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Homeownership is a dream for many Houstonians but may be out of reach for low-income residents. The City offers up to $30,000 to income-qualified Houstonians who are first-time homebuyers or are replacing a home that was damaged by Hurricane Harvey.
Our assistance is a no-interest, forgivable loan secured by a lien. The loan is fulfilled if the buyer lives in the home for five years. If the buyer sells or moves out of the home before the end of five years, they will pay back the City for a portion of the original loan amount.
By Answering Yes, you may qualify for the Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program
First Steps
The Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program has three distinct phases, as detailed below.
Phase 1: Intake
To start, the applicant must submit all documents on the Applicant Document Checklist , including:
| Pre-approval letter |
| Homebuyer education course certificate |
| Statement and Explanation of Facts (Form 1010) |
| First-Time Homebuyer Status and Certification of Property Ownership |
| Conflict of Interest Form |
| Affidavit of No Child Support Owed |
| Certificate of Zero Income |
| Program Application/Intake Form |
| Before submitting an application, the applicant must call 832.393.0550 to receive their applicant ID number |
| See the full list |
The City then reviews all materials. If accepted, the City will issue a Conditional Reservation Letter.
Incomplete applications cannot be processed. Please be sure that you have collected all the documents on the Document Checklist before submitting your application.
Phase 2 (Property Inspection/Underwriting)
Once you receive a Conditional Reservation Letter, it is time to put a property under contract.
Your lender will need to submit all the documents on the Property & Lenders Checklist, including:
| Property Data Sheet |
| Loan Disclosure Form |
| Acknowledgement of Lead Based Paint Notice |
| Notice to Sellers |
| See the full list |
The City then reviews these materials and places our loan assistance into underwriting. Meanwhile, the property will be inspected and given an environmental review.
If approved, the City will then issue a Commitment Letter .
Phase 3 (Funding and Post-Closing)
Once you receive a Commitment Letter, you will complete a pre-closing meeting.
Instructions and loan closing documents are sent to title and lender, who submit pre-closing documents, including:
| Wiring Instructions for funds |
| Preliminary Closing Disclosure |
| Form C HbAP Insurance Benefits and Expenditures |
| Sample Commitment Letter |
| See the full list |
Funds from the Harvey Homebuyer Assistance Program are wired on the day of closing.
The title and lender will then submit post-closing documents, including:
- Original Executed City Deferred Payment Loan Note
- Final Certified Closing Disclosure
How to submit documents
You may submit your application in one of four ways: