First-time home buyer programs in Round Rock, Texas — down payment assistance
Round Rock Down Payment Assistance

First-Time Home Buyer Programs & Down Payment Assistance in Round Rock, Texas

First-time home buyer programs in Round Rock, TX come in four shapes: some with nothing to repay, a forgivable second lien, a repayable second lien that also reaches closing costs, and a refinance-cost option, each paired with a government-backed mortgage and none requiring a first-time buyer.

Current Program Snapshot

Current down payment assistance guidelines, updated from one source.

These figures are read from Lendmire’s centralized down payment assistance standards source and update automatically when the programs change. Every state and city guide in this series reads the same source.

Down Payment Help
Up to 5%

Of the purchase price

Measured on the purchase price or the appraised value, whichever is lower; the largest option covers the down payment and reaches closing costs, and the smaller options cover the 3.5% FHA minimum.

Nothing to Repay
3.5%

Covers the whole FHA down payment

Nothing to repay, ever: this option pays the full 3.5% FHA minimum down payment 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

Most of the options carry no income limit, so a higher-earning household qualifies the same as anyone else; only the nothing-to-repay option looks at income, at 140% of the area median, or at a qualifying category.

Credit
620

Credit score to start

This is the lowest score that opens an option here — the nothing-to-repay option; the forgivable second liens start a little higher and the repayable options higher still, so a stronger score opens more choices.

Assistance options offered in Texas — how much, what it costs to carry, and the credit it takes
OptionAssistanceWhat you repayCredit · mortgage · units
Grant-style assistance — nothing to repay2% or 3.5% of the priceNothing — released at closing620+ · FHA 203(b), FHA repair escrow, FHA Limited 203(k), FHA Standard 203(k) · 1–4 units
Forgivable second lien — three-year3.5% of the priceNothing after 36 on-time mortgage payments640+ · FHA 203(b), FHA Limited 203(k), HUD-184, USDA · 1–2 units
Forgivable second lien — five-year3.5% of the priceNothing after 60 on-time mortgage payments640+ · FHA 203(b), FHA Limited 203(k), HUD-184, USDA · 1–2 units
Repayable second lien — thirty-year amortization, ten-year balloon3.5% or 5% of the priceSecond lien, 30-year amortization, balloon in year 10660+ · FHA 203(b), FHA Limited 203(k), HUD-184, USDA · 1–2 units
Closing-cost repayable second lien3.5% or 5% of the priceSecond lien, 30-year amortization, balloon in year 10660+ · FHA 203(b) · 1–2 units
Refinance-cost second lien (repayable)1% to 3.5% of the balanceSecond lien, repaid660+ · 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

Nothing on this page is a Loan Estimate, an approval, a quote, or a commitment to lend. Down payment assistance eligibility, amounts, and terms depend on the first-lien program, the option, the property, the buyer’s credit and category, and full underwriting through select wholesale lenders licensed in sixteen states; the calculator’s rate is an editable benchmark and its payment an estimate. Lendmire is a mortgage broker and is never the lender, and is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of FHA, VA, USDA, HUD, or the federal government.

Round Rock Down Payment Assistance Guide

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

For Round Rock, TX buyers, the first-time home buyer programs work the same way: 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

Nothing to repay, forgiven over time, or repaid with a balloon: the three purchase shapes in Round Rock, TX cover the same minimum investment and differ in what the buyer owes afterward.

03.

Credit floors, mortgage programs, and unit counts

A Round Rock file is placed by three things — the credit tier, the first-lien program, and the property — and the options table on this page shows the floor, the first liens, and the unit limit for every option offered in Texas.

04.

Eligibility without a first-time-buyer rule

A Round Rock buyer who has owned before is eligible; the second-lien options carry no income limit and no first-time-buyer rule, and the nothing-to-repay option opens on any one of four categories.

The Core Calculation
Price × the down payment share = the gap; the assistance option covers the gap

This is the whole test: the price sets the minimum investment, the option covers it, and the larger option leaves room for closing costs. The tool below applies it to your numbers and adds the FHA payment estimate.

Round Rock Market Context

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

Where Round Rock, TX’s renters live, what a median home costs, and what a median household earns — Census estimates give the backdrop for a down payment assistance file.

These are context figures, not underwriting inputs. Value and income rarely move at the same pace; the market figures below show how far Round Rock’s prices have moved against its incomes, and the calculator shows what that means for the minimum investment.

127,786Population (ACS 2020–2024)
$418,600Median owner-occupied home value (ACS 2020–2024)
44.5%Households that rent (ACS 2020–2024)
$99,287Median 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.

Round Rock Submarkets

Distinct Round Rock submarkets, distinct property rules.

