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

Homebuyer Programs in Sioux Falls, SD (2026)

Population: 201,469 | Median home price: $312,000 | Est. closing costs: $6,000 - $9,500

Skyline of Sioux Falls, SD

Sioux Falls is South Dakota's largest city and a fast-growing financial and healthcare hub anchoring the southeast corner of the state. With a median home price near $312,000, the city sits within reach for first-time buyers who stack the right programs. Local buyers can use the City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program (up to $8,000 forgivable) on top of SDHDA's Fixed Rate Plus second mortgage worth 3% or 5% of the loan, plus the SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate that can return up to $2,000 per year as a federal tax credit. GROW South Dakota adds another $5,000 to $10,500 in deferred down payment assistance for income-qualified buyers, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls and Affordable Housing Solutions provide nonprofit pathways to ownership through sweat equity and newly constructed affordable homes. Combining a city forgivable loan with state DPA and the MCC can stack more than $15,000 in upfront help plus ongoing tax savings.

City Programs in Sioux Falls

City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Up to $8,000
First-time only:
Yes
Sioux Falls Public Safety Down Payment Assistance Program
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Down payment and closing cost assistance (verify amount with City)
First-time only:
No

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

Affordable Housing Solutions Neighborhood Revitalization Homeownership
Type:
Forgivable Loan
Amount:
Newly constructed single-family home sold to income-eligible buyers at an affordable price (down payment assistance may be available)
First-time only:
Yes
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls Homeownership Program
Type:
Repayable Loan
Amount:
Affordable mortgage capped at 30% of household gross income
First-time only:
No

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility. The City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program and SDHDA programs target buyers at or below 80% AMI (roughly $68,200 for a family of four in Minnehaha County). Most state programs cap purchase price at $410,000.

Step 2: Complete a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Sioux Empire Housing Partnership at 200 N Phillips Ave Suite 200 offers in-person and online classes; reach them at (605) 339-0942 or sehp@siouxfalls.com.

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

Step 4: Contact the City of Sioux Falls Community Development Division at (605) 367-8180 to start the City Homebuyer Assistance Program application. Public safety employees should ask about the Public Safety Down Payment Assistance Program.

Step 5: Find a home in Sioux Falls within program price limits. The home must be your primary residence and meet the City and SDHDA property standards.

Step 6: Submit your full application package. Plan for 30 to 60 days from contract to close once all program approvals are in place.

Step 7: Close on your home. Confirm with your lender that all assistance funds (city forgivable loan, SDHDA second mortgage, MCC) are properly recorded at closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much down payment assistance can I get in Sioux Falls?+
Buyers who qualify can stack the City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program (up to $8,000 forgivable) with the SDHDA Fixed Rate Plus second mortgage (3% or 5% of the loan amount at 0% interest, due-on-sale). On a $250,000 loan that adds another $7,500 to $12,500. GROW South Dakota offers an additional $5,000 to $10,500 deferred loan, and the SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate can return up to $2,000 per year as a federal tax credit.
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer in Sioux Falls?+
For most programs in Sioux Falls, yes. The City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program, SDHDA First-Time Homebuyer Program, and SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate all 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, and Habitat selects buyers based on need rather than first-time status.
What is the maximum home price I can buy with these programs?+
The SDHDA First-Time Homebuyer Program caps purchase price at $410,000 in non-targeted areas (higher in targeted areas). The SDHDA Mortgage Credit Certificate ranges from $275,000 to $336,000 depending on the county and target-area status. The City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program does not publish a hard cap but is sized for low-to-moderate income buyers, so prices generally stay below the SDHDA limits.
What homebuyer education is required?+
A HUD-approved homebuyer education course is required for the City of Sioux Falls Homebuyer Assistance Program, SDHDA programs, and GROW South Dakota DPA. Sioux Empire Housing Partnership at (605) 339-0942 is the local HUD-approved counseling agency and offers both online and in-person classes. GROW South Dakota requires a NeighborWorks Homebuyer Education Course certificate issued at least 48 hours before closing.
Can Sioux Falls public safety employees get extra help?+
Yes. Police officers, firefighters, and other Sioux Falls public safety employees can use the Public Safety Down Payment Assistance Program for homes in designated city neighborhoods. Confirm employment eligibility, neighborhood eligibility, and current loan terms with the City of Sioux Falls before applying. Public safety buyers can typically stack this assistance with SDHDA programs as well.
What if I want a brand new home but my budget is tight?+
Two paths in Sioux Falls work well. The Governor's House Program sells reasonably priced energy-efficient prebuilt homes ($86,000 for a two-bedroom, $96,000 for a three-bedroom) to households earning up to $44,030 (1-2 person) or $50,320 (3+). Affordable Housing Solutions sells newly constructed single-family homes in core city neighborhoods to income-qualified first-time buyers, often with down payment assistance available.

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