# Tax Credit Apartments Texas | Free LIHTC Locator | Income Restricted Apartments > Looking for tax credit apartments in Texas? Free licensed locator matches you to LIHTC communities accepting applications now. See if you qualify. URL: https://incomerestrictedapartments.com/lihtc-apartments/ ![LIHTC (Tax Credit) Apartments](/images/misc/texas-lihtc-tax-credit-apartment-community-exterio.webp) Statewide Program # Find Tax Credit Apartments Accepting Applications in Texas We match you to tax credit apartment communities across all five Texas metros and tell you which are actually accepting applications. See If I Qualify [/contact/ →](/contact/) Program Detail [#service-detail →](#service-detail) ## About This Program Income Restricted Apartments matches Texas renters to LIHTC communities - sometimes called tax credit apartments - that charge rent below market. Qualification depends on your household income, household size, and metro. Our licensed team (TREC #679806) tells you in about five minutes whether you qualify, then matches you to communities that are actually accepting applications. ![LIHTC (Tax Credit) Apartments](/images/misc/texas-lihtc-tax-credit-apartment-community-exterio.webp) ## How the Tax Credit Apartment Program Works in Texas LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit) is the federal program that funds most new affordable apartments built in the last 30 years. Projects receive either competitive 9% credits or bond-paired 4% credits. IRS Section 42 gives the property owner a tax credit each year for keeping rents affordable, and the property signs a Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA) locking those rent caps in for decades. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) administers Texas allocations through the qualified allocation plan (QAP), while TSAHC has issued over $600 million in multifamily tax-exempt bonds. Texas H.B. 1058 created an additional state-level credit with first credits usable in 2026. In practical terms, that means a LIHTC apartment - whether a garden-style complex, mid-rise community, or townhome development - charges rent below what the market would otherwise pay. Your rent is set by the AMI tier of your unit, not by your personal income. ## Which AMI Tier Sets Your Rent? LIHTC units are set aside at different Area Median Income (AMI) tiers. Each tier has an income cap and a rent cap: - **30% AMI**: Deepest affordability. Rent is a very small fraction of median income for your metro and household size. - **50% AMI**: A common tier for family and general LIHTC. - **60% AMI**: The most common LIHTC tier. Balances affordability with property financing needs. - **80% AMI**: Workforce housing tier. Useful for renters priced out of market rate but earning too much for deeper subsidies. A single property often mixes tiers. You might live in a 60% unit next door to a 50% neighbor, in the same building with the same finishes. ## What the Rent Cap Means for Your Monthly Cost The rent cap is calculated as 30% of the tier’s imputed income, minus a utility allowance for utilities the tenant pays. So the “gross rent” (rent plus utility allowance) can’t exceed 30% of, say, 60% of the AMI for the assumed household size for that bedroom count. That’s why two 2-bedroom units in the same building can have different rents: one might be a 50% unit, the other a 60% unit. The tier sets the cap. ## How We Match You to Tax Credit Apartments The Income Restricted Apartments team works with LIHTC communities across Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. When you contact us: 1. **We check your income against current TDHCA/HUD limits** for your metro and household size, and tell you which AMI tiers you fit. 2. **We identify LIHTC communities that are actually accepting applications** right now, not closed waitlists dressed up as “available”. 3. **We pre-screen your credit, background, and rental history** against each community’s tenant selection plan before you spend a non-refundable application fee (typically $50-$150 per adult as of 2026). 4. **We coordinate multiple applications** so you’re not stuck waiting on one property. 