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Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance
Up to 5% of your loan amount, delivered as a grant you never pay back or as a forgivable second lien. Use it for your down payment, closing costs, or both.
Homes for Texas Heroes Program
Down Payment Assistance for the Texans Who Serve.
Veterans, teachers, first responders and corrections officers can qualify for up to 5% in down payment help — plus a mortgage tax credit that pays you back every year for the life of your loan. Homevets Realty is your participating TSAHC Realtor in Killeen, Fort Hood and across Central Texas.
▸ Or watch the 2-minute video & listen to the podcast below Participating TSAHC Realtor Veteran-Owned & Operated Serving Fort Hood & Central Texas
A Texas Nonprofit. A Real Mission.What Is the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation?
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation is a self-sustaining nonprofit created by the Texas Legislature in 1994 with one mission: to make safe, decent and affordable housing accessible to Texans who don't always have great options through traditional banks.
TSAHC isn't a lender, and it isn't the government. It's a statewide nonprofit that partners with approved lenders and trained Realtors — like Homevets Realty — to put homeownership within reach for the people who serve our communities. Every TSAHC program is offered statewide, with extra attention to rural areas and underserved markets like the Killeen and Fort Hood region.
Prefer to Watch or Listen?
The Texas Hero Benefits — In Two Minutes, or Seventeen.
Take your pick. Watch the visual breakdown of the program's three core benefits, or queue up the full podcast for the deep dive on how TSAHC actually works for buyers in Killeen, Fort Hood and across Central Texas.
01 Watch · Texas Heroes Benefits Overview
02 Listen · The Full 17-Minute Deep Dive
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The Texas Hero Homebuyer Podcast
Ep. 01Grants & Tax Credits, Explained
A complete walkthrough of TSAHC's Down Payment Assistance, the Mortgage Credit Certificate, and how Texas Heroes can stack both programs for maximum savings — recorded for buyers in Killeen, Fort Hood, and Central Texas.
Running Time · 17 Min 03 Sec
The Three-Part Benefit
Three Powerful Benefits — Stacked Together
The Homes for Texas Heroes Program was built specifically for the people who serve our communities. If you qualify, you don't get one form of help — you can stack all three.
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Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
A federal tax credit worth up to $2,000 a year of your mortgage interest — for the entire life of your loan. Real money back at tax time, every year.
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Fixed-Rate, 30-Year Mortgage
A competitive, fixed-rate loan through TSAHC's approved lender network. No teaser rates. No surprises. A predictable payment you can count on.
Stack the savings. When a Texas Hero combines a Mortgage Credit Certificate with Down Payment Assistance, the MCC fee is waived — an additional $500 in savings on top of everything else.
Eligibility
Are You a Texas Hero? You Probably Already Know.
The Homes for Texas Heroes Program is reserved for the professions that hold our state together. Here's the official list straight from TSAHC:
Plus, to qualify you'll need a minimum 620 credit score and household income within the program's published limits for your county. Central Texas — Killeen, Belton, Temple, Copperas Cove, Harker Heights — has its own income thresholds, and they're more generous than most buyers expect.
How the Money Reaches You
Two Ways to Receive Your Down Payment Help — You Choose
When you're approved, you decide how the assistance is delivered. Both options are designed to keep money in your pocket.
Receive It As a Grant
- You never pay it back — it's a true gift toward your home.
- Slightly higher mortgage interest rate to offset the gift.
- No second lien on your title.
Best for: buyers who plan to stay in the home long-term and want zero strings attached.
Deferred Forgivable Second Lien
- 0% interest, no monthly payment.
- Forgiven entirely after 3 years if you stay in the home.
- Only repaid if you sell or refinance within those first 3 years.
Best for: buyers who want the lowest possible first-mortgage rate.
Your TSAHC-approved lender will run the numbers both ways and show you the better fit. Homevets Realty works alongside lenders who specialize in this comparison — so you're never guessing.
The Tax Credit Most Buyers Miss
The MCC: A Tax Credit That Pays You Back Every Year for 30 Years
A Mortgage Credit Certificate is one of the most underused benefits in Texas home buying. Here's the simple version:
Every year you own your home, you pay mortgage interest. The MCC lets you take a percentage of that interest as a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit — not a deduction, an actual credit subtracted from what you owe the IRS. The credit is worth up to $2,000 every year, and it lasts for as long as you own the home and keep the loan in place.
First-time buyers and qualifying veterans can apply for an MCC alongside their TSAHC home loan. Income and home-price limits apply, and you must live in the home as your primary residence.
Real-World Math
What an MCC Actually Saves
Year 1 $2,000
Year 10 $2,000
Year 25 $2,000
Lifetime potential: tens of thousands — staying with your family instead of going to the IRS.
