About DHAP:

The Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program (DHAP) provides homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income homebuyers through the provision of financial assistance when purchasing a home, in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. For more information, please download the DHAP program information flyer in English or in Spanish.

 There are three extensions of the program:

• Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program: This program assist low to moderate homebuyers to purchase a home within the city limits of Dallas. 
• Targeted Occupations Homebuyer Assistance Program: This program is designed to provide homeownership opportunities to those who have direct impact in Dallas communities and intended for those in the Educational Instruction and Librarian Services, Healthcare, and Protective Services.  
• Anti-Displacement Homebuyer Assistance Program:  This program is designed to provide homeownership opportunities to current Dallas residents who have lived in the City of Dallas for at least ten (10) years and the purchase property must be in one of the designated targeted areas.  See the eligibility requirements below.

To either re-subordinate for refinancing or request payoffs or lien releases for DHAP liens on a property title please visit the City of Dallas Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Department Compliance & Lien Portfolio division.

Eligibility Requirements:

For more information on Eligibility Requirements please visit the DHAP Program Manual. 
 
Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program:

• All Applicants must be a U. S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible Immigration Status with a valid social security card.
• Borrowers with annual household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for household size may be eligible for a DHAP Loan. 
• Applicant must have an executed real estate sales contract and mortgage lender approval for a first lien mortgage loan. 
• Assistance will be based on need and the amount may not exceed the following limits:
• High Opportunity Areas - $60,000
• All other locations in Dallas - $50,000
  
• Housing payment may not exceed 35% of the buyer's monthly gross income.
  
• Subject to additional DHAP requirements

• Home Maximum Sales Price:
  

  • Existing properties - $342,000
  • New Construction - $342,000
  • Properties must appraise for at least 100% of the sales price.
  • Sales price limits are effective for contracts written on or after September 1, 2024

 
Targeted Occupations Homebuyer Assistance Program:  

• All Applicants must be a U. S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible Immigration Status with a valid social security card.
• Homebuyer incomes must be above 80% and not exceed 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for household size.
• Applicant must have an executed real estate sales contract and mortgage lender approval for a first lien mortgage loan. 
• The program is intended for those in the following occupations:
• Education instruction and library occupations
• Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
• Healthcare support occupations
• Protective services occupations, including but not limited to fire fighters and police officer.
• To see a link of qualified occupations, please click here.
• Assistance is based on need and may not exceed $50,000.
• There is no sales price limit.  The homebuyer's sales price will be determined by the mortgage lender based on the borrower's mortgage qualifying income and credit.  The housing payment may not exceed 35% of the buyer's monthly gross income. Subject to additional DHAP requirements.
• Properties must appraise for at least 100% of the sales price.

Anti-Displacement Homebuyer Assistance Program:  

• All Applicants must be a U. S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible Immigration Status with a valid social security card.
• Homebuyer incomes must be at least 50% and not exceed 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for household size.
• Applicant must have an executed real estate sales contract and mortgage lender approval for a first lien mortgage loan. 
• Applicants must currently live in the City of Dallas for at least 10 years.
  
• Assistance is based on need and may not exceed $50,000.
• There is no sales price limit.  The homebuyer's sales price will be determined by the mortgage lender based on the borrower's mortgage qualifying income and credit.  The housing payment may not exceed 35% of the buyer's monthly gross income. Subject to additional DHAP requirements.
• Properties must appraise for at least 100% of the sales price.
• Some funding is limited to targeted areas DHAP 10 - Targeted Areas.pdf

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted annually between October 1st - July 31st.  Closings must occur within 6 months of income determination or by September 30th, whichever dates occurs first.  Applicants who are unable to close by September 30th, will need to submit a new application.

 To apply for DHAP, the City recommends the following steps:

Step 1: Attend a Homebuyer Education Course

Attend a pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Course through one of the DHAP and HUD Approved Education Providers. This course will prepare you for the home purchasing process. Once the course is completed the education provider will give you a certificate of completion that is valid for one year.

Step 2: Contact an approved Lender

Contact a DHAP approved lender on the program website under Approved Lenders. Inform them you want to apply for the Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program for down payment and closing cost funds.  The lender will review all your information and provide you with a prequalification letter that will reflect a sales price they will finance.

Step 3: Submit an Application

Submit an online application for DHAP at Neighborly Software Portal.  Select the portal for Dallas Homebuyer Assistance Program.  DHAP will review your household information to determine if you meet the eligibility requirements of the program and will provide you with a conditional letter of eligibility to provide to your lender.

All applicable documents must be uploaded into the Neighborly Software System via .pdf, .jpg or .doc format. Use the DHAP Checklist to ensure all documents have been uploaded.

Step 4: Contact a Real Estate Agent

Once you have received the prequalification from a lender and a conditional letter of eligibility from DHAP, your next step should be to contact a real estate agent to help you find an existing or new construction property within the city limits of Dallas.  You will then be able to supply the prequalification letter as proof that you are a serious homebuyer.

Step 5: Final review process

When you have an executed sales contract for a home purchase, and funds are still available, the lender will work directly with the City of Dallas to process your loan application and determine the amount of assistance you may receive.  Upon the initial underwrite of the loan application, all files are subject to a final review process before closings can be set.  Homebuyer's, mortgage lenders and realtors should anticipate up to 45 days for the final review process.

Funding Limitation:

The actual amount of assistance will be determined on an as needed basis. The assistance is a second lien as a forgivable deferred loan.  Loan terms are interest-free with no monthly payments, prorated annually based on the affordability period (residency term of the loan).  Partial repayment is due upon sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of the property. 

Funding is based on availability, and first come, first service basis.  Prequalified applicants must have an executed sales contract and mortgage loan approval for the purchase property.

Need extra homebuyer assistance through DHAP? Find out which Dallas neighborhoods are designated as High Opportunity Areas (DHAP).

DHAPLoans@dallascityhall.com     |     214-670-3644     |     www.dallascityhall.com/DHAP