Up to $60,000.Inside Dallas only.
DHAP offers up to $60,000 in High Opportunity Areas and $50,000 elsewhere in Dallas. This page explains the price cap, the appraisal rule that trips buyers up, and how the funds actually move.
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DHAP is City of Dallas assistance, run by BCL of Texas since May 1, 2026, for homes inside Dallas city limits. It provides up to $60,000 in High Opportunity Areas and up to $50,000 elsewhere in Dallas as a 0% forgivable deferred second lien, prorated over the affordability period. Household income must be at or below 80% of area median income, the price cap is $342,000, and the home must appraise at 100% or more of the sales price. Funds are first come, first served.
Who qualifies.
- Home inside Dallas city limits (a Dallas mailing address alone is not the test)
- Household income at or below 80% AMI (BCL limits effective June 1, 2026: $96,900 for a 4-person household)
- Purchase price of $342,000 or less, existing or new construction
- Appraisal at 100% or more of the sales price
- Homebuyer education certificate from a DHAP provider
- Pre-approval from a DHAP-approved lender
How it works.
Readiness Check
The process starts with BCL of Texas's Readiness Check.
Homebuyer education
The buyer completes a homebuyer education course with a DHAP provider and receives a certificate.
DHAP-approved lender
A DHAP-approved lender issues the pre-approval for the first mortgage.
Contract under the cap
The home must be inside Dallas city limits and priced at $342,000 or less.
Appraisal
The appraisal must come in at 100% or more of the sales price.
Closing with a second lien
The assistance closes as a 0% forgivable deferred second lien, prorated over the affordability period.
Example: a $300,000 home in Dallas
Example only. A $300,000 home is $42,000 under the $342,000 cap, and it must appraise at $300,000 or more. The $60,000 and $50,000 figures are maximums; the amount awarded to a specific buyer is set during the DHAP process. Income limit effective June 1, 2026 per BCL of Texas. Rates, taxes, insurance and closing costs vary.
The packet includes the BCL of Texas DHAP links and contact, the Readiness Check steps, a city limits check for target addresses and a document checklist.
What works
- Up to $60,000, a large amount for city assistance
- 0% interest and no monthly payment on the second lien
- Forgivable, prorated over the affordability period
- Covers existing homes and new construction
What it costs you
- Dallas city limits only
- $342,000 price cap
- The appraisal must meet the price, or the deal has a problem
- First come, first served, so funding can run out
- The Targeted Occupations extension is closed (funds spent)
The part nobody explains.
The appraisal rule is where DHAP deals break. If the home appraises below the contract price, it fails the 100% requirement, so the price has to come down or the deal changes.
Many addresses say "Dallas" but sit outside Dallas city limits. The program follows city limits, not the mailing address.
The program moved to BCL of Texas on May 1, 2026, so older articles with the prior process and contacts may be out of date.
The Targeted Occupations extension is closed, but the Anti-Displacement track (50% to 120% AMI) is active, which reaches some households above the standard 80% limit.
Forgiveness is prorated over the affordability period, so the balance shrinks over time rather than disappearing all at once. BCL of Texas confirms the exact terms for each file.
Get the packet.
The official links are not on this page on purpose. They come in one email, organized, with what to do with each one and in what order.
- The packet includes the BCL of Texas DHAP links and contact, the Readiness Check steps, a city limits check for target addresses and a document checklist.
- Every official link for this program, plus the links for every guide you explored here
- A match with a Texava-vetted lender who closes this program
- A direct reply from Albert in English or Spanish
Where should I send it?
Your packet is on its way.
Every guide you explore before you leave gets added to the next packet. Keep reading below.
Programs stack.
DHAP is a second lien, so it sits on top of a first mortgage from a DHAP-approved lender. The lender confirms which first-mortgage types DHAP accepts.
Guide / Credit to keysMortgage credit guidePre-approval from a DHAP-approved lender is a required step, and credit decides it.
Side by side.
The Texava Score weighs what matters to a buyer: cash saved 40%, ease to qualify 25%, speed and paperwork 15%, fewer strings 20%.
Asked most.
How much can I get?+
Up to $60,000 in High Opportunity Areas and up to $50,000 elsewhere in Dallas. These are maximums, and the amount for a specific buyer is set during the process.
What is the income limit?+
80% of area median income. BCL of Texas lists $96,900 for a 4-person household, effective June 1, 2026. The Anti-Displacement track covers 50% to 120% AMI.
Is the teacher and first responder track still open?+
The Targeted Occupations extension is closed because its funds were spent.
Do I repay it?+
It is a 0% forgivable deferred second lien, prorated over the affordability period. There is no monthly payment.
Who runs DHAP now?+
BCL of Texas, since May 1, 2026. Contact: dhap@bcloftexas.org or (214) 919-1866.
The value compounds.
Up to $25,000 for down and closing
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