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Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 20, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in St. Peters, MO (2026)
St. Peters is a large western suburb of St. Louis located in St. Charles County, Missouri, with a population of roughly 59,000 residents. The median home price here is around $291,000, which puts a 3.5% FHA down payment near $10,200 — a meaningful barrier for first-time buyers without assistance. St. Peters does not administer its own city-specific homebuyer grant; instead, the city directs buyers to the St. Charles County HOME Down Payment Loan Program, which provides up to $10,000 as a zero-interest forgivable second mortgage to income-eligible buyers purchasing in St. Peters and other participating St. Charles Urban County jurisdictions. Buyers can stack that with Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) First Place or Next Step, which adds up to 4% of the loan amount as a Cash Assistance Loan, and can also tap Beyond Housing — the largest provider of down payment assistance in greater St. Louis — and Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County. Combining a County HOME loan, an MHDC Cash Assistance Loan, and a federal FHA, VA, or Conventional 97 first mortgage can bring a qualified St. Peters buyer to the closing table with minimal out-of-pocket cash.
County Programs in St. Charles County
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Charles County HOME Down Payment Loan Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 as a zero-interest forgivable second-mortgage loan for down payment and eligible closing costs. | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000 as a zero-interest forgivable second-mortgage loan for down payment and eligible closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Housing Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $10,000 | No | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity St. Charles County Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable Habitat-built or rehabilitated home sold with a 0% interest mortgage; monthly payment sized to be affordable to the family's income. | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $10,000
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable Habitat-built or rehabilitated home sold with a 0% interest mortgage; monthly payment sized to be affordable to the family's income.
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility for the St. Charles County HOME Down Payment Loan Program. You must be a first-time homebuyer or someone who has not owned a home in the past three years, meet HUD income limits based on household size and the St. Louis MSA area median income, and be purchasing a home within a participating St. Charles Urban County jurisdiction — St. Peters qualifies.
Step 2: Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Beyond Housing, a HUD-approved NeighborWorks-affiliated counseling agency serving the St. Louis and St. Charles metro, is an approved originator for the County HOME program. Contact them at 314-533-0600 to register.
Step 3: Get pre-approved with a participating lender. Ask your lender about pairing the St. Charles County HOME Down Payment Loan with an MHDC First Place or Next Step loan for an additional 4% Cash Assistance Loan on top of the county assistance.
Step 4: Work with an approved housing counseling agency to originate the County HOME loan. Beyond Housing and other approved agencies will complete your application, coordinate with St. Charles County, and sell the second mortgage to the County at closing.
Step 5: Find a home within the St. Charles Urban County boundary. St. Peters qualifies, but the home must pass program inspection requirements, and properties in designated flood zones are not eligible.
Step 6: Submit your application and close. Provide proof of income, first-time buyer status, completed homebuyer education certificate, and the signed purchase agreement. The County HOME second mortgage is a zero-interest subordinate loan, typically due upon sale or transfer of title.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in St. Peters, MO?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
Does St. Peters have its own city-specific homebuyer grant?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Can I combine the St. Charles County HOME loan with MHDC and FHA?+−
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