See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 6, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Salina, KS (2026)
Salina sits at the geographic center of the lower 48 states along I-70 and I-135 in north-central Kansas, anchored by a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, and aviation employers. The median home price in Salina is approximately $200,000, and while the city does not currently fund a direct down payment assistance program for buyers, eligible first-time homebuyers in Saline County can combine substantial help from state and local 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 for down payment and closing costs. Salina Habitat for Humanity provides 0% interest, 25-year affordable mortgages to qualified families, 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. Stacked together, these programs can put homeownership within reach for many Salina renters.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interfaith CASH IDA Program | Grant | Up to $9,000 total ($3,000 saved by buyer + $6,000 in 2:1 matching funds) | Yes | View → |
| Salina Habitat for Humanity | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable 25-year mortgage at 0% interest (monthly payments capped at 30% of gross monthly income) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $9,000 total ($3,000 saved by buyer + $6,000 in 2:1 matching funds)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable 25-year mortgage at 0% interest (monthly payments capped at 30% of gross monthly income)
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. The KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program is open to Saline County households at or below 80% of area median income, and KHAP is available across Salina without first-time buyer restriction.
Complete homebuyer education. Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. and Interfaith Housing & Community Services both offer HUD-approved pre-purchase counseling that satisfies state and nonprofit program requirements.
Contact a local housing partner. Salina Habitat for Humanity can be reached at (785) 823-9331 or 1425 Sherwood Lane for their homeownership program. Interfaith Housing & Community Services administers the CASH IDA matched-savings program.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Use the KHRC participating lender search to find a Salina-area lender that can originate the KHRC First-Time Homebuyer second mortgage and KHAP cash assistance.
Find a home within program limits. The KHRC program has Saline County-specific purchase price limits updated annually; confirm the current limit with your 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 reservation is approved.