Quick Answer
San Antonio's HIP80 program can provide up to $30,000 in down payment assistance and HIP120 up to $15,000, both administered by the City's Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. Both are paused for FY2026 with a possible reopening around October 1, 2026, so confirm the current status before you plan your purchase. Ask Patrick how San Antonio down payment assistance would work for you.
The money problem for San Antonio buyers is the down payment, and the City has two programs built to attack it: HIP80 and HIP120. Together they can put up to $30,000 of help on the table, Patriot Nation.
San Antonio's down payment assistance is administered by the City of San Antonio Neighborhood and Housing Services Department. HIP80 can provide up to $30,000 in assistance, and HIP120 can provide up to $15,000.
Both programs are paused for FY2026 and are not accepting new applications, with a possible reopening around October 1, 2026. Recheck the current status with the NHSD before you plan your purchase, and get your paperwork ready to apply the day they reopen.
City of San Antonio DPA Programs
The City of San Antonio Neighborhood and Housing Services Department administers the city's down payment assistance: HIP80 and HIP120.
The meaning: city-level help is real and targeted. These programs exist to put San Antonio buyers into homes they can afford.
The money consequence: HIP80 can provide up to $30,000 and HIP120 up to $15,000, which can cover the down payment and a big share of closing costs.
The real-world play: the NHSD is the source of truth for these programs. Their current status and guidelines decide everything, so check with them first.
HIP80
HIP80 is the larger of the two programs, providing up to $30,000 in assistance for eligible buyers. The 80 refers to the program's income targeting.
The meaning: HIP80 serves buyers at the lower end of the income scale, and the assistance amount reflects that focus.
The money consequence: up to $30,000 of help can turn a purchase that needed a big cash to close into one a buyer can actually reach.
The real-world consequence: the program's income limits decide who fits, so the eligibility check comes before the excitement.
HIP120
HIP120 provides up to $15,000 in assistance and serves buyers with higher incomes than HIP80, extending help further up the income scale.
The meaning: the two programs ladder up, so buyers who miss HIP80 can still fit HIP120.
The money consequence: $15,000 still covers a meaningful share of the down payment and closing costs, and it is help a buyer would otherwise leave on the table.
The real-world play: do not self-disqualify from one program without checking the other. The ladder is designed to catch more buyers, not fewer.
Eligibility
Eligibility is set by income limits tied to the program, household size, and the property's location within the city. Confirm the current requirements with the NHSD.
The meaning: city programs come with city rules, and the rules center on income, household size, and where the home sits.
The money consequence: the eligibility check is free and quick, and it decides whether thousands of dollars of help is available to you.
The real-world consequence: requirements change with funding cycles, so the current version of the rules is the only one that counts.
Current Status
Both HIP80 and HIP120 are paused for FY2026 and are not accepting new applications, with a possible reopening around October 1, 2026. Confirm the status before you plan around the programs.
The meaning: city programs run on funding cycles, and funding can pause. A paused program is not a canceled program, it is a waiting game.
The money consequence: planning a purchase around a paused program without a backup is a risk, so the status check belongs at the top of your list.
The real-world play: I tell buyers to prepare while they wait. Paperwork ready, credit clean, and pre-approval in hand means the day the program reopens, they are first in line.
How to Apply
Work with a lender who participates in the city programs, complete the required homebuyer education, and submit the income and documentation the NHSD requires.
The meaning: city assistance flows through approved lenders, and the education requirement is part of the program's design.
The money consequence: the right lender knows the program's current status and paperwork, and that knowledge is what turns eligibility into funded assistance.
The real-world consequence: start the education and the paperwork before the program reopens. The buyers who close with city help are the ones who were ready when the door opened.
Ask Patrick about San Antonio down payment assistance
Get a straight answer on San Antonio down payment assistance and whether you qualify.
