Loan programs in Houston
DSCR Loans in Houston
A DSCR loan is an investment-property mortgage that qualifies you on the property’s rental income divided by its monthly payment (the debt service coverage ratio).
InvestorFix and Flip Loans in Houston
A fix and flip loan is short-term (usually 12–18 months), interest-only financing that covers most of a distressed property’s purchase price and up to 100% of renovation costs, repaid when you sell or refinance.
InvestorDSCR Cash-Out Refinance in Houston
A DSCR cash-out refinance replaces the loan on a rental with a larger one, sized to the property’s value and qualified on its rent, and pays you the difference in cash.
InvestorShort-Term Rental (Airbnb) DSCR Loans in Houston
A short-term rental DSCR loan qualifies a vacation rental on its nightly-rental income, using 12 months of booking history or a third-party projection such as AirDNA, instead of a long-term lease.
Home loanBank Statement Loans in Houston
A bank statement loan is a non-QM mortgage that calculates self-employed income from 12 or 24 months of personal or business bank deposits instead of tax returns.
Home loanFHA Loans in Houston
An FHA loan is a government-insured mortgage that allows 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher, or 10% down with a score from 500 to 579.
Home loanFirst-Time Homebuyer Loans in Houston
First-time homebuyer loans are mortgage options with low down payments, typically 3% conventional, 3.5% FHA or $0 VA, often paired with state or local down payment assistance.
Home loanVA Loans in Houston
A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that lets eligible veterans, active-duty service members and certain surviving spouses buy with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance.
Home loanCondo Loans in Houston
A condo loan is a mortgage on a unit in a condominium project, and approval depends on the building as well as the buyer.
Neighborhoods in Houston
- The Heights
- Montrose
- River Oaks
- Katy
- Clear Lake
Why borrowers look at Houston
Houston draws energy workers, medical professionals from the Texas Medical Center, port and logistics workers, and a large international community that shapes its food and culture. Housing runs from 1920s bungalows in the Heights and Montrose to mid-century ranch homes in Meyerland and sprawling master-planned suburbs like Katy and Clear Lake. The absence of traditional zoning means mixed-use surprises block to block, keeping some inner-loop pockets relatively affordable for a city this size. Buyers come for job diversity and no state income tax; investors chase strong rental demand from a transient professional workforce and flood-zone-discounted inventory that rewards careful diligence.
Local market snapshot: Houston
| Median home value | $277,800City of Houston · Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,361/moCity of Houston · Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.46% (approx.)Harris County, effective rate (approx.) · Source: SmartAsset, Texas Property Tax Calculator |
Homeowners insurance: Houston homeowners face some of the steepest insurance costs in Texas: hurricane windstorm exposure, hail, and repeated flooding events have pushed premiums sharply higher, and many lenders require flood insurance in mapped flood zones. Shopping windstorm coverage and documenting roof age can meaningfully move quotes.
Figures are the most local reliable public data available (city, then county, then statewide), each labeled above. They are context for your payment estimate, not a quote, run your scenario through our payment calculator.
Before you buy or refinance in Houston
- Pull the Harris County property tax bill early; it is part of every payment and DSCR calculation.
- Get an insurance quote before you lock a price.
- For rentals, check rent comps and any local rental registration or short-term rental rules in Houston.
- Texas home-equity cash-out on a homestead (Section 50(a)(6)) is capped at 80% of value with a 12-day notice and a 3-day right of rescission. Investment property cash-out is not subject to the homestead rules, which is one reason DSCR cash-out is popular with Texas investors.
Run the numbers
- DSCR Calculator
- Fix and Flip Profit Calculator
- Mortgage Payment Calculator
- Home Affordability Calculator
Other Texas cities
- Dallas
- San Antonio
- Austin
- Fort Worth
- Arlington
- Plano
- El Paso
- Corpus Christi
- Frisco
- McKinney
- Lubbock
- Killeen
- Irving
- Garland
- Laredo
- Amarillo
- Waco
- Round Rock
- Pearland
- Sugar Land
- Conroe
- College Station
- Brownsville
- McAllen
- Denton
- Midland
- Tyler
- Beaumont
- Grand Prairie
- Pasadena
- Mesquite
- Carrollton
- Abilene
- Richardson
- Odessa
- League City
- The Woodlands
- Lewisville
- Allen
- Wichita Falls
- Edinburg
- San Angelo
- New Braunfels
- Atascocita
- Mission
- Bryan
- Baytown
- Temple
- Longview
- Pharr
- Cedar Park
- Flower Mound
- Missouri City
- Mansfield
- Harlingen
- North Richland Hills
- San Marcos
- Georgetown
- Victoria
- Pflugerville
- Rowlett
- Spring
- Euless
- Leander
- Wylie
- DeSoto
- Port Arthur
- Galveston
- Texas City
- Grapevine
Neighborhoods in Houston
FAQ
What loans can I get in Houston, TX?
Investor loans (DSCR, fix and flip, cash-out, short-term rental) and owner-occupied home loans (bank statement, FHA, VA, conventional and more).
Who assesses property taxes in Houston?
Harris County. Lenders include those taxes in the monthly payment used to qualify you.