Harris County Texas | Harris County Real Estate Community

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Harris County Texas

Harris County is in the Houston - Sugar Land - Baytown Metropolitan area. With a population of almost 4 million Harris County is big! In fact it is so big they say it is bigger then Rhode Island. It is the third most populated area in the United States and the largest County in the state of Texas.

History - Founded in 1836 as Harrisburg County the named was changed to Harris County in 1839. The county has over 1,700 square miles and 2.75% of that is water. Some of the towns and cities in Harris County include, Humble, Huffman, Kingwood, Anascocita, Spring, and The Woodlands.

There are 23 separate public school districts and Harris County has their own public library system. There are 26 branches of the Harris County Public Library and every one is unique. The Kingwood Library has landscape in the front of the building in the shape of a bookworm and dragon!

Harris County also has it´s own Hospital District and many clinics operated by it's own governmental entity. They are in charge of three hospitals; LBJ Hospital, Quentin Mease Community Hospital which is being replaced by Martin Luther King Center, a 64,000 square foot building to be completed sometime in the Summer of 2009.

Harris County is not lagging in the technology department as the new Houston TranStar offers real live traffic events as they are happening! The Greater Houston Transportation and Emergency Management Center captures images around Harris County the map shows construction mishaps, road closures, city rails and speed charts all in one convenient map. We have put together some important places and websites on our Harris County Community Sites.

Harris County Community and Economic Development has recently started the Down Payment Assistance Program for those that qualify. You may be a Displaced homeowner or first time Homebuyers They offer assistance in the form of deferred, forgivable loans. The loan helps with down payment and closing costs for pre-owned homes less then 10 years old and new homes. HUD Income guidelines apply so to qualify, a family's gross income must not exceed:

 •1 person/$34,150   •2 people/$39,050   • 3 people/43,900  •4 people/$48,800

There are two primary ways in which help will be made available.
DAP which is $14,200 for a home that must be in unincorporated towns in Harris County or 15 co-operating towns, but NOT in Baytown, Houston or Pasadena. Or $9,500 towards pre-owned homes built within the last ten years. Or $14,400 can be used by disabled persons for new or pre-owned homes.

DAP-Plus offers up to $34,500 but the home must be a new home in the HUD selected Harris County target areas.

Target areas with qualified homes for DAP currently are: Bammel, Barrett Station, Clear Creek, Granada Greensbrook, Humble, La Porte, and Ranch Country.

In both cases homes must be no more then $115,000. Once you qualify and buy the home you must live in it as a primary residents for at least 5 years. Financially of coarse a person or family must meet other qualifications and have $350.00 or ½ of whatever the qualified lender is asking for down payment.

But, in order to qualify for any of this you must first have a certificate from a HUD approved homeownership education course! You can find the class list here at the HUD Educational Course Guide.

Well what do you think so far? Does Harris County sound like a place for you and your family? Contact Me and we can look together to find you the perfect home.