household income at or below the area limit, a community-service occupation, a first purchase, or a property in an underserved census tract — plus a homebuyer education course; the second-lien options need none of these.

iii.

The forgiveness clock on the forgivable options

The clock starts at closing and runs with the first lien’s payments; a Fort Worth buyer who plans to sell or refinance inside the period should expect the second lien to be paid at that point, since it is not resubordinated.

iv.

No stacking with other assistance

No option may be combined with another down payment assistance program in Fort Worth, TX, and the nothing-to-repay and forgivable options do not combine with a high-balance first lien; one assistance option, one first lien, one closing.

Property type and unit count select the option

The property itself can move a Fort Worth, TX file: a fourplex, a single-width manufactured home, or an unapproved condominium project each changes which option can attach, so the address is read before the option is promised.

A Clear Process

From a Fort Worth pre-approval to keys with the assistance in place.

Four steps take a Fort Worth, TX assistance file from a first read to funding; the first one is the one most buyers skip.

Pick the option

Lendmire reads the Fort Worth scenario against the options offered in Texas: the credit tier, the first lien, the unit count, the category, and whether the help must reach closing costs.

ii.

Get the mortgage approved

Lendmire packages the Fort Worth file for the first lien first, because the assistance follows its approval; the option’s floor and the first lien’s rules both have to clear.

iii.

Clear the property

The appraisal, the condominium approval where one applies, the manufactured-home title, and the county loan limit are settled; small repairs go into an escrow holdback where the option allows it.

iv.

Close both loans together

The Fort Worth closing carries both instruments: the first lien and the assistance, each documented on its own and closed together, with the education certificate in the file where it applies.

Why Lendmire

A brokerage that pairs the assistance to the loan.

Down payment assistance is where a generalist stumbles: the options differ by first lien, by credit tier, by unit count, and by state, and the wholesale programs that carry them competently are a short list.

The option, matched to the buyer

Lendmire reads the options offered in Texas against a Fort Worth buyer’s credit, first lien, property, and category before anything is ordered, and names the fit by cost to carry.

ii.

The mortgage, matched to the property

FHA, USDA, or HUD-184 is chosen with the Fort Worth property — its address, its unit count, its type — so the assistance option that pairs with it is the one that attaches.

iii.

The right wholesale program

A Fort Worth file is matched to the wholesale program whose option fits the buyer, and Lendmire manages the first lien and the assistance together through closing.

Client Experiences

Trusted by first-time buyers & families alike.

Verified Google Reviews

    
 
 
          Joseph Edwards 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend, Cori was awesome to work with and had great communication. She was very helpful and got us through everything to close.
  
 
         K Star Real Estate LLC 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cori on the Lendmire team was phenomenal! She was two steps ahead through the entire process of purchasing an investment property.  She was solving problems before anyone knew there could have been a problem.  Great communication,  great availability,  all around a great person to work with.  She is the reason our deal closed.  We look forward to working with her again in the very near future!
  
 
         Tristen Mosley 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Alayna Pack is very knowledgeable, helpful, communicative, and transparent. Highly recommend.
  
 
         J Mills 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Leigh is absolutely the best! Professional yet personable, diligent, and incredibly responsive. She was with us throughout the process and helped us secure a competitive rate. Leigh went above and beyond to make sure all of our questions were answered, and offered deep explanations for questions that arose. We felt supported through the entire process and trust her expertise completely. 5 stars!
  
 
         Tyjuana Atkinson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Awesome experience!!!!!!! Leigh had our best interest at heart from beginning to the end.
  
 
         Anna Hernandez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Curt Galbraith was a Great Loan Originator and goes above and beyond for his clients, working with him on this transaction was so easy. I would recommend him for any Buyers looking to Buyer or Refinance. Great Service all around
  
 
         RustynKelli Shelton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brenda is absolutely one of the most professional hardworking lenders we have ever dealt with; she’s helped clients of ours and now us personally. Her communication is top notch, you never feel like you’re forgotten or left to figure things out on your own, great to answer questions and explain each step. Definitely recommend Brenda to walk along beside you in your purchase process!
  