Across Round Rock’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

In Round Rock, a manufactured home on a fee-simple lot pairs with the program; leaseholds do not, and the home’s width decides which option carries it. On a home at Round Rock’s median value, the FHA minimum investment comes to about $14,700 — the figure the assistance is built to cover.

02.

Condominiums close to work

Condominiums are often the entry point in Round Rock, 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. Median gross rent in Round Rock is about $1,763 a month — the payment many renters already carry.

03.

Two-to-four-unit homes, owner-occupied

A buyer who lives in one unit of a Round Rock duplex or triplex can use the program on the whole building; the option that allows up to four units makes a house-hacking purchase reachable with the minimum investment covered. Median household income in Round Rock sits near $99,287 on the latest Census estimate.

04.

New construction and infill

A newly built Round Rock 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 44% of Round Rock’s households rent — roughly 21,631 renter households, the pool the program exists for.

05.

Older neighborhoods and renovation loans

The older streets of Round Rock are full of homes that need work, and the assistance pairs with a renovation first lien: the assistance is figured on the purchase price, while the loan itself covers price plus repairs. Round Rock counts a population near 128K within the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX area.

06.

Townhomes and attached homes

In Round Rock, a townhome in a planned development pairs cleanly with the program; the association’s rules and dues are read alongside the first lien, and the assistance covers the down payment. The median owner-occupied home value in Round Rock runs near $418,600 on the latest Census estimate.

Submarket descriptions are general market context; the first lien’s approval, the option’s rules, and full underwriting decide every figure in a file.

How Round Rock Buyers Use the Program

Four ways Round Rock buyers put down payment assistance to work.

From a first home to a small multi-unit building to an FHA refinance, down payment assistance in Round Rock, TX solves a specific set of problems.

First purchase

Buy a first home with the down payment covered

For a first purchase in Round Rock, the assistance closes the down payment gap; the option is chosen by credit, first lien, and eligibility category.

Refinance

Cover the costs of an FHA refinance

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

Closing costs

Cover closing costs too on the larger option

The larger option exists for the Round Rock, TX closing where the down payment is only half the problem: it carries the minimum investment and a further share for costs.

Government mortgages

Pair the assistance with a USDA or HUD-184 mortgage

Where the first lien is USDA or HUD-184, the second-lien assistance options carry the file in Round Rock, forgivable or repayable by the buyer’s choice and credit.

Assistance Sizer

Size the assistance on a Round Rock price before requesting a quote.

Enter a Round Rock purchase price, choose an assistance option offered in Texas, and add any cash of your own. The calculator sizes the FHA minimum investment, applies the assistance to the down payment and closing costs, builds the FHA loan with its upfront and monthly mortgage insurance, and estimates the payment at an editable market benchmark rate — with housing and total ratios when you enter income.

Editable FHA scenario with assistance

Round Rock FHA payment with assistance

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

Editable benchmark: 6.71% as of September 3, 2026 · Freddie Mac 30-year average via FRED®. A conventional market reference, not an FHA loan quote.

FHA minimum investment on this price.
Annual mortgage insurance rate applied, and for how long.

Illustrative starting assumptions: a $420,000 price near Round Rock’s median owner-occupied home value (kept where an FHA first lien is realistic), 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

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, four very different closings.

A Round Rock, TX buyer can reach the closing table several ways; the difference is where the minimum investment comes from and what it costs to carry afterward.

Structure Comparison

Assistance on a government loan, saving the minimum, or a gift.

FHA with down payment assistance

Assistance paired with the first lien at closing: the minimum investment covered, the shape chosen by credit, first lien, and eligibility category, and the second-lien options open to repeat buyers with no income limit.

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

USDA and HUD-184 first liens pair with the forgivable and repayable options, which then cover closing costs and prepaids rather than a down payment the first lien does not require. 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; a documented gift fits when family can help — Lendmire places the Round Rock, TX file where it reads best.

Typical File Components

What to prepare for a Round Rock scenario review.

A typical starting file for a first purchase with assistance.

Assistance (second-lien) disclosuresOn the forgivable and repayable options, the second lien is a separate loan with its own loan number and disclosures; the repayable option carries a balloon disclosure.
Property detailUnit count, condominium approval status, manufactured-home width and title, USDA eligibility, and any association documents.
Purchase contractThe executed contract with the price the assistance is measured on; on a renovation loan, the price before repairs.
Seasoned fundsAny gift or savings used alongside the assistance, documented the way the first lien requires.
Homebuyer education certificateA HUD-approved course, online or in person, completed before closing on the nothing-to-repay option; the course cost is credited back at closing.
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.

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.

Round Rock File Considerations

Local details that can change the loan.

The assistance is the easy part; the rules around it are where Round Rock, TX files stall. These are the ones that most often change a file’s shape.

