First-Time Buyer Hub
Your first home, without the mystery
Nobody is born knowing how to buy a house. This hub maps the whole road for first-time buyers in Cypress, Katy, Hockley, and Northwest Houston: what to do first, what programs help, and what actually costs money.
The order of operations
Do these in this order
First-timers get in trouble by touring houses before they know their number. Flip that, and the whole process calms down.
The full buying guide01
Check your credit
Pull your credit report and fix errors early. Your score decides your rate, and your rate decides your monthly payment for 30 years.
02
Get pre-approved
A pre-approval letter from a lender tells you your real number and makes every offer credible. Do this before the first open house.
03
Add up the real costs
Down payment, closing costs, earnest money, inspection, moving, and the new things a home eats. Budget for all of it, not just the down payment.
04
Explore your programs
Texas has real down payment assistance. Check the list below, because income and price caps change and one of them may be your way in sooner.
05
Shop with a list
School zone, commute, community, and condition. We tour homes against your written list, not against your imagination.
06
Offer, inspect, close
A smart offer, a real inspection, and a closing you understand line by line. I stay in every room of the deal until you get the keys.
Down payment help
Texas programs that put you in sooner
These are the names you will hear in a first-time buyer conversation in the Houston area. Eligibility, income caps, and price caps change, so treat this as your study sheet, and I will connect you with a lender who handles the paperwork.
My First Texas Home
TDHCAFor first-time homebuyers and veterans: a 30-year low-rate mortgage plus up to 5% of the loan amount in down payment and closing cost assistance.
My Choice Texas Home
TDHCASame structure as My First Texas Home, open to buyers beyond first-time, including repeat and move-up buyers.
Home Sweet Texas Home
TSAHCLow- and moderate-income buyers can pair a low-rate loan with up to 5% down payment assistance.
Homes for Texas Heroes
TSAHCDown payment assistance aimed at educators, first responders, healthcare workers, and veterans.
Down Payment Assistance
Harris CountyUp to roughly $23,800 in assistance for eligible first-time buyers purchasing in Harris County, with income limits and credit requirements.
Homebuyer Assistance
City of HoustonIncome-qualified first-time buyers inside Houston city limits can receive significant assistance, up to $125,000 under the newer tier.
Program details, income limits, and funding availability change over time. Verify current terms with your lender before you rely on any number.
The budget
What first-timers forget to price in
- Closing costs. Typically 2-5% of the price on top of your down payment.
- Earnest money. Often 1-2% of the price, credited at closing but tied up upfront.
- Inspection. A few hundred dollars, always worth it, always your choice of inspector.
- Property taxes and insurance. Escrowed monthly, so your payment is more than principal and interest.
- The move-in list. Closing costs are not the end. Leave a cushion for the first year of a home.
The mistakes
The three I see most
- Touring before pre-approval. Falling in love with a house outside your number is how bad decisions happen.
- New accounts during the loan. Do not open credit cards or finance a car between pre-approval and closing. It can kill the loan.
- Skipping the inspection. The savings from skipping it are dwarfed by the surprise it hides.
Read more in the first-time homebuyer checklist.
Talk to Guy
Your first home is closer than it feels.
Send me your questions and your budget, and we will map the exact path from renter to owner.
Direct line
(281) 413-8257
Licensed REALTOR, CPRES & CPE with LPT Realty LLC. TX License 761061.
Always here to serve!