See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 20, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Chesterfield, MO (2026)
Chesterfield is an affluent suburb in West St. Louis County with a median home value near $500,000, and unlike many St. Louis metro cities it does not administer a city-funded down payment assistance program of its own. First-time buyers here can still access meaningful help, however: the St. Louis County 1st HOME Down Payment Loan Program provides up to $10,000 as a 0% interest five-year forgivable loan for income-eligible buyers, the CAASTLC Individual Development Account program offers up to $4,000 in matched savings, and the Missouri Housing Development Commission First Place and Next Step programs layer on a Cash Assistance Loan of up to 4% of the first mortgage plus a below-market interest rate. Because Chesterfield's price point sits above most DPA program purchase price limits, buyers targeting these programs typically focus on condos and townhomes in the $275,000-$350,000 range rather than detached single-family homes.
County Programs in St. Louis County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County 1st HOME Down Payment Loan Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 zero-interest forgivable loan for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 zero-interest forgivable loan for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Missouri
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHDC First Place Loan Program | Forgivable Loan | 4% of the total first mortgage amount as a 0% interest, 100% forgivable second loan (Cash Assistance Loan) for down payment and closing costs, paired with a below-market 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA-RD, Fannie Mae HFA Preferred or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage). Buyers who skip the assistance typically get a rate 0.25%-0.50% lower. | 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:
- 4% of the total first mortgage amount as a 0% interest, 100% forgivable second loan (Cash Assistance Loan) for down payment and closing costs, paired with a below-market 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA-RD, Fannie Mae HFA Preferred or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage). Buyers who skip the assistance typically get a rate 0.25%-0.50% lower.
- 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 → |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAASTLC Individual Development Account (IDA) Program | Grant | Matched savings grant: every $1 deposited is matched with $1 or $2 (depending on enrollment), up to $2,000 per year in match funds for two years (up to $4,000 in match) toward down payment and closing costs. | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis | Deferred Loan | New construction and rehabbed 3-4 bedroom homes sold with a 30-year affordable mortgage. Homes purchased within St. Louis city limits may be eligible for up to $50,000 in down payment assistance. | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Matched savings grant: every $1 deposited is matched with $1 or $2 (depending on enrollment), up to $2,000 per year in match funds for two years (up to $4,000 in match) toward down payment and closing costs.
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Deferred Loan
- Amount:
- New construction and rehabbed 3-4 bedroom homes sold with a 30-year affordable mortgage. Homes purchased within St. Louis city limits may be eligible for up to $50,000 in down payment assistance.
- First-time only:
- Yes
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The St. Louis County 1st HOME program and MHDC First Place program both cap eligibility at roughly 80% of the St. Louis MSA Area Median Income (AMI) and limit the purchase price to the HUD HOME/MHDC program limit. In Chesterfield, this usually means targeting condos, townhomes, or lower-priced single-family homes rather than typical detached listings.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Register for a HUD-approved homebuyer education course with Beyond Housing, CAASTLC, or The Housing Partnership and complete one-on-one housing counseling to reach Homeownership Ready status. Most programs require this at least 10 days before closing.
Step 3: Apply for the St. Louis County 1st HOME Down Payment Loan through Beyond Housing. Contact Beyond Housing's lending department for application requirements, current funding availability, and income/purchase price limits. The county loan is up to $10,000, zero-interest, and forgivable after five years.
Step 4: Enroll in the CAASTLC IDA program if you are still saving for a purchase. Call CAASTLC at (314) 863-0015 to open a matched savings account. Save at least $10 per month and receive a $1-$2 match per dollar, up to $2,000 per year for two years.
Step 5: Choose a participating MHDC lender and get pre-approved for a First Place or Next Step loan. These programs require a minimum 640 credit score (verify current threshold) and provide a below-market interest rate first mortgage plus up to 4% of the loan amount in Cash Assistance.
Step 6: Identify a property within program purchase price limits. Because Chesterfield sits well above the median for St. Louis County, focus your search on condos, townhomes, and older homes in neighborhoods like Old Chesterfield, Baxter Ridge, or nearby ZIP 63017 lower-tier listings.
Step 7: Submit your application package through your lender and the counseling agency at least 30 days before closing. Forgivable loans are recorded as subordinate liens; as long as you occupy the home as your primary residence for the full five-year term, the loans are forgiven in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Chesterfield offer its own down payment assistance program?+−
How much down payment assistance can I actually get as a Chesterfield buyer?+−
Chesterfield home prices are high. Can DPA programs actually help here?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Who administers the county DPA program for Chesterfield buyers?+−
Free eligibility check
Buying a home in Chesterfield? 12 programs could help.
How soon are you looking to buy?