 
         Isaac Alonzo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As a first time home buyer Curt Galbraith was a wonderful man, he explained everything i had questions about and took time out of his day to meet up late at nights after my night shift, to explain things to me .Over all  Curt was really helpful all through closing and always there when you needed him. Thank you so much Curt for helping me through out the whole process.
  
 
         Jason Fleck 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brenda, Samantha and the Lendmire team were absolutely fantastic to work with. We had to jump through some major hurdles to get this home done, which most lenders would have gave up, they kept pushing to get this home done for us. I would absolutely recommend Brenda and team to anybody. Thank you so much for your commitment, communication, perseverance through the whole process.

Jason & Brooke

Questions Fort Worth Buyers Ask

Fort Worth down payment assistance FAQs

Plain answers to the questions Fort Worth buyers ask most about down payment assistance, before you request a review. Every file is underwritten individually; nothing here is a commitment.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?

No option requires it. A Fort Worth buyer who has owned before qualifies for the second-lien options on credit, mortgage, and property alone, and for the nothing-to-repay option through any of the other categories.

Is there an income limit?

The second-lien options have none; the nothing-to-repay option has an area income limit that a qualifying occupation, a first purchase, or an underserved tract can substitute for.

What first-time home buyer programs are available in Fort Worth?

Down payment help in four shapes for a Fort Worth, TX buyer: money with nothing to repay, a forgivable second lien that costs nothing while the mortgage stays current, a repayable second lien that reaches closing costs, and a refinance-cost option for an existing FHA loan. The forgivable and ten-year repayable shapes pair with an FHA, USDA, or HUD-184 mortgage; the rest pair with FHA only.

Do I have to pay the assistance back?

A nothing-to-repay option is released at closing with no lien and no payment. The forgivable second liens also cost nothing — no interest, no payment — as long as the mortgage stays current through the forgiveness period, and they pair with USDA and HUD-184 mortgages as well as FHA. The repayable options are loans, with a monthly payment and a balloon.

What credit score do I need?

It depends on the option. The lowest floor belongs to the nothing-to-repay option; the second-lien options start higher, and the mortgage’s own rules apply on top.

Which mortgages can the assistance be used with?

The nothing-to-repay option pairs only with FHA; the forgivable and repayable second liens pair with FHA, USDA, and HUD-184, the closing-cost repayable option with FHA only. The property and the buyer decide which first lien fits.

Can the assistance cover closing costs too?

Yes, on the larger repayable option, which covers the minimum investment and a further share of the price for closing costs and prepaid items, including costs paid outside closing. The nothing-to-repay and forgivable options cover the minimum investment only.

What is the rate on the mortgage and on the assistance?

It depends on the first lien, the option, and the file; the rate shown in the calculator is an editable market benchmark, not a quote, and the payment it produces is an illustrative estimate. A scenario review produces the terms.

What if my mortgage is above the county loan limit?

A high-balance first lien narrows the choice to the repayable options in Fort Worth, TX.

Can I buy a duplex or a fourplex with assistance?

Two units on the second-lien options, up to four on the nothing-to-repay option, always with the buyer living in one of them.

Get Started

From a pre-approval to keys — with the assistance in place.

No credit pull, no commitment: an initial review places your Fort Worth purchase on the right option and tells you what to gather.

See my offer Size My Down Payment

Continue Exploring

This guide covers Fort Worth — for the statewide options, categories, and property rules, see Down Payment Assistance in Texas, part of Lendmire’s down payment assistance program.

Nearby markets in Texas: North Richland Hills · Arlington · Euless · Burleson · Grapevine · Mansfield · Grand Prairie · Flower Mound

Related programs: FHA Loans · USDA Loans · FHA 203(k) Rehab Loans