Frequently Asked Questions

A collaborative of Houston-area housing nonprofits and public agencies that helps people buy a
home and keep the one they have.

Most services listed on the site are provided at no cost: housing counseling, foreclosure
prevention, post-purchase counseling, financial coaching, and legal aid for those who qualify.
The 8-hour homebuyer class is free in person when you register through Own the HOU.

The site serves the Houston area. Some programs are limited further: City of Houston programs
require you to live inside city limits, Harris County programs serve county residents (some only
unincorporated areas), and a few nonprofit programs serve specific ZIP codes.

Fill out the Contact Us form. Someone from a partner agency will
reach out and match you with a local housing counselor. Counselors advocate for you and help
you decide on next steps.

1. Contact a housing counselor through the form.
2. Take the HUD-certified 8-hour homebuyer education class.
3. Work through the 8-step Homebuying Toolkit.
4. Use the down payment assistance screener to see which programs you may qualify for.
5. Work with your counselor, a lender and a real estate agent to apply for assistance, get pre-
   qualified and buy.

The Homeowners page lists local help for repairs, legal issues,
missed mortgage payments, financial coaching and post-purchase problems. You can also
submit the contact form for one-on-one advice.

A HUD-certified, 8-hour course taught by HUD-certified housing counselors. It covers reading
and improving your credit, how lenders decide what you can borrow, mortgage options, and
what to expect from contract through closing.

You receive an official Certificate of Completion. Nearly every down payment assistance
program in the Houston area requires one, including city, county and lender-sponsored
programs.

12 months from completion.

The class normally costs $50 in person or $100 online. When you register through Own the
HOU, the in-person class is free.

Yes. Partners offer the class in English and Spanish, both in person and online.

Use the contact form, and a counselor will help you figure out your next step.

Financial help for first-time homebuyers with up-front costs like the down payment and closing
costs. Programs in Houston and Harris County are run by the City of Houston, Harris County,
the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and others.

Use the Down Payment Assistance screener. It asks three things: household size, annual household income range and the approximate price of the home you want to buy.

No. It only asks for basic information to point you toward programs you may qualify for. Each
program has its own, more detailed application.

Yes. Some programs have more flexible limits. One success story on the site describes a
teacher who was over the standard limits but qualified for the City of Houston’s Harvey Down
Payment Assistance Program, which used disaster recovery funds. A housing counselor can
help you look at all options.

A free, self-paced guide to the 8 steps of becoming a sustainable homeowner. It includes how-
tos, videos and printable checklists.

On the Toolkit page, choose the “I am a…” option that describes you (a
prospective homebuyer or a current homeowner) to start on the right path.

No. The toolkit works alongside housing counseling and the homebuyer class. You can contact
a counselor at any point.

Most programs listed require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI).
City and County programs also exclude homes in the floodway, and Harris County excludes the
100-year floodplain too. Check your property’s flood status at harriscountyfemt.org.

Wills and probate, unclear or “tangled” titles, heirship (proving you own a family home), liens,
bankruptcy and foreclosure. Staff provide guidance and resources, and in limited cases,
representation.

Contact a foreclosure prevention counselor as early as possible. Counselors help you
understand your options, find resources and communicate with your mortgage servicer. These
services are free:

• Avenue CDC: avenuecdc.org, (713) 864-9099
• Tejano Center: tejanocenter.org, (713) 640-3743
• Fifth Ward CRC: fifthwardcrc.org, (713) 674-0175

Support for new and existing homeowners dealing with mortgage company problems, property
tax or appraisal district issues, and other ownership challenges. Avenue CDC, Tejano Center
and Fifth Ward CRC offer it free.

• Avenue CDC: HUD-approved counseling and homebuyer education (English/Spanish),
  foreclosure prevention, post-purchase counseling. (713) 864-9099
• Tejano Center: HUD-Approved Homebuyer counseling and education (Spanish/English), post-
  purchase/Homeowner Services counseling, Disaster Recovery Home Repair (713) 640-3743
• Fifth Ward CRC: HUD-approved homebuyer course, counseling, homeowner sustainability.
  (713) 674-0175
• Houston Habitat for Humanity: Affordable homeownership program (eligibility quiz on their
  site), home repair. (713) 671-9993 x287
• City of Houston Housing & Community Development: Down payment assistance, affordable
  new homes. (832) 394-6200
• Harris County Housing & Community Development: DPA and affordable homes for
  unincorporated Harris County. (832) 927-4955
• Earl Carl Institute: Free property-preservation legal services. (713) 313-1139
• Lone Star Legal Aid: Provides legal help with a variety of civil legal issues, including
  foreclosure defense, title clearing, and disaster issues. (713) 652-0077
• Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC): Statewide down payment assistance.
  (877) 508-4611
• Houston Community Land Trust: Permanently affordable homes and homeowner stewardship.
  (713) 512-5575
• LISC Houston: Convenes the collaborative. (713) 334-5700
• Connective: Technology tools for homebuyers and homeowners.