See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 6, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Garden City, KS (2026)
Garden City sits in southwest Kansas as the seat of Finney County, anchored by agriculture, beef processing, and the Garden City Community College. The median home price in Garden City is approximately $245,000, and while the city itself does not currently fund a direct down payment assistance program for buyers, eligible first-time homebuyers can combine substantial help from state and nonprofit sources. The KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program offers a 0% interest forgivable second mortgage of 15-20% of the purchase price (up to $40,000) that is forgiven after 10 years of owner-occupancy, and the Kansas Housing Assistance Program (KHAP) layers on up to 4% in cash assistance. Habitat for Humanity of Finney and Ford Counties provides 0% interest affordable mortgages to qualified families through sweat-equity participation. Garden City's rural setting also makes USDA Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed loans particularly relevant — the Direct program offers 100% financing with subsidized interest rates as low as 1% for income-eligible borrowers. Combined with FHA and VA loans and the Kansas First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account tax deduction, Garden City buyers can put homeownership within reach.
State Programs in Kansas
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account | Tax Credit | State income tax deduction up to $3,000 individual / $6,000 joint per year (lifetime cap $24,000 / $48,000) | Yes | View → |
| Kansas Housing Assistance Program (KHAP) | Grant | Up to 4% cash assistance (3% option for buyers with 640-659 credit scores) | Yes | View → |
| KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program | Forgivable Loan | 15-20% of purchase price (up to $40,000) | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- State income tax deduction up to $3,000 individual / $6,000 joint per year (lifetime cap $24,000 / $48,000)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to 4% cash assistance (3% option for buyers with 640-659 credit scores)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 15-20% of purchase price (up to $40,000)
- First-time only:
- Yes
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| FHLBA Community Partners Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| FHLBA First Time Homebuyer Product | Forgivable Loan | Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| FHLBA Workforce Housing Plus+ | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $20,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $17,500 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 in home purchase assistance for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity of Finney and Ford Counties | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with monthly payments capped at no more than 30% of gross monthly income (sweat-equity required) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with monthly payments capped at no more than 30% of gross monthly income (sweat-equity required)
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program is open to Finney County households at or below 80% area median income. KHAP and USDA Section 502 programs have their own income limits — USDA in particular targets very-low- and low-income rural buyers.
Complete homebuyer education. Most assistance programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education certificate. South Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD) and other regional HUD-approved counseling providers cover Finney County.
Contact a local housing partner. Habitat for Humanity of Finney and Ford Counties can be reached at (620) 227-5040 for affordable homeownership opportunities. Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas (Garden City office) provides homelessness-prevention support and can refer buyers to relevant resources.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Use the KHRC participating lender search to find a Garden City-area lender that originates the KHRC First-Time Homebuyer second mortgage and KHAP cash assistance. For USDA Section 502 Direct loans, contact the USDA Rural Development servicing office at 1-800-414-1226.
Find a home within program limits. The KHRC program has Finney County-specific purchase price limits updated annually (often around $209,000 in most Kansas counties); confirm with your lender. Garden City's median home price of about $245,000 may push some buyers toward smaller homes or modest neighborhoods to fit program caps.
Submit your application. State assistance is funded year-round but reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. USDA Section 502 Direct loans run on annual funding allocations.