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By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 20, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Lee's Summit, MO (2026)

Population: 106,419 | Median home price: $365,000 | Est. closing costs: $7,500 - $11,000

Skyline of Lee's Summit, MO

Lee's Summit is a fast-growing suburb in Jackson County on the southeast edge of the Kansas City metro, with a median home value of roughly $365,000. Local buyers can combine the City of Lee's Summit First-Time Homebuyer Program, which offers up to $3,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, with Missouri Housing Development Commission programs that provide up to 4% of the loan amount through the Cash Assistance Loan via the MHDC First Place and Next Step programs. Nonprofit partners in the Kansas City metro — including Habitat for Humanity Kansas City's $10,000 down payment grant and Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity's affordable homeownership program — also serve Lee's Summit residents. The Housing Authority of Kansas City (HAKC) administers a Section 8 Homeownership option for qualifying voucher holders in Jackson County. Stacking the city's $3,000 grant with MHDC's 4% assistance and a Habitat KC grant can put tens of thousands of dollars toward a Lee's Summit purchase.

City Programs in Lee's Summit

HAKC Section 8 Homeownership Program
Type:
Grant
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 HAKC's voucher payment standard and the household's income.
First-time only:
Yes
Lee's Summit First-Time Homebuyer Program
Type:
Grant
Amount:
Up to $3,000 grant for down payment and/or closing cost assistance.
First-time only:
Yes

State Programs in Missouri

MHDC First Place Loan Program
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
MHDC Next Step Loan Program
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

FHA Loans
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
Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD)
Type:
Government Property Sale Program
Amount:
50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
First-time only:
Yes
Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac)
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
HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae)
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
HUD $100 Down Program
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
USDA Rural Development Loans
Type:
Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
Amount:
100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
First-time only:
No
VA Loans
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

Habitat KC Down Payment Assistance Grant
Type:
Grant
Amount:
Up to $10,000 toward down payment.
First-time only:
Yes
Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity Homebuyer Program
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Affordable Habitat-built home sold with a 0% interest mortgage; monthly payment capped at roughly 30% of household income
First-time only:
No

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm eligibility. Most programs serving Lee's Summit require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for the Kansas City MSA and require the buyer to have not owned a home in the past 3 years. MHDC Next Step has higher income limits — around $96,000 for a 1-2 person household in Jackson County.

Step 2: Complete a homebuyer education course. Work with a HUD-approved counseling agency such as CHES Inc. in Kansas City. Education is mandatory for MHDC programs and for most nonprofit DPA grants.

Step 3: Get pre-approved with an MHDC-participating lender. The state's First Place and Next Step loans are originated through a network of approved lenders. Ask the lender to quote you the Cash Assistance Loan option for up to 4% of the loan amount.

Step 4: Apply for the Lee's Summit First-Time Homebuyer Program. Contact the City of Lee's Summit Development Services Department at 816-969-1200 to request the current application packet. Submit a notarized first-time homebuyer certification, income documentation, a lender pre-approval letter, and proof of address.

Step 5: Apply for a Habitat KC DPA grant if eligible. Contact Habitat for Humanity Kansas City to confirm funding availability and submit required documentation showing the property is under contract in Jackson County.

Step 6: Find a home within Lee's Summit city limits. The city grant requires the property to be inside Lee's Summit; MHDC programs apply statewide but have purchase price limits — confirm your target price is within program guidelines.

Step 7: Close on the home. Coordinate grant and DPA funds with your lender and title company so the assistance is applied at closing. Budget roughly $7,500-$11,000 for typical closing costs on a median-priced Lee's Summit home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Lee's Summit?+
Stacking available programs, a qualified first-time buyer in Lee's Summit can access up to $3,000 from the city's First-Time Homebuyer Program, up to 4% of the loan amount (often $8,000-$15,000 depending on loan size) through MHDC First Place or Next Step, and up to $10,000 through the Habitat KC Down Payment Assistance Grant. Eligible households may be able to combine more than $20,000 in assistance.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+
The Lee's Summit First-Time Homebuyer Program and the Habitat KC DPA Grant both require buyers to have not owned a home in the past 3 years (with exceptions for single parents and displaced homemakers under HUD rules). MHDC First Place is for first-time buyers, but MHDC Next Step is open to repeat buyers as well.
What is the maximum home price?+
The Lee's Summit city grant does not publish a fixed purchase price cap but requires the home to be located within Lee's Summit city limits and affordable to the buyer's income. MHDC First Place and Next Step have statewide purchase price and income limits that are updated annually — verify the current caps with an MHDC-approved lender before writing an offer.
What homebuyer education is required?+
MHDC programs require completion of an approved homebuyer education course. CHES Inc. in Kansas City is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency that offers the required education. Many nonprofit DPA programs, including Habitat KC's grant, also require counseling before closing.
Can I use a Section 8 voucher to buy a home in Lee's Summit?+
Yes. The Housing Authority of Kansas City (HAKC) Section 8 Homeownership Program allows qualifying voucher holders in Jackson County — including Lee's Summit — to use their voucher subsidy toward monthly homeownership expenses instead of rent. Contact HAKC's Family Self-Sufficiency Program at 816-968-4150 for details.
Are there programs for buyers who are not first-time homebuyers?+
Yes. The MHDC Next Step program is open to repeat homebuyers and provides the same up-to-4% Cash Assistance Loan as First Place. In Jackson County, Next Step income limits are roughly $96,000 for a 1-2 person household and $112,000 for a 3-person household.

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