See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 6, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Kansas City, KS (2026)
Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) is the seat of Wyandotte County and the third-largest city in Kansas, with a population of about 155,000. It is one of the more affordable big cities in the metro, with a typical Wyandotte County home value around $185,000 — well below neighboring Johnson County. KCK buyers should know the KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program is excluded here because the city administers its own federal HUD funds. The strongest local programs are the Community Housing Investment Program (CHIP), which provides up to $15,000 as a second mortgage to first-time buyers, and the Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC) AHP Down Payment Assistance, funded through the Federal Home Loan Bank, with grants stackable with other DPA. The Habitat for Humanity Kansas City Down Payment Assistance Program adds another $10,000 grant for buyers at or below 80% AMI. With the Kansas Housing Assistance Program (4% cash assistance) and federal loans (FHA, VA, USDA, HomeReady), KCK is one of the most program-rich and affordable markets in Kansas.
City Programs in Kansas City
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Housing Investment Program (CHIP) | Deferred Loan | Up to $15,000 second mortgage | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000 second mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
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 → |
| 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:
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHWC AHP Down Payment Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Down payment and closing cost grant funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program (AHP) | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity Kansas City Down Payment Assistance Program | Grant | Up to $10,000 grant | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Down payment and closing cost grant funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program (AHP)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 grant
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most KCK and Wyandotte County programs target buyers at or below 80% of HUD-determined Area Median Income, require first-time buyer status (no homeownership in the past 3 years), and require completion of a HUD-approved homebuyer education class.
Step 2: Skip the KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program. The state's flagship DPA does not apply within Kansas City limits because KCK administers its own federal HUD funds. Focus on the local programs below.
Step 3: Take Build WyCo's homebuyer education class. Required for both the CHWC AHP Down Payment Assistance grant and recommended for CHIP. Call Build WyCo at 913-342-7580 (dial 9) to enroll. The application process takes 2-3 weeks once you've met with a housing counselor.
Step 4: Apply for the CHWC AHP Down Payment Assistance Program. Funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program. Sign a 5-year real estate retention agreement at closing — if you sell within 5 years you must repay the grant. AHP stacks with other DPA programs as long as there is no cash back to the buyer.
Step 5: Apply for CHIP through KCK Community Development. Eligible applicants can borrow up to $15,000 as a second mortgage for down payment assistance. You cannot own any other real estate at closing, and CHIP can only be used once per lifetime. Visit wycokck.org or call (913) 573-5311.
Step 6: Apply for Habitat for Humanity Kansas City DPA. Property must be under contract first, household income at or below 80% AMI, DTI below 45%. Apply at habitatkc.org/dpa for up to $10,000 in grant assistance.
Step 7: Get pre-approved with a KHAP-participating lender. Combine your local DPA stack with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA RD, or Conventional) and the Kansas Housing Assistance Program's up to 4% cash assistance.
Step 8: Open a Kansas First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account. Up to $3,000 individual / $6,000 joint per year deduction from Kansas state income tax — useful for accumulating closing-related cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Kansas City, KS?+−
Why doesn't the KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program work in Kansas City, KS?+−
What is CHIP and how does it work?+−
What is the CHWC AHP Down Payment Assistance Program?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
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