Get help with your down payment.
The plain-English guide to down payment assistance that works with FHA, USDA and HUD 184 home loans. You don't have to be a first-time buyer.
- How the assistance works and when you get it
- Forgivable vs. repayable options, side by side
- Who qualifies, including how a co-borrower's score can help
- Words you'll hear at closing, explained simply
Get the free guide
Tell us where to send it. It downloads right away, and a copy of your request goes to Brad and Buddy.
Five pages. Every question answered.
What down payment assistance is and who it is built for.
Four steps from approval to keys, plus a simple example.
Forgivable and repayable options compared row by row.
Credit, property and occupancy basics, plus buying with a co-borrower.
Already own with FHA? Plus the terms you will hear at closing.
This guide is for you if…
- Saving for a down payment is what's holding you back
- You are buying a home to live in
- You are looking at FHA, USDA or HUD 184 loans
- You have bought before and assumed you didn't qualify for help
Local lenders who teach first
Brad Robbins and Buddy Michna are branch managers at Top Notch Mortgage, with offices in Austin and Taylor. They listen first, explain every option in plain English, and then recommend the loan that fits you, not the other way around.
Read the guide, then call or text either of them directly: Brad 512-269-5278 or Buddy 512-595-6220.
Before you download
Is the guide really free?
Yes. Download it instantly. Brad or Buddy may follow up to answer questions, and there is no obligation and no credit pull.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
No. These programs do not require you to be a first-time buyer.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
It depends on the option. Some are forgivable and some are repayable. The guide compares them side by side.
Program guidelines as of October 2026 and subject to change without notice. All loans subject to credit approval, underwriting, appraisal and property eligibility. Not all applicants will qualify. This is not a commitment to lend.
Grab the other two while you're here
Top Notch Build™ Borrower Guide
The plain-English guide to building a new home in Central Texas with one loan, one approval and one closing. Land, construction and your permanent mortgage, all wrapped together.
Get the free guide →
Top Notch Open Range™ Guide
For the self-employed, real estate investors and homeowners who want cash without giving up a low rate. Qualify on how you actually earn, not on a bank's checklist.
Get the free guide →