The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) provides down payment assistance grants to qualified public servants and first-time homebuyers. These are grants — not loans, not deferred-payment instruments — that do not require repayment. For Boerne ISD teachers, Kendall County first responders, and Hill Country healthcare workers, this is real money that can make the difference between renting and owning.
Who qualifies: the "Homes for Texas Heroes" program
The Heroes program covers specific professions: public school teachers (K-12, full-time, state-certified), police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, corrections officers, and veterans or active-duty military. It also covers certain healthcare professionals including nurses, medical residents, and nursing faculty.
For Boerne buyers, the most common qualifiers are Boerne ISD teachers, Kendall County sheriff's deputies, Boerne Fire Department personnel, and nurses at Methodist Hospital Boerne or nearby facilities. If you work in one of these roles, you are in the qualifying pool — but qualification also depends on income limits and the property itself.
Income and purchase price limits
TSAHC sets income limits by county and household size. For Kendall County, these limits are adjusted annually. The purchase price limit — the maximum sales price of a home eligible for the grant — also varies by county and program type.
As a rough benchmark, a two-person household in Kendall County typically has an income limit around $95,000 to $105,000 for these programs, with purchase price caps around $350,000 to $400,000. These numbers change annually, so verify the current limits at the TSAHC website before building your budget around them.
Grant amount: what you actually receive
The TSAHC grant provides up to 5 percent of the loan amount as a down payment assistance grant. On a $350,000 purchase, that is up to $17,500 — applied directly to your down payment and closing costs. This is not a second lien. It is not repayable. It is a grant.
TSAHC also offers a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) option that provides a federal tax credit equal to a percentage of your annual mortgage interest. The grant and the MCC are alternatives — you choose one or the other, not both.
The lender requirement
TSAHC grants are administered through participating lenders — you cannot apply directly to TSAHC. You must work with a TSAHC-approved lender who originates the loan and packages the grant application. Not every lender participates. Before you start house-hunting, confirm that your lender is TSAHC-approved and has closed Heroes program grants recently.
The homebuyer education requirement
All TSAHC grant recipients must complete a homebuyer education course from a HUD-approved provider. This is an 8-hour course (available online) that covers budgeting, mortgage mechanics, and homeownership responsibilities. The certificate is valid for one year. Take the course early — it is a prerequisite, not a closing-week task.
Bottom line
If you are a Boerne ISD teacher, a Kendall County first responder, or a Hill Country healthcare worker, the TSAHC Heroes grant can provide up to 5 percent of your loan amount as a down payment grant with no repayment obligation. The income limits and purchase price caps are the key constraints. Verify your eligibility with a TSAHC-approved lender before you start your search, and take the homebuyer education course now so you are ready when you find the right property.
Published May 8, 2026
Updated June 27, 2026