Homeownership Counseling for First-Time Home Buyers
Buying a home in Dallas feels out of reach for a lot of families. Between rising rents, confusing mortgage requirements, and not knowing where to start, it’s easy to feel stuck. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity offers one of the most comprehensive homeownership counseling programs, built to guide first-time buyers from wherever they’re starting to the day they get their keys.
Work one-on-one with a HUD-certified Housing Counselor who builds a personalized plan around your income, credit, savings, and debt. Our program combines counseling, financial education, and access to a preferred lender and realtor network. For those who qualify to purchase a Dallas Habitat home, 0% interest financing and up to zero-down payment assistance may also be available. We’ll get you mortgage-ready in one year or less.
Homeownership Counseling for First-Time Home Buyers
Buying a home in Dallas feels out of reach for a lot of families. Between rising rents, confusing mortgage requirements, and not knowing where to start, it’s easy to feel stuck. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity offers one of the most comprehensive homeownership counseling programs, built to guide first-time buyers from wherever they’re starting to the day they get their keys.
Work one-on-one with a HUD-certified Housing Counselor who builds a personalized plan around your income, credit, savings, and debt. Our program combines counseling, financial education, and access to a preferred lender and realtor network. For those who qualify to purchase a Dallas Habitat home, 0% interest financing and up to zero-down payment assistance may also be available. We’ll get you mortgage-ready in one year or less.
System Maintenance Notice:
Our application system is currently undergoing maintenance. During this time, you will be unable to complete the eligibility pre-screen or application. We would still like to connect with you about our program. Please email us directly at homeownersupport@dallas-habitat.org.
Ready to Take the First Step Toward Homeownership?
Owning a home in Dallas is one of the most powerful financial decisions you can make, and preparation is everything. Our program is one of the most comprehensive homebuyer assistance programs available, designed to build your financial confidence and get you mortgage-ready in one year or less.
Start by completing our quick pre-screen tool to check your eligibility for the program. It takes less than 5 minutes and there’s no cost to check your eligibility.
If you meet the initial criteria, you’ll be invited to fill out our full online intake application. Once accepted, a one-time enrollment fee is required. $125 for a single applicant or $200 for dual applicants. This covers unlimited one-on-one sessions with a HUD-certified Housing Counselor, soft credit reviews with no impact to your score, and access to all required classes and workshops. For those who qualify to purchase a Dallas Habitat home, 0% interest financing and up to zero-down payment assistance may also be available, an average lifetime cost benefit of $300,000 compared to a conventional mortgage.
If you’re not eligible yet, don’t worry. You can still move forward by joining our free homebuyer education courses at dallasareahabitat.org/class.
A few important notes before you begin:
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You can only submit the pre-screen once. Please double-check your answers.
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Approval at this stage does not guarantee you’ll qualify to buy a home, but it’s an essential first step.
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If you have questions, make a mistake, or need help, email homeownersupport@dallas-habitat.org or call our office at 214-678-2300.
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Let’s get started. Your path to homeownership begins here.
Do You Qualify? Eligibility Requirements
This affordable homeownership program serves first-time home buyers in Dallas and Kaufman counties, including anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. To get started, you’ll need to meet these basic requirements:
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- Being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Having stable employment income for at least one year.
- Being a first-time homebuyer per HUD’s definition, meaning you have not owned a home in the past three years. This includes people who have owned before. If you owned a home more than three years ago, you may still qualify
- No bankruptcy filed in the past three years.
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You’ll also need to fall within HUD’s 2026 Area Median Income (AMI) guidelines for Dallas. We serve households earning between 50% and 120% AMI. For a household of four, that means income up to $145,320. Use the chart below to find where your household fits:
HUD 2026 Income Levels
| Household Size | 50% AMI | 80% AMI | 120% AMI |
| 1 | $42,400 | $67,850 | $101,724 |
| 2 | $48,450 | $77,550 | $116,256 |
| 3 | $54,500 | $87,250 | $130,788 |
| 4 | $60,550 | $96,900 | $145,320 |
| 5 | $65,400 | $104,700 | $156,946 |
| 6 | $70,250 | $112,450 | $168,571 |
| 7 | $75,100 | $120,200 | $180,197 |
| 8 | $79,950 | $127,950 | $191,822 |
HUD 2026 Income Levels
| Household Size | 50% AMI | 80% AMI | 120% AMI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42,400 | $67,850 | $101,724 |
| 2 | $48,450 | $77,550 | $116,256 |
| 3 | $54,500 | $87,250 | $130,788 |
| 4 | $60,550 | $96,900 | $145,320 |
| 5 | $65,400 | $104,700 | $156,946 |
| 6 | $70,250 | $112,450 | $168,571 |
| 7 | $75,100 | $120,200 | $180,197 |
| 8 | $79,950 | $127,950 | $191,822 |
Every situation is unique, and not qualifying today doesn’t mean homeownership is out of reach. Complete our free pre-screen tool to find out where you stand.
What Dallas Families Are Saying
Yiizet's Story
"Once I read about the program it became my dream to purchase my first home."
Yiizet migrated to Dallas from Colombia with her two children and was moving from apartment to apartment due to rising rents. After completing the program, she became a homeowner.
Read Yiizet's full story
Julian's Story
"The best part about going through the Habitat process so far is being motivated to push myself and do better."
Julian grew up in Dallas and watched his mother complete the program before starting his own journey. The counseling process gave him a clear path forward.
Read Julian's full storyHow It Works: 3 Steps to Homeownership
More than counseling. A complete program for Dallas families.
STEP 1
STEP 2
Once accepted, you’ll work one-on-one with a HUD-certified Counselor to build savings, reduce debt, improve your credit score, and develop a personalized action plan, all focused on getting you mortgage-ready. Most participants complete this phase in one year or less
STEP 3
With mortgage pre-approval in hand, you’re ready to start searching for your new home. You may qualify to purchase a Dallas Habitat home with 0% interest financing. Browse our available homes and neighborhoods to see what’s currently on offer. You can also buy anywhere on the open market with guidance from our preferred lender and realtor network. Either way, your Counselor will be with you every step of the way.
How It Works
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Ready to take the first step toward homeownership?