Down Payment Assistance in Kansas

What is down payment assistance in Kansas?

Kansas consistently ranks among the most affordable states in the country for buying a home, with prices well below the national average across most of the state. Still, saving up for a down payment and closing costs can be a challenge even when home prices are low. With the right assistance programs, Kansas buyers may find homeownership more within reach than they’d expect.

Homebuyers may be able to use down payment assistance (DPA) programs to help them purchase a property. Down payment assistance is made up of national, state, local, and employer-sponsored programs designed to support homebuyers who can afford a monthly mortgage payment but need help coming up with the upfront cash needed for a down payment and closing costs.

Offered by government agencies, nonprofits, and some private organizations, DPA provides financial support to help homebuyers cover the down payment, closing costs, or both. It helps to bridge the gap between what buyers have saved and the funding they need to buy.

It may also provide homebuyers with a financial cushion, so they don’t have to drain all of their savings to afford homeownership.

From the Flint Hills’ rolling tallgrass prairie to the wheat fields stretching across the western plains, Kansas homebuyers can tap into statewide, local, and community-based programs that help cover the upfront costs of purchasing a home.

Assistance typically comes in one of three forms: a grant (money you don’t repay), a forgivable loan (which is gradually forgiven the longer you stay in the home), or a low-interest loan. The right option depends on the program and your individual situation.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer in Kansas or returning to homeownership after years away, there may be money available to help make up the difference between how much you’ve saved and the amount you need to close on a home.  

How does down payment assistance work?

Every down payment assistance program has its own rules, but most follow a similar path from homebuyers researching their options to funding.

Research. The DPA landscape is larger than most people realize. In fact, there were more than 2,700 DPA programs as of July 2026, according to Down Payment Resource, a company that connects homebuyers to the programs. Assistance may be available at the state, county, city, or employer level, and different programs have different eligibility requirements. If one program doesn’t fit your situation, keep looking. There may be others that will.

Determine your eligibility. Common requirements include income limits, minimum credit scores, and property location restrictions. Understanding your financial profile, where you want to buy, and how long you plan to live in the home will help you identify which programs are worth pursuing.

Apply. Once you find a down payment program that fits your criteria and eligibility, you’ll submit an application and supporting documents. Expect to provide proof of income, personal identification, credit information, and details about the property you intend to purchase.

Get approved and receive funding. If your application is approved and your information verified, you’ll receive the assistance at closing. It’s typically applied directly toward your down payment, closing costs, or both, depending on the program’s terms.

It is important to note that most DPA programs have their own conditions, which may include having to repay the loan in part or full if you move early, sell, or refinance the home. Make sure to always review and understand the terms and conditions of any loan you use.

Additionally, some programs may run out of funding. That’s why it’s important to check availability and stay on top of deadlines.

Who qualifies for down payment assistance?

Many people don’t realize they may be able to qualify for down payment assistance. DPA isn’t just a tool for first-time and first-generation homebuyers or those with lower incomes.

The assistance is available for a wide variety of people in a range of financial situations. Nearly two-thirds, 62%, of current DPA programs serve homebuyers earning more than $100,000 a year and 11% have no income limits, according to Down Payment Resource.

Additionally, more than a third, 38%, of DPA programs don’t have a first-time homebuyer requirement.

There are DPA programs for: First-generation homebuyers, Native American homebuyers, veterans, educators, law enforcement, first responders, municipal employees, those who earn less than a certain threshold, and more. Some programs also exist for buyers who purchase properties in certain communities.

Some organizations also offer homeownership assistance programs for their employees, so make sure you check with your employer as well.

Types of down payment assistance

The majority of DPA programs fall into two categories: Second mortgages and grants.

Second mortgages are by far the most common form of down payment assistance, making up 56% of all programs, according to Down Payment Resource. This is a separate loan running alongside your primary mortgage, with its own monthly payment.

Second mortgages are often set up to be a deferred or forgivable loan to reduce the upfront cost. If you have a deferred loan, it means that it doesn’t have to be repaid until you sell, refinance, or move out. A forgivable loan is gradually forgiven if you live in the home for a set amount of time.

Grants make up 9% of DPA programs and are the most straightforward form of assistance. They’re a gift, with no repayment required under any circumstances. As always, read the terms carefully to make sure you understand any conditions attached.

Finding down payment assistance

Down Payment Resource offers an interactive search feature that allows you to search available DPA programs by location as well as by things like your occupation, military status, or disability status.

