In today’s issue of the Texas Register (Vol. 38 No.18) the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs published the following notice to all interested mortgage lenders: “The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the “Department”) intends to implement a Mortgage Credit Certificate Program (the “Program”) to assist eligible very low, low, and moderate income first-time homebuyers with the purchase of a residence located within the State of Texas. “Under the Program, a first-time homebuyer who satisfies the eligibility requirements described below may receive a federal income tax credit in an amount equal to the product of the certificate credit rate established under the Program and the interest paid or accrued by the homeowner during the taxable year on the remaining principal of the certified indebtedness amount incurred by the homeowner to acquire the principal residence of the homeowner; provided that such credit allowed in any taxable year does not exceed $2,000. In order to qualify to receive a mortgage credit certificate, the homebuyer must qualify for a conventional, FHA, VA or other home mortgage loan from a lending institution and must meet the other requirements of the Program.