Buy a Home

First-Time Home Buyer Loans in Texas

Buying your first home is a milestone, and a maze. Michael has walked thousands of first-time buyers through it since 1996, in plain English, one step at a time.

Best For
First-time & first-in-a-while buyers
Includes
FHA, conventional & assistance programs
Texas Perks
State & local assistance programs
The Difference
A guide who explains everything

There's no single 'first-time buyer loan', there's a toolbox

“First-time buyer” isn’t one loan, it’s a situation, and several tools exist to serve it. FHA loans welcome developing credit. Conventional programs include options designed specifically for first-timers with modest savings. VA and USDA serve buyers who qualify for them. And layered on top, down payment assistance programs can help bridge the gap between renting and owning.

Helpful detail: in most programs, “first-time buyer” means you haven’t owned a home in the last three years, so if you’ve been renting since selling years ago, you may count again.

Texas does more for first-time buyers than most states

Texas agencies like TSAHC (Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation) and TDHCA (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs) offer down payment assistance and favorable financing structures for eligible buyers, teachers, first responders, and many everyday households qualify for more than they expect. Local programs around Dallas–Fort Worth add another layer.

These programs change, have income and price limits, and pair with specific loan types, exactly the kind of moving parts a mortgage planner tracks so you don’t have to. (Michael’s blog has a full guide to Texas down payment assistance.)

What working with Michael looks like

First conversation: your goals, your budget comfort zone, your timeline, no jargon, no judgment. Then a clear pre-qualification, a realistic price range, and a plan for any credit or savings tune-ups worth making first. When you find the house, you’ll already know how the financing plays out. Clients consistently describe the process the same way: “painless,” “easy,” “he kept me informed every step.”

Why borrowers choose it

  • Multiple loan types compared side-by-side for your situation
  • Texas down payment assistance programs in the toolbox
  • Plain-English guidance through every document and milestone
  • A realistic budget before you shop, not after
  • A 30-year relationship, not a one-time transaction

Good to know

  • Assistance programs carry income and purchase-price limits
  • Some assistance comes as a second lien or with recapture rules
  • Program availability changes, current info matters
  • 'First-time' usually means no ownership in the past 3 years

Program guidelines, eligibility requirements, and terms vary by lender and change over time. The overview above is educational, not a complete statement of any program’s requirements, an offer of credit, or a commitment to lend. Michael will confirm current guidelines for your exact scenario.

Common Questions

First-Time Buyer Loans FAQs

How much do I really need saved to buy my first home?
Less than most renters assume. Between low-entry-cost loan programs and Texas assistance options, the gap is often smaller than a year of rent increases. Michael will give you a real number for your situation, including closing costs, so you can plan toward it.
Should I wait until my credit is perfect?
Usually not. Waiting has costs too, rising rents and home prices. Michael will tell you honestly whether buying now or a short credit tune-up first serves you better. Sometimes 60 days of targeted changes moves you a whole pricing tier.
What is pre-qualification and do I need it before house hunting?
Pre-qualification is Michael's read on what you can finance, based on your credit, income, and savings. In the DFW market, listing agents expect it with your offer, and it keeps you shopping in a price range that actually works.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to use these programs?
Many 'first-time' programs use the three-year rule, no ownership in the past three years, and some Texas assistance programs don't require first-timer status at all. Worth a conversation before you rule yourself out.
Next Step

Let’s find out together

One conversation with Michael and you’ll know whether a first-time buyer program, or something better, belongs in your mortgage plan.

Start My Application (214) 244-2879
Equal Housing Lender Equal Housing Lender. We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

Michael Brunelli, NMLS #338458  |  Innovative Mortgage Services, Inc., NMLS #250769

Loan programs are subject to borrower qualification, credit approval, and property eligibility. Not all applicants will qualify. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Interest rates and loan programs are subject to change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. All calculators and rate displays on this site provide estimates for educational purposes only and do not constitute a loan offer.

Michael Brunelli originates mortgage loans in Texas and, through Innovative Mortgage Services, Inc., can serve borrowers in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Verify licensing at the NMLS Consumer Access website. This website is not authorized by the New York State Department of Financial Services. No mortgage loan applications for properties located in New York will be accepted through this site.

CONSUMERS WISHING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A COMPANY OR A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR SHOULD COMPLETE AND SEND A COMPLAINT FORM TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF SAVINGS AND MORTGAGE LENDING, 2601 NORTH LAMAR, SUITE 201, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78705. COMPLAINT FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SML.TEXAS.GOV. A TOLL-FREE CONSUMER HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE AT 1-877-276-5550. THE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A RECOVERY FUND TO MAKE PAYMENTS OF CERTAIN ACTUAL OUT OF POCKET DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY BORROWERS CAUSED BY ACTS OF LICENSED RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATORS. A WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE RECOVERY FUND MUST BE FILED WITH AND INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE PAYMENT OF A CLAIM. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECOVERY FUND, PLEASE CONSULT THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SML.TEXAS.GOV.

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