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By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated May 7, 2026

Homebuyer Programs in Mitchell, SD (2026)

Population: 15,649 | Median home price: $260,000 | Est. closing costs: $5,000 - $8,000

Skyline of Mitchell, SD

Mitchell is home to the famous Corn Palace and serves as the regional hub of Davison County, with a median home price around $260,000. While Mitchell does not have a city-funded down payment assistance program, buyers can pair the SDHDA Fixed Rate Plus second mortgage worth 3% or 5% of the loan amount with GROW South Dakota's $5,000-$10,500 deferred DPA loan and the SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate, which returns up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits. Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity builds and sells homes at no profit with 0% interest mortgages to qualifying families in Davison and Hanson counties, and the Governor's House Program offers prebuilt $86,000-$96,000 homes for income-qualified residents.

State Programs in South Dakota

Governor's House Program
Type:
Government Property Sale Program
Amount:
Two-bedroom home from $86,000; three-bedroom from $96,000
First-time only:
No
GROW South Dakota Down Payment Assistance
Type:
Deferred Loan
Amount:
$5,000 to $10,500
First-time only:
No
SDHDA First-Time Homebuyer Program (Fixed Rate Plus)
Type:
Silent Second Mortgage
Amount:
3% or 5% of loan amount
First-time only:
Yes
SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)
Type:
Tax Credit
Amount:
Federal tax credit up to $2,000 per year (30% of mortgage interest)
First-time only:
Yes

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

Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program
Type:
Zero-Interest Loan
Amount:
Affordable home sold at no profit with 0% interest mortgage
First-time only:
No

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. SDHDA programs cap purchase price at $410,000 in non-targeted areas. GROW SD requires income at or below 80% AMI.

Step 2: Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. The NeighborWorks course is offered online at no cost.

Step 3: Get pre-approved with an SDHDA participating lender. Find a lender at sdhousing.org or call SDHDA at 800-540-4241.

Step 4: Contact GROW South Dakota at (605) 698-7654 to apply for deferred DPA. Habitat applicants should apply during the Mitchell Regional Habitat enrollment window at mitchellhabitat.org or call (605) 630-3259.

Step 5: Find a home in Mitchell within program price limits and use it as your primary residence.

Step 6: Submit your full application package. Plan 30 to 60 days from contract to close.

Step 7: Close on your home. Confirm any second mortgages and the SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate are recorded at closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Mitchell?+
Mitchell buyers can stack the SDHDA Fixed Rate Plus second mortgage (3% or 5% of the loan, 0% interest, due-on-sale) with GROW South Dakota's $5,000 to $10,500 deferred DPA loan. On a $210,000 loan, the SDHDA Fixed Rate Plus alone adds $6,300 to $10,500. The SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate also returns up to $2,000 per year in federal tax credits.
Are there local Mitchell down payment assistance programs?+
Mitchell does not currently have a city-funded down payment assistance program. Buyers rely on state programs (SDHDA Fixed Rate Plus, MCC, Governor's House) and statewide nonprofit programs (GROW South Dakota). Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity offers an alternative path to homeownership in Davison and Hanson counties through sweat equity and 0% interest mortgages.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer in Mitchell?+
Not for every program. SDHDA First-Time Homebuyer Program and the SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate require that you have not owned a primary residence in the past three years (waived in HUD-targeted areas). The Governor's House Program and GROW South Dakota DPA do not require first-time buyer status. Habitat selects buyers based on housing need.
What is the maximum home price I can buy in Mitchell?+
The SDHDA First-Time Homebuyer Program caps purchase price at $410,000 in non-targeted areas. The SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate caps at $275,000 to $336,000 depending on county and target-area status. GROW South Dakota DPA does not publish a hard cap but is tied to 80% AMI income limits.
When can I apply with Mitchell Regional Habitat?+
Mitchell Regional Habitat accepts applications only during open enrollment windows and does not maintain a waiting list. Contact the Mitchell office at (605) 630-3259 or visit 417 N. Main Street, Suite 117 to confirm whether enrollment is currently open.

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