See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 21, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Belton, MO (2026)
Belton is a Cass County suburb of about 29,000 residents in the southern Kansas City metro, just off US 71 between Kansas City and Harrisonville. The median Belton home price sits near $264,000, putting most of the market inside typical first-time buyer and MHDC program limits. State-level help starts with the Missouri Housing Development Commission's First Place and Next Step Loan programs, both of which pair a competitive first mortgage with a 4% Cash Assistance Loan that is fully forgiven after 10 years of owner-occupancy. Regional bank and credit union programs stack on top: UMB Bank offers Cass County buyers up to a 5% lender grant (3% toward down payment plus 2% closing cost credit), First Federal Bank of Kansas City's Better Together Home Loan Program provides up to $5,000 in qualifying LMI census tracts within the KC MSA, and CommunityAmerica Credit Union offers 100% financing with a $500 closing cost credit. Nonprofit and county help rounds it out: Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City serves Cass County with up to $10,000 in down payment assistance, and West Central Missouri Community Action Agency runs the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program for Cass County voucher holders.
County Programs in Cass County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WCMCAA Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program | Deferred Loan | Converts an existing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental subsidy into a monthly homeownership subsidy that helps pay the borrower's mortgage and housing expenses. The dollar amount is based on WCMCAA's voucher payment standard and the household's income. Monthly assistance is generally available for 10 to 15 years, after which the family is responsible for the full mortgage payment. | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- Converts an existing Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental subsidy into a monthly homeownership subsidy that helps pay the borrower's mortgage and housing expenses. The dollar amount is based on WCMCAA's voucher payment standard and the household's income. Monthly assistance is generally available for 10 to 15 years, after which the family is responsible for the full mortgage payment.
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Missouri
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHDC First Place Loan Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 4% of the loan amount via the Cash Assistance Loan (CAL) for down payment and closing costs, paired with a below-market fixed-rate first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA). | Yes | View → |
| MHDC Next Step Loan Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 4% of the loan amount via the Cash Assistance Loan (CAL) for down payment and closing costs, paired with a fixed-rate first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA). | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 4% of the loan amount via the Cash Assistance Loan (CAL) for down payment and closing costs, paired with a below-market fixed-rate first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA).
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 4% of the loan amount via the Cash Assistance Loan (CAL) for down payment and closing costs, paired with a fixed-rate first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, VA, or USDA).
- First-time only:
- No
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Together Home Loan Program | Grant | One-time grant of up to $5,000 toward down payment and/or closing costs, paired with a First Federal Bank of Kansas City first mortgage. | No | View → |
| CommunityAmerica First-Time Homebuyer Loan | Zero-Interest Loan | Up to 100% financing (0% down payment required) via a 10/6 Adjustable Rate Mortgage, plus $500 toward closing costs for completing a CommunityAmerica homebuying education session. | Yes | View → |
| Habitat KC Down Payment Assistance Grant | Grant | Up to $10,000 toward down payment. | Yes | View → |
| UMB First-Time Homebuyer Program | Grant | Up to 5% lender grant total: up to 3% of the purchase price for down payment, plus up to 2% lender credit applied to closing costs and prepaid items. | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- One-time grant of up to $5,000 toward down payment and/or closing costs, paired with a First Federal Bank of Kansas City first mortgage.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 100% financing (0% down payment required) via a 10/6 Adjustable Rate Mortgage, plus $500 toward closing costs for completing a CommunityAmerica homebuying education session.
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 toward down payment.
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to 5% lender grant total: up to 3% of the purchase price for down payment, plus up to 2% lender credit applied to closing costs and prepaid items.
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Check your eligibility. MHDC First Place and Next Step require household income within Cass County limits and a minimum 640 credit score. UMB, First Federal, and CommunityAmerica each have their own income and census-tract or service-area rules.
Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City is HUD-certified, CommunityAmerica Credit Union offers its own homebuying education session that unlocks a $500 closing cost credit, and online options through eHomeAmerica are widely accepted by MHDC.
Contact a Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) Certified Lender. Not every lender is approved for First Place and Next Step. Call MHDC at (816) 759-6600 to locate a Certified Lender serving Cass County and Belton.
Get pre-approved. Your MHDC-approved loan officer will verify credit, income, and which MHDC product and assistance tier you qualify for. If you are pursuing UMB's 5% grant, First Federal's Better Together grant, or CommunityAmerica's first-time buyer loan, apply directly with those lenders instead of MHDC.
Shop for a home under the applicable purchase price limit. Confirm current MHDC Cass County price limits with your Certified Lender before writing offers. For First Federal's grant, confirm your target address falls inside a qualifying LMI census tract.
Submit your full application including the MHDC Cash Assistance Loan paperwork or the relevant bank grant paperwork. Typical closing timeline is 30 to 45 days after contract acceptance.
Attend closing. MHDC forgivable assistance is recorded as a second lien that releases automatically after the 10-year forgiveness period, provided the home remains your primary residence.