Before You Move Forward

Use these checks to keep the Round Rock file clean and fundable.

Before making an offer on a Round Rock, TX home, confirm the option, the county loan limit, and the property’s unit count and type.

  • Know the option: read the second lien as the loan it is.
  • Confirm the category: complete the homebuyer education course where required.
  • Match the first lien: check the price against the county loan limit.
i.

The option decides what you owe afterward

Choose the shape before the amount: the forgivable options cover the minimum investment and cost nothing to carry when the first lien stays current; the repayable option covers more and is repaid; a nothing-to-repay option released at closing where it is offered.

ii.

The eligibility category for the nothing-to-repay option

For a Round Rock buyer, the category question is worth answering early: a buyer inside the income limit or in a qualifying occupation reaches the nothing-to-repay option; a buyer outside every category uses the forgivable or repayable second liens, which carry no income limit.

iii.

The mortgage and the county loan limit

In Round Rock, TX, the first-lien program is chosen with the property: USDA where the address is eligible, HUD-184 where the buyer qualifies, FHA everywhere. The county loan limit then decides whether a larger first lien can still carry an assistance option.

iv.

The balloon on the repayable option

The repayable second lien amortizes over thirty years but comes due in the tenth year; it carries interest and a monthly payment, its own loan number, and a balloon disclosure. It is the option that reaches closing costs, and it is a loan.

v.

The forgiveness clock on the forgivable options

For a Round Rock, TX buyer, the forgivable options cost nothing to carry as long as the first lien stays current through the period; they are not resubordinated, not assumed, and no additional lien can be added behind them.

A Clear Process

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

The process for a Round Rock, TX purchase with assistance is deliberate, because the details around the assistance are what stall closings.

i.

Pick the option

Lendmire reads the Round Rock 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

The FHA, USDA, or HUD-184 first lien runs through automated underwriting, with the assistance attached as its own loan where a second lien applies; a Round Rock buyer’s income, credit, and reserves are read the way the first lien requires.

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 Round Rock 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.

An assistance file rewards preparation, and preparation is what a brokerage built for first-time and moderate-income buyers provides.

i.

The option, matched to the buyer

Lendmire reads the options offered in Texas against a Round Rock 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

A Round Rock file is matched to the first-lien program that carries the property — FHA everywhere, USDA or HUD-184 where they fit — and the assistance option follows that choice.

iii.

The right wholesale program

Not every wholesale lender carries down payment assistance, and the ones that do differ on shape, floors, and states; Lendmire knows which is which.

Client Experiences

Trusted by first-time buyers & families alike.

Verified Google Reviews
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Joseph Edwards
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Highly recommend, Cori was awesome to work with and had great communication. She was very helpful and got us through everything to close.
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K Star Real Estate LLC
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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!
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Tristen Mosley
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Alayna Pack is very knowledgeable, helpful, communicative, and transparent. Highly recommend.
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J Mills
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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!
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Tyjuana Atkinson
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Awesome experience!!!!!!! Leigh had our best interest at heart from beginning to the end.
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Anna Hernandez
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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
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RustynKelli Shelton
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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!
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Isaac Alonzo
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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.
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Jason Fleck
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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 Round Rock Buyers Ask

Round Rock down payment assistance FAQs

The questions a Round Rock, TX buyer asks before requesting an assistance review, answered plainly.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?

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

Is there an income limit?

A Round Rock buyer above the area income limit still reaches the nothing-to-repay option through an occupation, a first purchase, or the tract, and reaches the second-lien options regardless of income.

What first-time home buyer programs are available in Round Rock?

A Round Rock buyer can cover the FHA minimum investment through a nothing-to-repay option where offered, a forgivable second lien, or a repayable second lien that reaches closing costs; the calculator on this page sizes each one on a price you enter.

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 first lien stays current through the forgiveness period, and they pair with USDA and HUD-184 first liens as well as FHA.

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 first lien’s own rules apply on top.

Can I use the assistance on a second home or a rental?

Primary residences only. Investment properties and second homes are outside the program.

Do I need a homebuyer education course?

Required on one option, optional on the rest; schedule it early if the nothing-to-repay option is the plan.

What if my mortgage is above the county loan limit?

Only the repayable options pair with a high-balance first lien; the nothing-to-repay and forgivable options stop at the lesser of the conforming limit or the county limit.

Can I combine this with another assistance program?

One option, one first lien, one closing — no combination with other assistance.

What is the repayable option and when does it make sense?

The repayable second lien covers the minimum investment and closing costs; plan around its balloon and read its disclosures as the loan it is.

Get Started

Talk through a Round Rock assistance file before the contract is signed.

Share the property, the price, and a little about your situation; a Lendmire loan officer names the option that fits and follows up.