See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Kearney, NE (2026)
Kearney is the Buffalo County seat in central Nebraska and home to roughly 34,000 residents and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Local Zillow and Redfin data put the median home value around $245,000, well below the national average, which keeps Kearney one of the more accessible markets in the state. First-time buyers here can layer state programs from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority — including the NIFA Homebuyer Assistance (HBA) program for up to $10,000 in second-mortgage assistance and the FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-Aside Program for up to $15,000 in forgivable grant funds — with local options like the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska (CAPMN) Down Payment Assistance, which provides up to $7,500 forgiven over five years for income-qualified buyers in Buffalo County. Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity is also actively building affordable homes for qualifying families. Stacked together, these programs can cover most or all of a typical down payment and closing costs on a Kearney home.
State Programs in Nebraska
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-aside Program (HSP) | Forgivable Loan | Up to $15,000 | Yes | View → |
| NIFA First Home Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate NIFA first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, USDA or VA); no down payment assistance | Yes | View → |
| NIFA First Home Targeted Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates | No | View → |
| NIFA Homebuyer Assistance Program (HBA) | Repayable Loan | Up to 5% of purchase price as a 1%, 10-year second mortgage (NIFA program summary caps it at $10,000) | Yes | View → |
| NIFA Welcome Home Program | Government-Insured Mortgage | 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $15,000
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate NIFA first mortgage (Conventional, FHA, USDA or VA); no down payment assistance
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 5% of purchase price as a 1%, 10-year second mortgage (NIFA program summary caps it at $10,000)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage at competitive below-market rates
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPMN First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance | Forgivable Loan | Up to $7,500 | Yes | View → |
| Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built home; sweat equity replaces a traditional down payment | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable mortgage on a Habitat-built home; sweat equity replaces a traditional down payment
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most NIFA programs and the CAPMN DPA require first-time buyer status (no home ownership in the past 3 years) and household income at or below program limits. Buffalo County HUD income limits change annually, so confirm with each program before applying.
Step 2: Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. CAPMN offers an online course through the eHomeAmerica platform. NIFA also accepts courses delivered by approved Nebraska providers.
Step 3: Contact a local housing partner. For local DPA, contact Jackie Harpst at the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska at (308) 865-5675 or jharpst@mnca.net. For Habitat homeownership, contact Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity at (308) 234-6030.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a NIFA-participating mortgage. NIFA programs are originated through a network of participating lenders across Nebraska. Ask any local lender if they are NIFA-approved before locking your loan.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. The CAPMN program caps the purchase price at $145,000 for existing homes and $255,000 for new construction. NIFA also publishes its own purchase price and income limits, which are updated periodically.
Step 6: Submit your application. Local DPA funds are limited and often awarded first-come, first-served once each new round of funding is released. Move quickly once you are pre-approved and under contract.
Step 7: Close on your home. NIFA second-mortgage assistance and the CAPMN forgivable loan are recorded at closing. Plan to occupy the home as your primary residence for the full retention period to keep the assistance forgiven.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Kearney?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer?+−
What is the maximum home price?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Are there homes available through Habitat for Humanity in Kearney?+−
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