Missouri First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Assistance
In Missouri, first-time buyers can get down-payment help and below-market loans through Missouri Housing Development Commission. You can buy with as little as 3% down, or 0% with a VA or USDA loan.
Down-payment help in Missouri
The main source of first-time buyer assistance in Missouri is Missouri Housing Development Commission, the state's housing finance agency. HFAs typically offer below-market-rate mortgages paired with down-payment and closing-cost assistance, sometimes as a grant and sometimes as a second loan that is forgiven over time. The specific programs, amounts, and income limits change, so check the agency for what is currently open.
How little you can put down
You do not need 20% down. Conventional loans go as low as 3% (through programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible), FHA loans start at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can require nothing down. On Missouri's median-priced home (about $281,400), 3% down is roughly $8,442. Putting 20% down lets you skip private mortgage insurance, but most first-time buyers put down far less.
Who counts as a first-time buyer
For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years, so many repeat buyers qualify again. Missouri programs often add income and purchase-price limits, which is another reason to confirm the details with Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Other ways to save in Missouri
Buyer commission rebates are not available to most buyers in Missouri, so beyond Missouri Housing Development Commission assistance, your best levers are comparing lenders on rate and fees, shopping title and settlement services, and asking the seller for a closing-cost concession. See our Missouri closing-costs guide for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
What first-time home buyer programs are available in Missouri?
Missouri Housing Development Commission is the state's housing finance agency and the main source of first-time buyer help in Missouri, typically including below-market-rate mortgages and down-payment or closing-cost assistance. Programs and amounts change, so check the agency for what is open now.
How much down payment do you need in Missouri?
As little as 3% on a conventional loan, 3.5% on an FHA loan, and 0% on VA or USDA loans. On Missouri's median-priced home (about $281,400), 3% is roughly $8,442. You do not need 20% down, though 20% lets you avoid mortgage insurance.
Who counts as a first-time home buyer?
For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years. Some Missouri programs also have income and purchase-price limits, so check with Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Can I combine assistance with a buyer rebate in Missouri?
Missouri does not permit buyer commission rebates, so first-time buyers here should focus on Missouri Housing Development Commission assistance programs and negotiating the buyer's-agent commission instead.
Official sources
Read the full guide to the cash you need to buy →
This is general information, not financial advice. Program details, limits, and loan terms change; confirm the current rules with Missouri Housing Development Commission and your lender before you rely on them.
See first-time buyer programs in all states