New American Funding (NAF) also offers a down payment assistance program called Pathway to Homeownership. Specifically available to first-time homebuyers, eligible borrowers may receive up to $6,000* in financial assistance. This money can be used to help with your down payment, closing costs, or other costs. It can also be combined with other DPA programs.

National down payment assistance programs

While there is not national database of nation-wide DPA programs available, there are several main ones that are notable. They include:

The Chenoa Fund

The Chenoa Fund is administered by CBC Mortgage Agency (a federally chartered tribal housing finance authority). It is one of the most accessible national DPA programs available because it drops two of the most common barriers to qualification. It has no income limits and no first-time homebuyer requirement.

The program covers the required 3.5% down payment on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. The aid is structured either as a forgivable second mortgage or a repayable second mortgage, depending on the option selected.

Borrowers need a minimum 600 credit score to qualify. The program is available in all states except New York.

Since it works through a network of participating lenders nationwide, buyers can access it through their mortgage lender rather than applying directly.

The National Homebuyers Fund

The National Homebuyers Fund (NHF) is a nonprofit organization that provides down payment and closing cost assistance of up to 5% of the loan amount. It’s administered as a grant, meaning no repayment is required.

It has no first-time homebuyer requirement, making it available to repeat buyers who may not qualify for programs with that restriction. It works with FHA, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Conventional loans.

The credit score and debt-to-income requirements are flexible.

The NHF is available in most states and is accessed through a network of participating lenders rather than through a direct application to the fund itself.

Many of the national DPA programs are offered by various lenders and private non-profit organizations like the Homeownership Council of America.

Down payment assistance programs in Kansas

The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is the state’s housing finance agency and the central source for statewide DPA programs. KHRC doesn’t lend directly to buyers. Homebuyers apply through a KHRC-approved participating lender, which will combine the assistance with the mortgage.

KHRC First-Time Homebuyer Program

KHRC administers the First Time Homebuyer Program (FTHB) through approved lenders. The program offers eligible first-time homebuyers 15% to 20% of the purchase price, up to $40,000, for down payment and closing costs assistance. The funds are provided as a 0% interest forgivable soft second mortgage with no monthly payments. The loan is forgiven if the buyer remains in the home for 10 years.

FTHB details and requirements include the following:

• Must be first-time homebuyers
• Home must be occupied and buyer’s primary residence
• Household income must be at or below 80% of area median income (AMI). This is the midpoint of local earnings for an area, calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Homebuyer must make an investment of 1% but not more than 10% of the sale price from their own funds
• Cannot be used within Johnson County or the city limits of Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, or Wichita
• Must be able to secure a first mortgage with an interest rate in line with the current market
• FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Conventional loans
• Completion of homebuyer education course

Kansas Down Payment Assistance Program

The Kansas Down Payment Assistance (KansasDPA) Program is a statewide program that pairs a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a nonrepayable down payment assistance grant. Eligible borrowers can choose a mortgage and receive up to 4% of the loan amount (for FHA, VA, and USDA loans) or 3% for eligible Conventional loans. The grant can be used toward the down payment, closing costs, prepaid expenses, or principal reduction.

KansasDPA details and requirements include the following:

• Borrowers must receive a 30-year, fixed-rate, fully amortizing mortgage
• FHA, VA, USDA Rural Development, Fannie Mae Conventional, and Freddie Mac Conventional loans
• Minimum credit score of 640
• First-time homebuyers and repeat buyers are eligible
• Must meet income limits, which vary by county
• Completion of homebuyer education course
• No minimum borrower investment required
• Home must be occupied and buyer’s primary residence

Hutchinson down payment assistance program

Hutchinson sits in central Kansas, known for the massive underground salt mines beneath it, home to the Strataca Salt Mine Museum, one of the few underground museums in the world. A steady base of agriculture and manufacturing jobs, paired with home prices well below the national average, gives buyers small-town affordability with a distinctive local attraction.

Hutchinson down payment assistance program includes:

City of Hutchinson Down Payment Assistance Program: This assistance program provides up to $2,000 toward the down payment and closing costs.

Program details and requirements include:

• First-time homebuyers purchasing in the city of Hutchinson
• Completion of a homeownership education course

Leavenworth down payment assistance program

Leavenworth is Kansas’ oldest incorporated city, anchored by Fort Leavenworth, one of the longest continuously operating military posts west of the Mississippi. A steady base of military and government jobs, paired with a historic downtown along the Missouri River, gives buyers small-city character and a lower cost of living within commuting distance of Kansas City.

