Down Payment Assistance
Every year, down payment assistance goes unused because buyers don’t know it exists. On the Kansas side, the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) runs a First Time Homebuyer program with a forgivable, interest-free second loan toward down payment and closing costs for income-eligible buyers — and Johnson County and Kansas City, Kansas administer programs of their own. Across State Line, the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) pairs cash assistance with its First Place (first-time buyers and veterans) and Next Step (first-time and repeat buyers) first mortgages — stackable with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans.
Is this you?
- First-time buyers (and some repeat buyers in targeted areas)
- Households within KHRC or MHDC income limits
- Buyers who qualify on income but are short on savings
- Anyone told “come back when you’ve saved more”
Ryan · Co-Branch Manager & Loan OfficerQuestions friends actually ask
How does down payment assistance work in Kansas and Missouri?
In Kansas, KHRC’s First Time Homebuyer program provides an interest-free second loan of a percentage of the purchase price that is forgiven if you stay in the home for the required period; Johnson County and Kansas City, Kansas run separate local programs. In Missouri, MHDC provides cash assistance as a second loan paired with an MHDC first mortgage. Ryan handles the pairing for you in either state.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get assistance?
KHRC’s program and MHDC First Place are for first-time buyers (generally defined as not owning in the last three years) and, for First Place, veterans — but MHDC Next Step serves repeat buyers too, with higher income limits. Income and purchase price limits apply and vary by county.
Is down payment assistance a grant or a loan?
It’s typically a loan — but often a deferred one with no monthly payment, repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the first mortgage. Ryan will walk you through exactly what your version costs, in plain English, before you commit.
Keep exploring
Conventional Loans
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Learn more →FHA Loans
The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Learn more →VA Loans
For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Learn more →Not sure yet?
That is literally what Ryan is for. One conversation, all your options side by side, zero pressure to move forward.
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