Texas first time home buyer grants and loan programs - The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) offers programs for first time home buyers.

TDHCA's program provides below market interest rate home loans/mortgages through a network of participating lenders to eligible home buyers that purchase their first home. The home buyers must be first time home buyers or buyers that have not owned a home in the past three years.

Two types of loans are available under this program. An “Unassisted Rate” loan typically offers the lowest interest rate available and does not provide funds for down payment and closing cost assistance. For borrowers needing assistance with their down payment, an “Assisted Rate” loan is offered to income-eligible borrowers that provides grant funds up to 5% of the mortgage amount. These loans are offered at a slightly higher interest rate.

Information that any buyer should know before purchasing a home provided by HUD:
http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm

First Time Home Buyers, Texas Loan Star Program:
http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/homeownership/index.htm

For Active Military: You may be eligible for a VA Loan which requires no money down.
Find out if you are eligible here:
http://www.russell-realtor.com/va-loan-eligibility.html

Professional Educators, Fire fighters, and law enforcement programs:
http://www.tsahc.org/single/

Program for Texas Veterans:
http://www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb/vhap/index.html

Single family Housing Programs:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/tx/sfh.htm

Minority Home ownership:
http://www.fanniemae.com/initiatives/minority/index.jhtml?p=Initiatives&s=Minority+Homeownership

Texas Low Income Housing Information Services:
http://www.texashousing.org/

Local El Paso links - Mortgage Credit Certificate Programs:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/commdev/hfc_default.asp

Informacion en espanol:
http://www.elpasotexas.gov/commdev/hfc_default_esp.asp

You as a buyer have the option to have an agent represent you in your buying transaction.  
Once you are ready to start looking for the perfect home, make sure you use an Exclusive Buyer's Agent and Texas Realtor.

A Texas Realtor,  will not only have access to all the listings in the area, but will also help you negotiate the best price, write the contract to your benefit, and make the whole transaction smoother at no cost to you. Please contact Yvonne Russell, RE/MAX Associates for more information.