5. **We rebate your application fee** when you’re approved and sign a lease at a LIHTC community through our service. ## Renters We Help Navigate LIHTC - **First-time affordable renters**, unsure whether income qualifies at 50% vs 60%. - **Voucher holders** using a Housing Choice Voucher (from HACA, SAHA, Houston Housing Authority, DHA, or FWHA) at a LIHTC property - often a strong combination. - **Students** navigating the IRS Section 42 full-time student rule and its exceptions. - **Fixed-income seniors** meeting the AMI cap but running into property income minimums. - **Renters with past credit or eviction issues** who need properties with more flexible screening. ## What Happens When Your Income Changes Once you move in, your income is re-certified annually. LIHTC rent stays capped by tier, so a raise doesn’t automatically raise your rent. If your household income rises above 140% of the applicable limit, the “next available unit rule” may apply, meaning the community rents the next comparable unit to a new income-qualified household. Most tenants stay put. ## How Utility Allowances Lower Your Rent If you pay for electricity, gas, or water, the property subtracts a utility allowance from the maximum gross rent. That allowance is estimated from local utility data. So the net rent you see on your lease can be lower than the raw “60% AMI rent” number. Ask us for the current 2026 utility allowance figures for any specific community and we’ll give you the real all-in monthly cost. ## How Our Free Locator Compares | Feature | Searching on Your Own | Income Restricted Apartments | | --- | --- | --- | | Cost to you | $50-$150 per application, per adult | Free - plus fee rebate on approval | | Pre-screening | Apply first, find out after paying | Pre-screened before you spend a dime | | Metro coverage | One property or listing site at a time | All 5 Texas metros from one team | | Waitlist tracking | You call each property yourself | Coordinated across multiple communities | | Licensing | Most are unlicensed directories | TX Real Estate License #679806 | | Language support | English only (most sites) | Bilingual English and Spanish | ## Related Programs If a straight LIHTC unit isn’t the best fit, we can also help you with: - Section 8 Voucher Apartments [/section-8-voucher-apartments/ →](/section-8-voucher-apartments/) : if you already hold or expect a Housing Choice Voucher - Public Housing [/public-housing/ →](/public-housing/) : PHA-owned units where rent is set as a share of your income - Senior Income Restricted Housing [/senior-income-restricted-housing/ →](/senior-income-restricted-housing/) : age-qualified 55+ or 62+ affordable communities Start with the free 5-minute intake [/contact/ →](/contact/) and we’ll narrow the path. ![LIHTC (Tax Credit) Apartments example photo 1](/images/features/lihtc-apartment-interior-vinyl-plank-floor-laminat.webp)![LIHTC (Tax Credit) Apartments example photo 2](/images/features/lihtc-community-leasing-office-exterior-covered-wa.webp)![LIHTC (Tax Credit) Apartments example photo 3](/images/features/lihtc-apartment-community-playground-picnic-area-m.webp)![LIHTC (Tax Credit) Apartments example photo 4](/images/features/lihtc-apartment-kitchen-laminate-cabinets-vinyl-fl.webp) ## LIHTC Apartments: Questions ### What is LIHTC and how does it lower my rent? + LIHTC is the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. The owner of a LIHTC community gets a tax credit each year for keeping rents affordable to income-qualified households. In exchange, the property caps rent at a percentage of the metro's Area Median Income (AMI), typically 30%, 50%, 60%, or 80%. Your rent is set by the AMI tier of the unit, not by your personal income. ### How do I know if I qualify for a LIHTC apartment? + Qualification comes down to household income compared to the metro's current AMI limit for your household size. Income Restricted Apartments checks your exact numbers against the 2026 HUD/TDHCA published limits at intake and tells you within a few minutes which tier you fit. There's no cost and no obligation. ### Do LIHTC apartments check credit and background? + Yes. Meeting the income limit qualifies you for the program, but each property has its own tenant selection plan that also screens credit, background, and rental history. We pre-screen you against each community's rules before you spend a non-refundable application fee. ### What is the 140% over-income rule? + Once you