Steps to Owning Your Own Home

Please review the following steps there are 9 steps to owning your own home.

Step 1: Credit Score

If your credit score is not above 580, please contact Odessa Affordable (OA). OA offers credit-counseling classes, which help you, get your credit score to where it needs to be. For more information, please contact them at 432-362-0415.

Step 2: Pre-Approval

Visit one of our approved lenders to get approved for a home mortgage loan:

Prime Lending
1541 JBS Parkway, Suite 16
Odessa, TX 79761
Phone: 432-550-2011

Nations Reliable Lending Mortgage
5910 N Central Expressway
Number 1955
Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: 972-771-4925

Service First Mortgage
2521 N. Grandview Ave. Suite B
Odessa, Texas 79761
Phone: 432-425-1982

Step 3: Homebuyer Application

Once you have been pre-approved for a mortgage stop by our office to pick up an application or print the application from this page. Start collecting the documents required for the application.

Step 4: Submit Homebuyer Application

Bring in your completed Application (PDF), along with all the required documents, your Mortgage Approval Statement issued by the lender and the credit report the lender pulled, to our office. Allow 7 to 10 business days for us to process your application. After review, you will receive a letter in the mail advising status of your application

Step 5: Approval

Applicants will receive an approval letter from our office stating the amount of assistance and the steps to follow. This approval letter does not guarantee the funds will be disbursed on behalf of the applicant; it gives the applicant an idea of the amount of assistance available should you follow through with the process. Upon final approval, you will need to attend a Homebuyer's Education Course provided by:

Odessa Affordable Housing, Inc.
3801 North Dixie
Odessa, TX 79762
Phone: 432-362-0415
Odessa Affordable Housing, Inc. Website

Step 6: Look for a Home

Start looking for a home! The HOME program allows the purchase of a newly constructed home that does not exceed 95% of the maximum allowed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or an existing home priced up to $270,632. Owner financed properties or manufactured or mobile homes are NOT eligible. The home must be located within the Odessa city limits.  

Step 7: Before Making an Offer

When you have found a home you want to offer, you must contact our office. Homes considered for purchase must be pre-approved and meet the Housing Quality Standards. Also, a HUD notice to the seller must be submitted, and have the seller sign and return it to our office before you can sign a contract on the home. The Applicant, Lender, and Title company MUST inform the Housing Assistant via email before making any offers, executing any documents, and closing. Failure to comply with our requirements will result in the applicant not getting assistance and the lender being removed as an approved lender. Emails should include the Housing Assistant, Applicant, Lender, and Title company. Email Tammy Duke at tduke@odessa-tx.gov

Step 8: Program Requirements

Potential Homebuyers must provide 1% of the purchase price of the home toward the purchase of the home. Homebuyers must have at least two months of principal and interest in a savings account prior to closing on the home. The City of Odessa, Community Development Department must be listed as the second lien holder on the Homeowners insurance policy and provide a copy of the Declaration Page reflecting this to our office located at:
City of Odessa
Community Development Department
119 W. 4th, Ste 104 / P. O. Box 4398
Odessa, TX 79760

Step 9: Move-in

Make the home your primary residence, and report to our office on an annual basis.