Actual savings depend on your loan balance, interest paid, and tax situation. Your TSAHC lender will calculate your exact benefit.
If You're Not in a Hero Profession
TSAHC Has You Covered Too.
TSAHC built a second program — Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program — for everyone else. Same idea: down payment assistance, fixed-rate financing, and the same approved-lender network. The income limits are different and the program is open to most low-to-moderate-income Texans, not just heroes.
The fastest way to find out which program fits you is to take the eligibility quiz. Four questions, four minutes.
Your Participating TSAHC Realtor
Why Texas Heroes Choose Homevets Realty
TSAHC doesn't require you to use a specific Realtor — but the program is detailed, the timing matters, and most agents don't know it cold. Homevets Realty does.
We built our brokerage around the people TSAHC's Heroes Program was designed to serve. Our broker-owner, Jose Segarra, is an Army veteran, the former 14-year Mayor of Killeen, and a Realtor with more than three decades of experience and over 5,000 transactions under his belt. Our agents are trained on TSAHC's down payment assistance, MCC stacking, lender coordination, and the Fort Hood relocation timing that makes or breaks a closing.
- Veteran-owned and military-focused. We understand PCS orders, BAH, VA loans, and how to layer TSAHC on top.
- Participating TSAHC Realtor. Listed in TSAHC's Realtor directory and trained on the program.
- Local expertise from Killeen to Fort Hood to Central Texas. Our sister brokerage HEAT Realty serves greater Houston.
- No pressure. No upselling. We tell you when TSAHC is the right tool — and when it isn't.
The Path
Here's Exactly How It Works
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Take the Eligibility Quiz
Four questions, four minutes. Confirms which TSAHC program fits you.
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Get Pre-Approved With a TSAHC Lender
TSAHC partners only with approved lenders. We can refer you, or you can search the official directory.
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Complete Home Buyer Education
Required before closing. Online, self-paced, usually free or low-cost.
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Find Your Home With Homevets Realty
We show properties that fit TSAHC guidelines, negotiate, and coordinate with your lender.
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Close & Move In
Down payment assistance is applied at closing. Welcome home, hero.
Common Questions
TSAHC Questions Texas Heroes Ask Us Most
Is TSAHC down payment assistance really free money?
The grant option is a true gift — you never pay it back. The forgivable second lien is 0% interest with no monthly payment, and it's fully forgiven after three years if you don't sell or refinance. So yes — for most buyers who stay in their home, it's effectively free money.
Can I use TSAHC with a VA loan?
Yes. Veterans can pair TSAHC down payment assistance with a VA loan, FHA loan, USDA loan, or conventional loan. Your TSAHC-approved lender will recommend the best mortgage type for your situation.
Do I have to be a first-time home buyer?
No. The Homes for Texas Heroes Program does not require you to be a first-time buyer. The Mortgage Credit Certificate, however, is generally limited to first-time buyers and qualifying veterans.
What credit score do I need?
A minimum 620 credit score is required. Most lenders prefer 640 or higher for the smoothest approval. If your score is below that, we can connect you with credit-repair resources to get you over the line.
Are there income limits?
Yes — and they vary by county and household size. Central Texas (Killeen and the Fort Hood region) has its own published limits. Take the eligibility quiz or ask us; we'll check your county's current numbers.
How long does the whole process take?
Most TSAHC closings happen within 30 to 45 days from offer acceptance — about the same as a non-TSAHC closing. The key is using a lender and Realtor who already know the program. That's where Homevets Realty saves you weeks.
Does it cost anything to work with Homevets Realty?
No. As a buyer, you don't pay our commission directly — and our consultations and eligibility reviews are always free. There's no obligation.
Ready When You Are
Your Home. Your Reward for Service. Let's Make It Happen.
Whether you're a first-time buyer, a Fort Hood servicemember relocating to Killeen, or a teacher ready to put down roots — the TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes Program was built for you. And Homevets Realty was built to help you use it.
Serving Killeen · Harker Heights · Copperas Cove · Belton · Temple · and the entire Fort Hood region
Free TSAHC Review
Ask Us Anything About TSAHC
Tell us a little about your situation and we'll come back with a personalized walkthrough — which TSAHC program fits, what your assistance amount could be, and what neighborhoods make sense for your budget.
Use the form below
Homevets Realty LLC (TREC License #0434790) is a participating Realtor with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC). TSAHC programs, eligibility requirements, income limits, sales price limits, and assistance percentages are set by TSAHC and subject to change. The TSAHC logo and "Homes for Texas Heroes" graphic featured on this page are the property of TSAHC and used in accordance with their participating-Realtor marketing materials. This page is informational only and does not constitute a loan commitment, tax advice, or legal advice. For official program details, visit tsahc.org. For tax questions, consult a licensed CPA. For legal questions, consult a licensed attorney.