Leavenworth down payment assistance program includes:

City of Leavenworth Home Ownership Program: The program offers up to $8,000 to eligible applicants purchasing a home within Leavenworth city limits. The funds are provided as a second mortgage with no interest and no monthly payments. If the buyer lives in the home for five years, and the title does not change, the lien is released and repayment is not required.

Wichita down payment assistance program

Wichita is Kansas’ largest city, long known as the “Air Capital of the World” for its deep roots in aircraft manufacturing and aviation history. A walkable downtown along the Arkansas River, a growing craft beer and museum scene, and a cost of living well below the national average give buyers city amenities at a lower price point.

Wichita down payment assistance program includes:

City of Wichita HOMEownership 80 Program: The program helps eligible buyers purchase newly built homes developed by city of Wichita HOME-funded housing partners. The program is limited to buyers referred by one of the partner organizations and requires the buyer to qualify for a standard 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Program details requirements include:

• Assistance is currently available only for newly constructed single-family homes built by a City of Wichita HOME-funded development partner that received HOME development-subsidy financing
• Buyers must be referred through an approved development partner
• Eligible referrals may come from Wichita Habitat for Humanity, Mennonite Housing, Residential Housing Solutions, Jakub’s Ladder, or HOPE Community Development
• Completion of homebuyer education course
• Household income must be at or below 80% AMI
• Home must be owner-occupied

Northwest Kansas down payment assistance program

Northwest Kansas spans a wide stretch of high plains and farm country, far removed from the state's bigger cities and known for its wide-open skies and deep agricultural roots. Small towns throughout the region offer some of the lowest home prices in the state, along with a slower pace of life and a strong sense of community that comes with rural Kansas living.

The Kansas Housing Cooperative Loan Program provides interest-free, forgivable loan funding to help buyers build and purchase qualifying new homes in participating small northwest Kansas communities. Funds can be used for construction-related costs, a mortgage rate or cost buy-down, down payment assistance, or a combination of these uses. The program is administered by the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC), with Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. (NWKEICI) assisting with administration.

Program details and requirements:

• Assistance is offered as an interest-free, forgivable second mortgage
• Total assistance cannot exceed 17% of total development costs: Maximum of $55,000 for a single-family home, or $50,000 per duplex unit
• Local community must contribute resources equal to 33% of the total subsidy
• Forgiveness period: A single-family homeowner must occupy the home as a primary residence for five years for the home to be fully forgiven. For a duplex, the forgivable amount is forgiven over five years, provided the owner occupies at least one unit as a primary residence
• The newly built home must be located within the 26-county Dane G. Hansen Foundation service area in northwest Kansas
• Property must be located in a community with a population of fewer than 10,000
• Available to both first-time and repeat buyers
• Must be U.S. citizen or have legal U.S. residency
• Loans are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis

These are the main down payment assistance programs available across Kansas. However, there may be more programs available to you based on your location in the state or your occupation.

For instance, some towns or cities may offer down payment assistance specifically for first responders or teachers. Make sure to do your own research to see if there is a program that may be right for you. And be aware that certain programs may only be available until all of the funding is used.

How to apply for Kansas down payment assistance

The application process for different DPA programs may change. However, some general application steps include:

1. Check your eligibility. Review income limits, credit requirements, and first-time buyer status at kshousingcorp.org. For local programs, contact the relevant city or county housing office.  
2. Find a participating lender. KHRC programs are only available through approved lenders in their network.
3. Get pre-qualified. Your lender reviews your income, credit, and debts to determine which programs you may qualify for to receive funding.
4. Complete homebuyer education. Enroll in an approved homebuyer education course and keep your completion certificate for closing.
5. Find your home. Work with a licensed agent to locate a qualifying Kansas property. Your lender will confirm if it meets program requirements.
6. Close on your home. Your lender packages your first mortgage and DPA together. Assistance funds are applied at settlement.

Kansas down payment assistance FAQs

^{Program details reflect August 2026 information. Down payment assistance programs are subject to change and depend on current funding availability. Always confirm income limits, eligibility requirements, and program details with your lender or the applicable program administrator before applying.}

^{*Credit up to $6,000 maximum. Due to maximum seller concession rules applicable to purchase loan transactions, this credit could be less than $6,000 in some cases where other concessions have been made to the consumer.}