move into a LIHTC unit, your income is re-certified annually. If your household income rises above 140% of the applicable limit, the community may need to rent the next available comparable unit to a new income-qualified household. In most cases you're not evicted, and LIHTC rent stays capped by tier so a raise doesn't automatically raise your rent. ### Can I use a Section 8 voucher at a LIHTC property? + Often yes. Many LIHTC properties accept Housing Choice Vouchers, and it's usually a strong combination because the LIHTC cap sets the maximum rent and the voucher covers your share above a percentage of your income. We can filter for LIHTC communities that also process vouchers. ### How long does the LIHTC waitlist take? + It depends on the metro, the property, and the AMI tier. Some LIHTC lease-ups are open immediately. Others have waits of weeks to months to a year or more. We track which lists are actually open and coordinate multiple applications so you're not waiting on one closed list. ## Renters We've Helped With LIHTC Apartments Real stories from Texans we've helped find income restricted apartments across the state. ★★★★★ > “As a single parent, I didn't have time to call 30 apartments. They matched me to a brand-new LIHTC unit within my budget and near my kid's school.” Angela M. Austin Area ★★★★★ > “They pre-screened me before I applied anywhere, so I didn't lose a single application fee. When I got approved they even rebated the cost.” Priscilla R. San Antonio ## Related Programs ![Public Housing](/images/misc/texas-public-housing-pha-community-exterior-mature.webp) ### Public Housing Public housing is owned by your local housing authority, with rent based on your income. We explain how it works and help you navigate the PHA waitlist. Learn more → [Public Housing →](/public-housing/) ![Section 8 Vouchers](/images/misc/section-8-voucher-accepted-texas-apartment-communi.webp) ### Section 8 Vouchers If you hold a Housing Choice Voucher, we find the communities in your metro that actually accept it, and skip the closed-list dead ends. Learn more → [Section 8 Vouchers →](/section-8-voucher-apartments/) ![Senior Housing](/images/misc/texas-senior-55-plus-affordable-apartment-communit.webp) ### Senior Housing For seniors on a fixed income, we find age-qualified affordable communities and navigate the income-minimum rules that trip up SSI/SSDI renters. Learn more → [Senior Housing →](/senior-income-restricted-housing/) ## LIHTC Apartments Guides Go deeper on how this program works, who qualifies, and what to expect. ### How LIHTC Rent and AMI Limits Work (30/50/60/80%) How 30/50/60/80% set-asides work, why a property mixes tiers, and a worked rent example for Texas LIHTC apartments. Read guide → [How LIHTC Rent and AMI Limits Work (30/50/60/80%) →](/guide/how-lihtc-rent-and-ami-limits-work/) ### LIHTC Income Recertification, What Happens When Income Rises Annual recertification, the 140% over-income rule, the next-available-unit rule, and what happens to your rent in a LIHTC apartment. Read guide → [LIHTC Income Recertification, What Happens When Income Rises →](/guide/lihtc-income-recertification-when-income-rises/) ### LIHTC Screening: Credit, Background, and Rental History Rules LIHTC apartments still screen beyond income. How credit minimums, background, and eviction policies vary, and how pre-screening saves fees. Read guide → [LIHTC Screening: Credit, Background, and Rental History Rules →](/guide/lihtc-screening-credit-background-rental-history/) ### LIHTC Utility Allowance & Maximum Allowable Rent How the utility allowance works, max allowable rent by tier, what's included, and how to estimate your real monthly cost. Read guide → [LIHTC Utility Allowance & Maximum Allowable Rent →](/guide/lihtc-utility-allowance-maximum-allowable-rent/) ### LIHTC vs. Section 8 vs. Public Housing Compare LIHTC, Section 8, and public housing side by side, who owns, how rent is set, how to apply, and which to try first. Read guide → [LIHTC vs. Section 8 vs. Public Housing →](/guide/lihtc-vs-section-8-vs-public-housing/) ![](/images/misc/texas-lihtc-tax-credit-apartment-community-exterio.webp) Free · No Application Fees Wasted ## Start Your Free LIHTC Apartments Match Five minutes, no obligation, licensed Texas team. See If I Qualify [/contact/ →](/contact/)