North Texas

Plano ISD

Plano ISD educators in Collin County may qualify for meaningful down payment help, even in one of DFW's pricier markets. 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 Collin County is about $205,870.

Quick Facts

What Buyers Should Know

Plano ISD is one of the largest + highest-rated districts in Texas (~50,000 students across 6 high schools), serving western Plano, parts of Carrollton, north Dallas (Far North Dallas), Richardson (small portion), Allen (small portion), Murphy, Lucas, and Parker. Plano Senior HS, Plano West Senior HS, Plano East Senior HS, Williams HS, Jasper HS, and Vines HS anchor the district at UIL 6A.

If you work full time at Plano ISD as a classroom teacher, teacher aide, school librarian, school counselor, or school nurse, you may qualify for Homes for Texas Heroes. The program may put up to 5% of the loan amount toward your down payment and closing costs, and you don’t need to be a first-time buyer. In Collin County, TSAHC’s 2026 Heroes limit is about $205,870 in household income, at any household size.

School jobs outside those five, such as administrators and support staff, aren’t on TSAHC’s Heroes list, but those employees may still qualify for Home Sweet Texas, which offers the same kind of assistance with a Collin County limit of about $181,650. First-time buyers may also be able to add a Mortgage Credit Certificate.

Sources: TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes eligibility and TSAHC county income limits. Limits are set by the county where the home is located.

For every program limit in Collin County, see our Collin County guide. Our Texas teacher home loans guide covers eligibility, employment letters, and timing a closing around the school year.

Who Counts as an Educator for Homes for Texas Heroes

According to TSAHC, a professional educator for this program is a full-time employee of a public K-12 school in one of these roles:

  • Classroom teacher
  • Teacher aide
  • School librarian
  • School counselor (certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code)
  • School nurse

Roles not on the list, such as principals, central office staff, and support jobs, don’t qualify under the educator category. TSAHC’s list also covers peace officers, fire fighters, EMS personnel, corrections officers, nursing and allied health faculty, and veterans, so a Plano ISD employee with a spouse in one of those jobs may want to check both.

Program Limits Where You Buy

The table below shows the 2026 limits for Collin County, where Plano ISD is based. If you buy in a different county, that county’s limits apply.

Income Limits

Collin County Down Payment Assistance Income Limits

Program Max household income (non-targeted) Max purchase price
Home Sweet Texas (TSAHC) up to ~$181,650 (any household size) bond DPA or MCC only: up to ~$589,596
Homes for Texas Heroes (TSAHC) up to ~$205,870 (any household size) bond DPA or MCC only: up to ~$589,596
My First Texas Home (TDHCA) up to ~$121,100 (1–2 persons) / ~$139,265 (3+) up to ~$589,596
My Choice Texas Home (TDHCA) up to ~$199,750 (conventional) / ~$205,870 (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

What the Assistance Could Look Like on a $300,000 Home

Say a Plano ISD teacher buys a $300,000 home with an FHA loan and the 3.5% minimum down payment. The base loan is $289,500. TSAHC sets the assistance as a percentage of the loan amount, and the levels it offers change from day to day:

Assistance on a $289,500 base loan

Assistance level Amount toward down payment and closing costs
2% $5,790
3% $8,685
5% $14,475

Illustration only. TSAHC calculates assistance on the total loan amount, which your lender confirms, so your figure can differ. Check which levels TSAHC is offering today on our TSAHC rates page.


Plano ISD home loans: frequently asked questions

Do Plano ISD teacher aides qualify for Homes for Texas Heroes?
They may. TSAHC's educator category includes full-time teacher aides at public K-12 schools, along with classroom teachers, school librarians, school counselors, and school nurses. Income and credit rules still apply.
What is the Homes for Texas Heroes income limit for Plano ISD employees?
It depends on the county where you buy. In Collin County, TSAHC's 2026 Heroes limit is about $205,870 at any household size for homes outside targeted census tracts. Home Sweet Texas, TSAHC's other program, allows up to about $181,650 there.
Do Plano ISD administrators or support staff qualify?
Not under the educator category. TSAHC's list covers full-time classroom teachers, teacher aides, school librarians, school counselors, and school nurses. Employees in other roles may still qualify for Home Sweet Texas, which has no occupation requirement.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
Not for TSAHC's standard down payment assistance. First-time buyer rules apply only if you add a Mortgage Credit Certificate or use TSAHC's bond second lien, with exceptions for qualified veterans and targeted areas.
How do I show that I work for Plano ISD?
Your lender will typically ask for proof that you work full time in an eligible role, such as a letter from Plano ISD human resources. Ask your lender exactly what it needs early, so the letter doesn't hold up your closing.

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