SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans - Administrator’s Guidelines - Rev 06/12/26

Sep 16, 2026

Administrator’s Guidelines for the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans, revised 06/12/26 (revisions listed on Page 4). The guide defines program products and key terms, explains how assisted rate conventional first mortgages pair with down payment or closing-cost assistance, and outlines income, credit, and geographic eligibility. It also specifies participating parties’ responsibilities (lenders, U.S. Bank as master servicer, and eHousingPlus program administration) and provides contact routing, compliance-fee workflows, system training references, and process timing for moving from training to loan purchase.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Contact Directory

Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation Team

Program Products

Program Requirements

Eligible Borrowers

Minimum FICO Score

Qualifying Income

Income Limits

Eligible Areas

Loan Limits and Property Criteria

Homebuyer Education

Second Mortgage FAQ

Process Summary From Training to Loan Purchase

Request Down Payment Assistance Funds

Program Timetable

Program Fees

Administrator’s Guidelines Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans Published December 23, 2015 Revised 06/12/26 Revisions are shown on Page 4 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTACT DIRECTORY 4 SOUTHEAST TEXAS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TEAM 5 PROGRAM PRODUCTS 6 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS 8 THE REQUIREMENTS 8 ELIGIBLE BORROWERS 8 Minimum FICO Score 8 QUALIFYING INCOME 8 INCOME LIMITS 8 ELIGIBLE AREAS 8 LOAN LIMITS AND PROPERTY CRITERIA 9 HOMEBUYER EDUCATION 9 SECOND MORTGAGE FAQ 12 PROCESS SUMMARY FROM TRAINING TO LOAN PURCHASE 13 REQUEST DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS 14 PROGRAM TIMETABLE 21 PROGRAM FEES 22 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans Page 3 Revisions Table-2026 Archived revisions found on the last pages of this guide | Date | TOPIC (effective for new reservations unless otherwise noted | Page | | --- | --- | --- | | 03-13-26 | Revised Manual Underwriting guidance for FHA loans
Added MCC Grant of $3,500 | 10
11 | | 06-12-26 | Updated income limits | 8 | 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans Page 4 CONTACT DIRECTORY 954-217-0817 or Toll Free (888) 643-7974 Select Option \#2 | Question | Option \# | email | | --- | --- | --- | | Lender Training (Program & System) | Option \#4 | Click here | | Lender User Access (Credentials, Disabled Access, etc) | Option \#1 | Click here | | eHPay-Digital Payment of Compliance Fees | Option \#3 | Click here | | Program Eligibility Questions-READ THIS GUIDE FIRST | Option \#2 | Click here | | Deficiencies-To view and upload compliance file deficiencies | View compliance and Servicer DEFI’s in eHP FrontPorch using Digital Docs App, Deficient Compliance Files drop down menu. | | | Loan Specific Questions- If you have any questions related to a specific loan already reserved/rate locked in the eHPortal. | Post note in Collaboration Station within eHP FrontPorch | | | Credit underwriting questions, refer to their internal UW Department or US Bank | (800) 562-5165 | Click here | | System Errors-Technical Assistance | Option \#6 | Click here | | U.S. BANK
DU Findings, DTI, Insurance, Collateral and Purchase of the loan questions all need to be addressed by the Servicer directly. eHousingPlus cannot assist you with questions related to these items.
Shipping First mortgage closed loan files
Questions regarding exceptions on first mortgage closed loan files | (800) 562-5165 | Click here | | U.S. Bank All Regs Site | Use this link, then select U.S. Bank HFA Lending Guide/500: Housing Finance Agency Programs/Texas/SETH. | | (Rev 05/20/24) 5 Star Texas Advantage Program for Conventional Loans Page 5 SOUTHEAST TEXAS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TEAM Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) Create and sponsor a first mortgage program and the down payment assistance program, solicit lender participation, conduct homebuyer education classes in portions of the state, set the rate, term and points, and market the program Participating Lenders Take applications, reserve in their own systems, process, underwrite, approve, fund, close and sell qualified loans to the program. Lenders are responsible for servicing program loans in accordance with Agency requirements until they’re purchased by the Master Servicer. US Bank Master Servicer Provides information on acceptable loan products, delivery and funding, receives all first mortgage files, reviews ﬁrst mortgage files, notifies lenders of ﬁrst mortgage file exceptions, approves ﬁrst mortgage files, purchases pools and delivers loans, delivers certificate. eHousingPlus Program Administration Maintains the program reservation system, websites, and posts Administrator’s guide, forms, training materials, provides program and system training, answers program and system questions, receives compliance files, reviews

FAQs

Who are the participating entities and what responsibilities does each party have?

SETH sponsors the first mortgage and down payment assistance programs, conducts homebuyer education, sets rate/term/points, and markets the program. Participating lenders take applications, reserve, process, underwrite, approve, fund, close, and sell qualified loans, and service them until purchase by the master servicer. U.S. Bank serves as the master servicer and handles first mortgage file review, exceptions, approvals, pool purchases, and delivery; eHousingPlus administers reservations, websites, guides/forms, training, compliance file intake/review, and exception notifications and approvals.

How do program assistance payments and loan terms work for borrowers?

Borrowers receive a 30-year fixed, fully amortizing first mortgage with 360 level monthly payments. They also receive an assistance payment up to a maximum equal to 3.00% of the Note amount, to apply toward down payment or closing costs. Income limits apply and the most current rates are available in the eHousingPlus system.

Where can lenders find the latest program guidance and how are revisions managed?

The guide states revisions are shown on Page 4 and lists revision items in a Revisions Table (including 06/12/26 and other dated updates). Contact directory options route lenders to topics such as lender training, user access, compliance fee payments via eHPay, and eligibility questions, with system instructions provided through eHP FrontPorch collaboration tools.

Sep 16, 2026

Uploaded by Lucas Vance