FHA Loans in Texas: 2026 Requirements, Limits & Rates
FHA loans give Texas homebuyers a flexible, low-down-payment path to owning a primary residence. With backing from the Federal Housing Administration, a qualified Texas buyer can purchase with as little as 3.5% down when their credit score is 580 or higher; scores between 500 and 579 require a 10% down payment. FHA’s more forgiving credit and debt-to-income guidelines make it a common choice for first-time buyers across the state’s major metros and smaller communities alike.
How FHA Loans Work in Texas
Texas has 254 counties, and the FHA loan limit depends on where you buy. For 2026, most Texas counties use the national FHA floor of $541,287 for a one-unit home. Higher-cost metros are set above the floor: the Dallas–Fort Worth counties (Collin, Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and surrounding MSA counties) are at $563,500, and the Austin–Round Rock counties (Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell) are at $571,550. Houston/Harris County and San Antonio/Bexar County both use the $541,287 floor. Always confirm your specific county on the HUD lookup, since designations can change.
Every FHA loan carries mortgage insurance: an upfront premium of 1.75% of the base loan amount (usually financed into the loan) plus an annual premium billed monthly, around 0.55% for most 30-year buyers with less than 5% down. In Texas, where property-tax rates run higher than the national average, it is especially important to look at the full monthly payment — principal, interest, mortgage insurance, taxes, and homeowners insurance — rather than the rate alone.
Learn more with the FHA loan programs guide, estimate your numbers on the FHA calculator, or read the HUD guide to FHA loans.
2026 FHA Loan Limits by Texas County
Updated January 2026 · one-unit limits
| County | 2026 FHA 1-Unit Limit | Major Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Bastrop | $571,550 | Bastrop, Elgin |
| Bexar | $541,287 | San Antonio |
| Caldwell | $571,550 | Lockhart, Luling |
| Collin | $563,500 | Plano, McKinney, Frisco |
| Dallas | $563,500 | Dallas, Irving, Garland |
| Denton | $563,500 | Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound |
| El Paso | $541,287 | El Paso |
| Ellis | $563,500 | Waxahachie, Midlothian, Ennis |
| Harris | $541,287 | Houston, Pasadena, Baytown |
| Hays | $571,550 | San Marcos, Kyle, Buda |
| Hood | $563,500 | Granbury |
| Hunt | $563,500 | Greenville |
| Johnson | $563,500 | Cleburne, Burleson |
| Kaufman | $563,500 | Kaufman, Terrell, Forney |
| Parker | $563,500 | Weatherford |
| Rockwall | $563,500 | Rockwall, Heath |
| Somervell | $563,500 | Glen Rose |
| Tarrant | $563,500 | Fort Worth, Arlington, North Richland Hills |
| Travis | $571,550 | Austin, Pflugerville, Lakeway |
| Williamson | $571,550 | Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park |
| Wise | $563,500 | Decatur |
Limits shown are FHA one-unit (single-family) loan limits for 2026; two-to-four-unit limits are higher. Figures are subject to change — confirm your county on the HUD loan-limit lookup before relying on a specific number.
Texas FHA Notes
Dallas–Fort Worth counties (Collin, Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and neighboring MSA counties) carry a $563,500 FHA limit for 2026.
The Austin–Round Rock MSA (Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell) has the state’s highest served limit at $571,550.
Houston/Harris County and San Antonio/Bexar County use the $541,287 national floor — confirm the current Harris County figure on the HUD lookup before relying on it.
Higher Texas property taxes make the escrowed tax portion a larger share of the FHA payment, so budgeting the full PITI plus mortgage insurance matters more here than in low-tax states.
Texas has no state income tax but comparatively high property taxes, averaging around 1.6% of home value. Because FHA payments escrow taxes monthly, the local tax rate has a meaningful effect on your total payment in Texas.
FHA Loans in Texas Cities
See If You Qualify for an FHA Loan in Texas
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