Fort Worth is among the more affordable large Texas metros, and the city’s Homebuyer Assistance Program offers first-time buyers up to $25,000 in fully forgivable help.
This guide focuses on what first-time buyers in Fort Worth specifically can tap in 2026 — the local programs run by the city and county, the statewide help you can layer on top, and what it realistically takes to buy here.
Fort Worth’s own first-time buyer programs
The Fort Worth area’s local help comes from the city and the county:
- Fort Worth Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) — a City of Fort Worth forgivable loan of up to $25,000, fully forgiven if you stay 10 years (up to $14,999 forgiven with a 5-year commitment), for buyers at or below 80% of area median income within city limits; requires at least a $1,000 or 2% contribution plus two months of reserves
- Tarrant County Homebuyer Assistance Program — a 0%-interest deferred, forgivable loan of up to $50,000 — but only for properties in Tarrant County OUTSIDE the city limits of Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie
These local programs are the piece most buyers miss, because they are run by the city or county rather than a lender — and they can often be combined with the statewide programs below.
Statewide programs you can also use in Fort Worth
On top of Fort Worth’s local help, every Texas buyer can access the state’s housing finance programs — below-market loans, down payment assistance, and a possible tax credit. We cover them in full in our guide to Texas first-time home buyer programs, and the wider local picture in our Texas first-time home buyer guide. In many cases you can stack a city program with a state program to cover most or all of your cash to close — a lender who works with both can structure it.
What it takes to buy in Fort Worth
Fort Worth’s median sale price is around $337,000 — among the more affordable large Texas metros, though a typical down payment still puts ownership out of reach for many moderate-income households. The city’s up-to-$25,000 forgivable HAP covers a large share of the cash to close, and Texas’s statewide TDHCA and TSAHC programs can add more.
Before you shop, pin down your budget. Our home affordability guide walks through how income, debt, and rates set your price range, and our first-time home buyer checklist keeps the rest of the process on track.
Loan options for Fort Worth buyers
Most Fort Worth first-time buyers use one of a few loan types, each of which can pair with the assistance above:
- FHA loans — 3.5% down with flexible credit, popular with first-time buyers
- Conventional loans — as little as 3% down, with reduced mortgage insurance through housing-agency versions
- VA and USDA loans — zero down for eligible veterans and in qualifying areas
- Down payment assistance — the programs above that layer on top (see our down payment assistance guide)
How to buy your first home in Fort Worth
- Check your budget and credit first — see our guide to credit score requirements.
- Complete a homebuyer education course — nearly every Fort Worth program requires one, and it is usually free.
- Find a lender who works with both Fort Worth and Texas programs, and ask them to run the local and state options together.
- Get pre-approved, then line up your assistance before you make an offer.
One note: local and state program funding and terms change, and some rounds close when the money runs out. Always confirm current amounts and availability with the program administrator before counting on a figure.
Fort Worth first-time buyer FAQ
What down payment help is available in Fort Worth?
Inside Fort Worth, the Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) offers up to $25,000 in forgivable help (fully forgiven after 10 years, or up to $14,999 with a 5-year commitment) for buyers at or below 80% of area median income. Tarrant County has a separate program worth up to $50,000, but only for areas outside Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie. Texas’s statewide programs apply too.
Can I combine Fort Worth city programs with Texas state programs?
Often yes. City or county assistance is usually designed to layer on top of a first mortgage, and many buyers stack it with a Texas state program to cover most of their down payment and closing costs. A lender who participates in both can confirm what combines. See our Texas programs guide for the statewide options.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to qualify in Fort Worth?
Yes — Fort Worth’s HAP requires that you be a first-time buyer or not have owned a home in the last three years, with income at or below 80% of area median income (a household of four is capped around $88,250 for 2026). You must complete an 8-hour HUD-certified homeownership course, contribute at least $1,000 or 2%, and buy within Fort Worth city limits. Confirm current income limits with the city.
Can I use the Tarrant County program to buy in Fort Worth?
No — the Tarrant County Homebuyer Assistance Program (up to $50,000) specifically excludes properties inside the city limits of Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie. If you are buying in Fort Worth itself, the program to use is the City of Fort Worth HAP (up to $25,000 forgivable). The county program is for buyers in the unincorporated county and other municipalities. Match the program to where the home actually sits, and layer in Texas’s statewide help.