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Matt Schuetze knew right away the brick home for sale in North Temple would be perfect for his wife and 2-year-old son. But there were two problems: red carpet and money for a down payment.

Under the Homes for Texas Heroes program, Schuetze’s job as Temple College police officer enabled him to get a grant that he could use for the down payment.

“It got us in here,” said the 22-year-old, first-time homeowner. “I knew something was out there like that, but I didn’t know what it was.”

In the aftermath of the subprime mortgage meltdown, local mortgage companies are using programs like these to help first-time buyers cross the threshold into a home of their own.

Paige McGilloway, a manager with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corp., said these programs are successful because they offer both a fixed rate and a grant that can cover either the down payment or closing costs.

Some of the programs are so popular the funds have run low or have been depleted. Ms. Paige said she expects more money will be available in the summer.

Since these programs don’t offer solutions to all the problems facing first-time homebuyers, mortgage professionals offer other strategies.

Karl Voss, senior loan officer with Texas Mortgage in Temple, said first-time buyers should understand lenders examine three fundamentals: monthly income, employment history and especially credit history.

“Having too much revolving or installment debt may cause problems on your debt-to-income ratio and credit report during the mortgage loan process,” Voss said.

Caren Hildinger, a certified mortgage planning specialist at Castle and Cooke Mortgage in Temple, said first-time homebuyers need to learn their credit history.

“People know what their blood pressure is, what their cholesterol is, they really need to know what their credit score is,” said Ms. Hildinger.” And if you have a low credit score, “The good news is … oftentimes, three to six months may be all that is needed to improve to the level necessary to get the best rate.”

Ms. Hildinger said some first-timers have trouble proving their credit history because they pay cash for everything. To remedy this, she urges the applicants go back and obtain old receipts, and begin saving receipts now.

“It’s better to do that than have no score at all,” Ms. Hildinger said. “We think how you pay your rent is how you will pay your mortgage.”

Using the Homes for Texas Heroes program, Ms. Hildinger helped the Schuetze family buy the Temple home with the red carpet. Six weeks after move in, Matt Schuetze said the important thing was getting into the home, the rest are details.

“We love this house … the red carpet can be replaced.”