See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 6, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Manhattan, KS (2026)
Manhattan is a Northeast Kansas college town anchored by Kansas State University, with Fort Riley to the west and the Flint Hills to the south. The median home price in Manhattan is approximately $280,000, and while the city does not currently fund a direct down payment assistance program for buyers, qualified first-time homebuyers can stack significant help from state and local sources. The KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program offers a 0% interest second mortgage for 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) adds up to 4% in cash assistance toward down payment and closing costs. Habitat for Humanity of the Northern Flint Hills serves Riley County buyers with affordable mortgages, and Interfaith Housing & Community Services administers a CASH IDA matched-savings program that turns a buyer's $3,000 in savings into $9,000 toward closing. Combined with federal FHA, VA, and USDA loan programs, these resources can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs for Manhattan buyers.
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 the Northern Flint Hills | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage with no profit and 0% interest (mortgage payments capped at 30% of gross monthly income) | No | View → |
| Interfaith CASH IDA Program | Grant | Up to $9,000 total ($3,000 saved by buyer + $6,000 in 2:1 matching funds) | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage with no profit and 0% interest (mortgage payments capped at 30% of gross monthly income)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $9,000 total ($3,000 saved by buyer + $6,000 in 2:1 matching funds)
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program is open to households earning at or below 80% of Riley County's area median income, and the program is available throughout Manhattan (it is excluded only in Johnson County and the cities of Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita).
Complete homebuyer education. Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. has a Manhattan office and is a HUD-approved provider; their pre-purchase counseling is free, and most state and nonprofit programs require this certificate.
Contact a local housing partner. Habitat for Humanity of the Northern Flint Hills can be reached at (785) 537-7545 or info@habitatflinthills.org for affordable mortgage opportunities. Interfaith Housing & Community Services can walk you through the CASH IDA matched-savings program.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Use the KHRC participating lender search to find a Riley County lender that originates the KHRC First-Time Homebuyer second mortgage and KHAP cash assistance.
Find a home within program limits. The KHRC program has purchase price limits set by county and updated annually; verify the current limit with your KHRC lender before making an offer.
Submit your application. State assistance is funded year-round but reserved on a first-come, first-served basis; closing typically takes 30 to 45 days once your assistance reservation is approved.