Central Texas
Cameron County
Cameron County, in the Rio Grande Valley, is one of the most affordable places to buy in Texas, and assistance stretches your dollars even further. Eligible Brownsville-area buyers may qualify for TSAHC or TDHCA down payment help plus the MCC tax credit, often reaching closing with very little out of pocket. TSAHC's 2026 limits in Cameron 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 Brownsville
- Region Central Texas
- Population 445,000
- Home Sweet Texas income limit (non-targeted) ~$152,250
- FHA loan limit $541,287 Source: hud.gov
- FIPS code 48061
What Buyers Should Know
In Cameron 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 Cameron 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 Cameron mirror the Brownsville-Harlingen 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 Cameron County averages around 2.06% 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.
South Rio Grande Valley + SpaceX Boca Chica
Cameron County anchors the southern Rio Grande Valley with Brownsville (county seat, ~189,000), Harlingen (~75,000), San Benito, Los Fresnos, and South Padre Island. The county hosts SpaceX’s Starbase facility at Boca Chica, the Port of Brownsville, and the Brownsville-Padre Island International Airport. UTRGV Brownsville campus + Texas Southmost College anchor higher-ed. Brownsville ISD, Harlingen CISD, San Benito CISD, Los Fresnos CISD, and Point Isabel ISD serve the county. The Brownsville-MSA AMI is the lowest among Texas major MSAs, giving TSAHC Home Sweet Texas + TDHCA programs broad accessibility.
Income Limits
Cameron 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 ~$109,820 (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 — Cameron County
VA
VA loans are uncapped above conforming limits for full-entitlement veterans.
Cities in Cameron County
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Down Payment Assistance in Brownsville, TX
Buying in Brownsville, TX? See how you may get up to ~5% toward a down payment, the 2026 Cameron County limits, and why prices rarely block you.
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Harlingen Down Payment Assistance: 2026 Guide
Harlingen 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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School Districts in Cameron County
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Brownsville ISD
Brownsville ISD teachers and staff serving the Rio Grande Valley may qualify for real help buying a home. 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 Cameron County is about $172,550.
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Harlingen CISD
Harlingen CISD 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 Cameron 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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