Overview
Kansas offers first-time buyers an unusually generous deal for a low-cost market. The statewide median home value sits around $240,000 in 2026, and the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) runs one of the more aggressive down payment programs in the Midwest. The catch is geography: KHRC's marquee program deliberately steers around the state's biggest metros (which run their own assistance), so the same program that gives a Hays or Salina buyer a huge boost simply isn't offered in Wichita or Johnson County. Knowing which program your county qualifies for is half the battle.
KHRC's First Time Homebuyer Program is the headliner: a 0% interest silent second mortgage worth 15% or 20% of the purchase price, with no monthly payments, fully forgiven after 10 years of living in the home. Households earning 50% or less of the area median income can qualify for the full 20%; those between 51% and 80% of AMI get up to 15%. You'll need a 640 credit score, must complete homebuyer education, and must put in 2% of the price from your own funds. Critically, the program is not available in Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, Kansas City, or Johnson County, which administer their own assistance.
State Programs
Kansas First Time Homebuyer Program
Forgivable silent second mortgage (down payment assistance)FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-Aside Program (HSP)
Forgivable down payment grantWichita HOMEownership 80 Program
Down payment assistance (local)Federal Programs Available in Kansas
These nationwide programs can be combined with Kansas state assistance for maximum benefit.
FHA Loan Program
Low down payment mortgageVA Home Loan
Zero down payment mortgageUSDA Rural Development Loan
Zero down payment mortgageTips for First-Time Buyers in Kansas
If you're in one of those excluded metros, your city steps in. Wichita's HOMEownership 80 program, for example, can provide a significant share of the purchase price plus help toward closing costs for income-eligible buyers, and Topeka runs its own assistance. Statewide, KHRC also offers a more conventional first-mortgage program with lighter down payment help. Veterans and lower-income first-time buyers should also check the FHLBank Topeka Homeownership Set-Aside grant, worth between $2,500 and $7,500, forgiven after five years and accessed through a member lender.
Kansas simplified its income tax to two brackets starting in 2024. For 2026, single filers pay 5.20% on income up to $23,000 and 5.58% above that; for married couples filing jointly the threshold is $46,000. That top rate of 5.58% is higher than neighboring flat-tax states, so factor it into your monthly budget. Property taxes are moderate, with an effective rate of roughly 1.2% to 1.3% of value, meaning around $3,000 a year on a $240,000 home. Kansas doesn't offer a broad homestead exemption, but its Homestead and SAFESR refund programs return property taxes to qualifying seniors and disabled homeowners.
Local layering is where Kansas buyers win. Beyond Wichita and Topeka, Leavenworth and several smaller cities run their own down payment funds, and your lender can tell you what's active. Military buyers near Fort Riley (between Junction City and Manhattan) and Fort Leavenworth should weigh a zero-down VA loan against stacking KHRC or city help on an FHA loan. Start with a free HUD-approved housing counselor to confirm your county's program, complete the required homebuyer education, and then work through a KHRC-participating lender to lock everything in.
Frequently Asked Questions
For educational purposes only -- not financial or tax advice. Program details, eligibility requirements, and benefit amounts are subject to change. Verify all information directly with the administering agency before applying. Last verified: June 15, 2026.