What Is Neighborhood Housing Services of San Antonio (NHSSA)?

Neighborhood Housing Services of San Antonio is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Bexar County residents achieve homeownership. Founded to serve the San Antonio community, NHSSA provides down payment assistance, homebuyer education, and housing counseling services to make homeownership accessible to more families.
For first-time homebuyers in San Antonio, NHSSA offers one of the most substantial down payment assistance programs available in Bexar County, providing up to $20,000 to help with down payment and closing costs.

Who Qualifies for NHSSA Down Payment Assistance in San Antonio?

First-Time Homebuyer Requirement

You must be a first-time homebuyer to qualify for NHSSA assistance. In most programs, "first-time homebuyer" is defined as someone who hasn't owned a home in the past three years. This definition means:
If you've never owned a home, you qualify. If you owned a home more than three years ago, you likely qualify
If you're divorced and your ex-spouse kept the marital home, you may qualify even if it hasn't been three years
If you're a single parent who owned a home only with a former spouse, special considerations may apply

Credit Score Requirements

NHSSA requires a minimum credit score of 580 for their down payment assistance program. This credit score requirement is more lenient than many traditional mortgage programs, which often require 620 or higher.
A 580 credit score is achievable for many people who have had some credit challenges but have been working to improve their financial situation. If your credit score is below 580, NHSSA also offers credit counseling services to help you improve your score before applying.

Income Limits for Bexar County Residents

NHSSA uses Area Median Income (AMI) guidelines to determine eligibility. While specific income limits vary based on household size and are updated annually, the program is designed to serve low-to-moderate income households, typically those earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income.
For Bexar County, this generally means:
A single person or couple might have income limits around $45,000-$60,000
A family of four might have income limits around $65,000-$85,000
Larger households have proportionally higher limits
These numbers are approximate and change annually based on HUD's calculations of AMI for the San Antonio metropolitan area. Contact NHSSA directly for current income limits specific to your household size.

18,640 Properties Available

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Residency and Citizenship Requirements

You must:

Purchase a home within Bexar County, Texas
Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Plan to use the home as your primary residence (no investment properties or second homes)

Additional Requirements


Homebuyer education: You must complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. NHSSA offers these courses regularly.
Lender pre-approval: You need to be pre-approved for a mortgage with a participating lender.
Stable employment: You'll need to demonstrate stable employment history and income.
Adequate reserves: Some programs require you to have some savings remaining after closing for emergencies.

How Does the NHSSA Second Mortgage Work?
 

How does my credit score affect my mortgage rate?
What are closing costs, and how much should I expect to pay?
How long does the homebuying process usually take?
Can I buy a home if I’m self-employed or have irregular income?
What’s included in my monthly mortgage payment?

What is a 2-1 buydown, and how does it work?

Who pays for the 2-1 buydown—the buyer, the seller, or the lender?