The Austin Housing Newsletter

Homebuyer Education

Homebuyer education classes inform first-time buyers on money management, understanding credit, securing a mortgage loan, and shopping for a home. Review the non-profit partners below who offer these Homebuyer Education classes. 

Homebuyer Education Partners

These non-profit organizations provide homebuyer education courses (with a HUD-approved curriculum), online classes, and homeownership counseling. Upon completing the course, you will receive an official Certificate of Completion.  

The cost of the homebuyer education course is $99. Additionally, you must purchase the course handbook Neighbor Works America: Realizing the American Dream.

Frameworks Community Development Corporation

Frameworks CDC assists residents in Central Texas with home purchasing, financial literacy, credit education seminars, and business development. Complete their online homebuyer education class or call 512-385-1500.

Business & Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas

BCL provides financial literacy, homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention counseling, and other various community programs. Complete their online homebuyer education course or call 512-912-9884. 

Down Payment Loan Assistance

Income-eligible first-time homebuyers may qualify for down payment assistance. You must complete homebuyer education classes to learn more about the homebuying process before you're eligible for assistance.

The program covers down payment and closing costs, including pre-paid expenses associated with home buying. Homebuyers may qualify for up to $40,000 in assistance. Note: Sales price of the home cannot exceed $579,025.

Who is Eligible?

You may qualify for Austin's Down Payment Assistance Program if you:

  • Are a first-time homebuyer
  • Have not owned a home in the last three years
  • Have been displaced or divorced 
  • Buying a single-family home or condominium in Austin's Full Purpose city limits. Check the City of Austin Jurisdictions Web Map
  • Make a low-income, as defined as at or below 80% Median Family Income (MFI) (see table below)
1 person/persona 2 people/personas 3 people/personas 4 people/personas 5 people/personas

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$68,500

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$78,250

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$88,050

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$97,800

Maximum income/ Ingresos màximos

$105,650
Application Process
  1. You will first need to confirm that the property you seek to purchase is within Austin City Limits. Check this map (web) to verify the property's location.
  2. Potential homebuyers will need to complete a Homebuyer Education Course (details above) and obtain an official Certificate of Completion.
  3. Additionally, you must be approved for a mortgage loan from one of our participating lenders--see list below. 
DPA Participating Lender List FY '23-'24
Mortgage Company Loan Officer/NMLS# Phone Email
CMG Home Loans, Inc. Michel Harrell #276766 512-657-8284 mharrell@cmgfi.com
American Bank Tiffany Oliva 361-653-5297 toliva@americanbank.com
First Community Mortgage Roman Vonhapsburg 512-565-9654 roman.vonhapsburg@fcmhomeloans.com
Guardian Mortgage  Kristin Fox 512-522-4122 TeamFox@gmc-inc.com
Guild Mortgage Dianne Acuna - #219210 512-699-3056 dacuna@guildmortgage.net
Guild Mortgage Livia Busby #2055619 512-583-1032 lbusby@guildmortgage.net
Guild Mortgage Marshall Sanders III #1070036 512-589-3877 msanders@guildmortgage.net
Newrez, LLC Christine Doolittle #508398 707-303-2902 chris.doolittle@newrez.com
Republic Mortgage Thomas Sawyer 512-804-8165 tsawyer@rsmc.net

Applicants will need to provide the following documentation items:

  • Identification:
    • Social Security card
    • Picture identification: Texas Driver's License, Texas Permanent ID card, or passport
    • Permanent Residency Card (if applicable)
  • Verification of income: 
    • Last 2 consecutive months paycheck stubs from all household members above 18 years old
    • Most recent 2 years of W-2 forms or 1099's
    • If self-employed, last quarter's Profit & Loss Statement and 2 years of tax returns
    • Verification of other income
  • Most recent 6 months of checking account statements and 6 months of savings for the accounts of all household members
  • Verification of assets

Once you have made sure that you have all documentation items necessary to apply, your registered trained loan officer can assist in submitting your Down Payment Assistance Application (PDF). 

Down Payment Assistance Loan Officer Training

To register as a Housing certified participating lender, loan officers must attend a Housing training. The Down Payment Assistance Lender Training can be provided upon request to groups of five or more interested parties. For more information call 512-974-3100 or email Housing@austintexas.gov. 

Austin Community Land Trust

austin community land trust

Community Land Trusts allow buyers to purchase a home but lease the land for a small monthly fee. By taking the cost of the land out of the real estate transaction, land trust homes are more affordable than houses on the open real estate market. The benefit is access to quality housing for low- and moderate-income families and keeping housing affordable for future buyers by controlling the resale price of the houses on CLT land through a ground lease and resale formula. CLT developers are required to enter an Austin Housing Finance Corporation pre-approved ground lease with the affordable buyer. 

Please check www.ACLT-Homes.org for the availability of ACLT homes for sale; if you want to be notified of new information about the Community Land Trust opportunities, email info@ACLT-Homes.org  or call (512) 974-3100. 

Community Land Trust (CLT) Designations

The purpose of a CLT designation is to make certain properties owned by non-profit organizations eligible for exemption only from City of Austin ad valorem taxes. 

The Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 373B, and Section 11.1827 of the Texas Property Tax Code authorizes local governments to designate non-profit organizations as CLTs by ordinance.  To qualify as a CLT, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit, created to acquire and hold land for the benefit of developing and preserving long-term affordable housing within the jurisdiction of the unit of local government.  Organizations designated as CLTs must provide a copy of a City Ordinance designating them as a CLT to the Travis Central Appraisal District by July 1 each year in order to receive the exemption.

Applications for CLT Designations are only taken during the month of April. 

Long-Term Affordable Housing

Long-term housing generally refers to home ownership, whether it be individual homes or subdivisions, or multi-unit properties (e.g., duplexes, condominiums, etc.).  Availability of reasonably priced housing can be important to ensuring the affordability in communities citywide. The City of Austin strategically provides resources to help in the construction and preservation of such housing.

Long-Term Affordability Restrictions (Condo)

Developers who build a condominium with a long-term affordability requirement must enter into an Austin Housing Finance Corporation, pre-approved, land use restriction that is recorded against the property. A second land-use restriction will be entered into with the affordable buyer of the condo at closing.  By restricting the original sales price and restricting the resale value, these homes are more affordable than houses on the open real estate market. 

Affordable Housing Partners

The City of Austin partners with developers to finance and permit the construction of affordable housing. Below you’ll find the contact information for each affordable housing partner. 

Austin Habitat for Humanity

  • Phone: 512-472-8788

Community Wheelhouse

  • Phone: 512-900-3683

Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation

  • Phone: 512-479-6275

Homebase

  • Phone: 512-865-6091

Mueller Affordable Homes Program

  • Phone: 512-703-9202