Down Payment Assistance Arlington TX 2026 — Grants & Forgivable Loans

I'm Bond Peter Njoku, and the single biggest obstacle I hear from Arlington buyers isn't credit or income — it's cash for the down payment. The good news is that Arlington sits inside Tarrant County, which gives buyers access to a strong stack of state and local down payment assistance programs that most people never hear about from a bank. In this guide I'll walk through exactly what's available in 2026, what qualifies as forgivable versus a grant, and how I combine these programs with FHA or conventional loans so Arlington buyers close with little to no money down.

Down Payment Assistance Programs Available to Arlington Buyers

*Fort Worth HAP applies only to eligible properties within Fort Worth city limits, not all Arlington addresses. Figures as of August 2026, subject to program funding availability.

TSAHC Home Sweet Texas — My Go-To for Arlington Buyers

The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation's Home Sweet Texas program is the one I recommend most often for Arlington clients because it's a true grant — you never pay it back, and there's no first-time buyer requirement. It typically provides 3-5% of your loan amount toward down payment and closing costs, and it pairs cleanly with FHA financing. For a $280,000 Arlington home with 3.5% FHA down, that grant can cover the entire down payment.

TDHCA My First Texas Home for First-Time Buyers

If you're a genuine first-time buyer (or a veteran, who's exempt from that requirement) purchasing in Arlington, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs' My First Texas Home program offers up to 5% of your loan as a deferred second lien that's forgiven after three years of on-time payments and continued occupancy. I run the math on both TSAHC and TDHCA for every eligible Arlington client since which one nets more depends on your specific loan amount and program stacking rules.

Income Limits and Eligibility for Arlington DPA in 2026

Arlington sits in Tarrant County, where the approximate 2026 income limit for most DPA programs is around $97,200 for a household, though exact figures vary by program and family size. Credit score minimums generally track the underlying loan program — 580 for FHA-paired assistance, 620+ for conventional pairings. If your income is close to the line, call or text me at 469-545-7180 and I'll run your exact numbers before you assume you don't qualify.

How I Stack DPA With Your Arlington Purchase

The strategy that works best for most Arlington buyers I work with is pairing an FHA loan at 3.5% down with a TSAHC or TDHCA grant that covers that down payment entirely, leaving you responsible only for closing costs (which can sometimes also be covered through seller concessions or additional grant funds). I structure this combination start to finish, from pre-approval through closing, so nothing falls through the cracks between the lender and the assistance program administrator.

Get Your Arlington Down Payment Assistance Started

Down payment assistance programs have funding caps that can run out mid-year, so timing matters. Call or text me at 469-545-7180, message me on WhatsApp, or start your pre-approval online and I'll tell you exactly which Arlington DPA programs you qualify for today.