Central Texas
Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, is among the most affordable places to buy in Texas, and assistance stretches your budget further still. Eligible McAllen- and Edinburg-area buyers may qualify for TSAHC or TDHCA down payment help plus the MCC tax credit, often closing with very little out of pocket. TSAHC's 2026 limits in Hidalgo County may reach about $152,250 for Home Sweet Texas and $172,550 for Homes for Texas Heroes, at any household size.
Quick Facts
- County seat Edinburg
- Region Central Texas
- Population 880,000
- Home Sweet Texas income limit (non-targeted) ~$152,250
- FHA loan limit $541,287 Source: hud.gov
- FIPS code 48215
What Buyers Should Know
In Hidalgo County, TSAHC’s county income limits may allow household income up to about $152,250 for Home Sweet Texas and $172,550 for Homes for Texas Heroes, at any household size. Many Hidalgo County buyers may qualify for at least one TSAHC or TDHCA program; targeted areas are specific census tracts, not whole counties, so ask your lender whether a home’s address falls in one; outside those tracts, the standard income limits and first-time buyer rules apply.
FHA loan limits in Hidalgo mirror the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission baseline. The 2026 conforming loan limit is $832,750 for a 1-unit home. VA loans are uncapped above conforming limits for full-entitlement veterans.
Property tax in Hidalgo County averages around 2.3% effective (verify current year at the county appraisal district). The Texas residence homestead exemption shaves $140,000 off school-district appraised value and caps appraised value growth at 10% per year. File with the appraisal district on or before April 30 of the year following purchase.
Rio Grande Valley + Cross-Border Commerce
Hidalgo County is the largest of the Rio Grande Valley counties, anchored by McAllen (~145,000), Edinburg (county seat), Mission, Pharr, San Juan, Weslaco, and Donna. The county shares a border with Reynosa, Mexico — the Pharr International Bridge handles significant cross-border commerce. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Edinburg campus + McAllen Medical Center anchor the regional economy. Edinburg CISD, McAllen ISD, Mission CISD, PSJA ISD, Sharyland ISD, Weslaco ISD, and Donna ISD serve the county. The McAllen-MSA AMI is among the lowest in Texas, which means TSAHC Home Sweet Texas 80% AMI is broadly accessible to most county residents.
Income Limits
Hidalgo County Down Payment Assistance Income Limits
| Program | Max household income (non-targeted) | Max purchase price |
|---|---|---|
| Home Sweet Texas (TSAHC) | up to ~$152,250 (any household size) | bond DPA or MCC only: up to ~$566,354 |
| Homes for Texas Heroes (TSAHC) | up to ~$172,550 (any household size) | bond DPA or MCC only: up to ~$566,354 |
| My First Texas Home (TDHCA) | up to ~$101,500 (1–2 persons) / ~$116,725 (3+) | up to ~$566,354 |
| My Choice Texas Home (TDHCA) | up to ~$108,800 (conventional) / ~$172,550 (FHA/VA/USDA) | No purchase price limit |
| Figures show approximately how high non-targeted-area limits may reach for the standard above-80%-AMFI tier. TSAHC limits apply at any household size, and Homes for Texas Heroes has a higher limit than Home Sweet Texas; TSAHC's purchase price limit applies to bond-funded assistance and the MCC. My First Texas Home varies by household size and is for first-time buyers using FHA, VA, or USDA loans. My Choice Texas Home adds repeat buyers and conventional financing and has no purchase price limit. Limits may be higher in HUD-targeted census tracts and change periodically, so confirm your county's current figure with a participating lender before applying. | ||
Source: TSAHC county income limits + TDHCA Income & Purchase Price Limits
Loan Limits — Hidalgo County
VA
VA loans are uncapped above conforming limits for full-entitlement veterans.
Cities in Hidalgo County
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Edinburg Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Guide
Edinburg TX buyers may get up to ~5% of the loan toward down payment and closing costs through Texas TSAHC and TDHCA programs. See what you qualify for.
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McAllen Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Programs & Income Limits
Down payment assistance for McAllen, TX, in the affordable Rio Grande Valley. TSAHC and TDHCA up to ~5% down. See if you qualify.
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Mission Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Guide
Mission TX buyers may get up to ~5% of the loan for down payment and closing costs via Texas TSAHC and TDHCA programs. See what you qualify for.
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Pharr Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Guide
Pharr TX buyers may get up to ~5% of the loan toward down payment and closing costs through Texas TSAHC and TDHCA programs. See what you qualify for.
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School Districts in Hidalgo County
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Edinburg CISD
Edinburg CISD educators in the Rio Grande Valley may qualify for more home-buying help than they realize. Through Homes for Texas Heroes, full-time teachers, aides, librarians, counselors, and school nurses may qualify for TSAHC down payment assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount with no first-time-buyer requirement, and the 2026 Heroes income limit in Hidalgo County is about $172,550.
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McAllen ISD
McAllen ISD teachers and staff in the Rio Grande Valley may qualify for real home-buying help. Through Homes for Texas Heroes, full-time teachers, aides, librarians, counselors, and school nurses may qualify for TSAHC down payment assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount with no first-time-buyer requirement, and the 2026 Heroes income limit in Hidalgo County is about $172,550.
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Related Guides
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Boerne Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Limits for Kendall County
Kendall County carries unusually generous income limits, up to ~$209,550. In Boerne the price cap is the real constraint, not your paycheck. See what fits.
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Seguin Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Programs and Limits
Seguin is the affordable end of the I-10 corridor, and the price cap never binds here. See which programs may put up to about 5% toward your costs.
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Buda Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Programs and Limits
Hays County carries some of the highest assistance limits in Texas. Buda buyers may qualify at incomes up to approximately $201,600. See where you actually land.
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Hutto Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Guide for Buyers
You do not need to be a first-time buyer in Hutto. Williamson County limits may reach ~$228,480 with My Choice Texas Home. See which programs fit you.
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