Buying a First Home in Austin Texas

With two bedroom apartments renting for anywhere from $600 to $1700 a month the lure of home ownership can be strong, just to reduce those monthly payments. There are plenty of other reasons why buying can be better than renting or leasing such as tax benefits and home equity. But if you've never owned a home before, the prospect can be intimidating. Fortunately, there is help available from both the City of Austin, non-profit organizations, and private companies to help demystify the home buying process and provide assistance to those who have put off home ownership due to lack of money or knowledge.

• Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)
  First-Time Homebuyer Resources
  Learn about their Down Payment Assistance Program and Home Mortgage Assistance Program for first-time buyers.
  A "first-time" homebuyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the last three years.

• Austin Habitat for Humanity
  Apply for a Home
  Qualified, low-income families can get a helping hand when they help to build their own new homes. Find out if you and your family qualify.

For additional assistance in determining how you can afford a new home or in locating the perfect starter home, browse our list of mortgage companies and Austin-area realtors. Many of them provide general and Austin-specific real estate articles, mortgage calculators, statistics, maps, and other tools to aid you in your home purchase.