Patrick's Quick Answer
Comal County buyers should plan on the statewide programs, not San Antonio's: the HIP program requires the home to be inside San Antonio city limits, and HIP80 and HIP120 were not accepting new applications for FY 2026 (City of San Antonio, accessed Sep 24, 2026). The working options are TDHCA My First Texas Home with DPA of 2%-5% (program matrix, Aug 17, 2026) and TSAHC Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes with DPA of 2%-5%, including grant options of 2, 3, 4 or 5 percent or a 5% 30-year deferred repayable second (TSAHC, accessed Sep 24, 2026). TDHCA income limits effective July 13, 2026 for the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA are $104,725 for 1-2 persons and $120,434 for 3+ persons, with a 1-unit purchase cap of $583,580 non-targeted and $713,265 targeted. All program numbers are marked annual update.
If you are buying in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde or New Braunfels, the down payment assistance story starts with a boundary: many of the programs you have heard about are city programs, and Comal County is a different jurisdiction. This page lists the programs that actually apply, with verified numbers and dates, and flags the checks that still need to be run.
The San Antonio HIP program does not apply in Comal County
The City of San Antonio's Homebuyer Incentive Program (HIP) requires the home to be within San Antonio city limits, so it does not apply in Comal County. In addition, HIP80 and HIP120 were not accepting new applications for FY 2026 (City of San Antonio, accessed Sep 24, 2026). If a seller or agent pitches HIP on a Comal County address, the honest answer is that the program does not reach that property.
TDHCA My First Texas Home
The statewide TDHCA program applies in Comal County. Per the program matrix dated Aug 17, 2026, My First Texas Home offers down payment assistance of 2%-5% in one of two structures:
- 30-year deferred repayable second at 0%. The assistance is repaid when you sell or refinance, with no interest.
- 3-year deferred forgivable second. The assistance is forgiven if you stay in the home for the required term.
- Minimum middle FICO of 620 and HUD-certified homebuyer education are required.
Income limits, effective July 13, 2026, for the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA, which covers Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall and Bexar counties:
- $104,725 for 1-2 persons (100% AMFI).
- $120,434 for 3+ persons (115% AMFI).
- 1-unit purchase price cap of $583,580 non-targeted and $713,265 targeted.
Confirm the Comal row in the TDHCA limits PDF before relying on any figure, because limits are republished on a yearly cycle.
TSAHC Home Sweet Texas and Homes for Texas Heroes
The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation runs two programs that apply in Comal County (TSAHC, accessed Sep 24, 2026):
- Home Sweet Texas: DPA of 2%-5%, with grant options of 2, 3, 4 or 5 percent, or a 5% 30-year deferred repayable second.
- Homes for Texas Heroes: the same DPA structures, with eligibility that includes teachers, firefighters and EMS personnel, police and correctional officers, and veterans.
- Credit: as low as 620 on FHA, USDA and VA, and 640 for conventional.
TSAHC county income and purchase limits are not verified in this pass. The check is the TSAHC county income limits resource at tsahc.org/resource/county-income-limits/.
NHSSA: the questions to ask
The San Antonio Housing Trust's NHSSA program offers up to $12,000 with a minimum credit score of 580 as a deferred second lien, covering Bexar County and surrounding areas. Whether it covers Comal, Guadalupe or Kendall counties is not verified in this pass: check the program's expanded counties list, or call 210-533-6673 ext. 306 directly for the current coverage.
The annual update rule
Every program number on this page is an annual update: income limits, purchase price caps, FICO requirements and application windows change by year and program cycle. Before you build a purchase plan around any figure, re-check the official TDHCA and TSAHC sources with the current date. The general Texas DPA landscape is covered in the down payment assistance guide, which explains how DPA pairs with FHA, conventional and VA loans.
Want the DPA options run for your exact income and address?
I check your household size, income, county and target price against the current TDHCA and TSAHC limits, mark the date, and show you which structure actually keeps money in your pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Antonio's HIP down payment assistance apply in Comal County? Tap to expand
What down payment assistance is available in Comal County? Tap to expand
What are the income limits for Comal County DPA? Tap to expand
How do the TDHCA DPA structures work? Tap to expand
Are these DPA numbers permanent? Tap to expand
Can I get down payment assistance in New Braunfels or Comal County? Tap to expand
About Patrick Kevin Fagan, REALTOR®
Patrick Kevin Fagan is a Texas Real Estate Sales Agent (#454749) with AXEN Realty LLC and a Senior Loan Officer (NMLS ID #877741) with NEXA Mortgage, LLC (NMLS #1660690). He brings 23+ years in mortgage lending and 19 years in real estate, serving homebuyers, homeowners, and sellers across Greater San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country.
Full credentials on the About page · Text or call 210-317-6514
Sincerely,
Patrick Kevin Fagan
Program figures verified September 25, 2026 and re-confirmed October 19, 2026 against the cited sources: TDHCA program matrix (Aug 17, 2026), TDHCA income limits, TSAHC and City of San Antonio (accessed Sep 24, 2026 and Oct 19, 2026). All program numbers are annual updates. NHSSA Comal, Guadalupe and Kendall coverage and TSAHC county limits are unverified; check the official sources or call 210-533-6673 ext. 306.
Answered by Patrick Kevin Fagan
Texas Real Estate Sales Agent #454749, AXEN Realty LLC · Senior Loan Officer, NMLS ID #877741, NEXA Mortgage, LLC
Call or text: 210-317-6514
