First Place Loan Program
Financial Assistance for Homebuyers in Missouri
Available Assistance
Under the First Place Loan program, eligible applicants can receive up to 4 percent of the first mortgage amount in assistance funds to be put toward covering their down payment and/or closing costs. These funds come in the form of a forgivable second mortgage. This loan does not need to be repaid as long as the borrower stays in the home for 10 years. After the fifth year, the mortgage will diminish by 1/60 every month, until the end of the term when it is forgiven completely.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be considered eligible for the First Place Loan Program, applicants must meet certain requirements. All applicants must be first-time homebuyers (people who have not owned or had principal interest in a home in the last three years), unless they are qualifying veterans or purchasing homes in Targeted areas. They are also required to meet the program’s set income and credit score limits.
Property Guidelines
Any home being purchased under the program must serve as the applicant’s primary residence and must be occupied by the owner within 60 days of the loan closing. Eligible property types include single‐family detached homes, one‐half duplex, semi‐detached homes, condominiums, townhomes, or manufactured homes on a permanent foundation. Duplexes are eligible, provided one unit is owner‐occupied and the units are at least five years old. Any property purchased must be located outside the 100 year flood plain. All homes must fall within the purchase price limits shown below:
Single Unit Non-Targeted: $248,098
Single Unit Targeted: $303,231
Two-Unit Non-Targeted: $317,655
Two-Unit Targeted: $388,245
*Seller-funded down payment programs were eliminated in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, but state and local government agencies are still permitted to help borrowers finance their homes with second mortgages and grants. These agencies set different requirements that a borrower needs to meet in order to qualify for the grant programs, such as property location, and purchase price and income limits.
Down payment assistance programs and/or grants were researched by the team at FHA.com. Please note that all programs listed on this website may involve a second mortgage with payments that are forgiven, deferred, or subsidized in some manner until resale of the mortgaged property.
FHA.com's compilation is not a complete list, but it can serve as a starting point in your search for the down payment assistance program or grant for your situation. It is up to the consumer to contact these entities and find out the specifics of each program.
Down Payment Grants in Missouri
City of Columbia Homeownership Assistance Program
Missouri's Homeownership Assistance Program helps eligible applicants buy a safe, affordable home, with down payment and/or closing cost assistance
First Place Loan Program
In an effort to help individuals achieve their dreams of homeownership, the Missouri Housing Development Commission introduced the First Place Loan Program, which offers first-time homebuyers down payment and closing costs assistance.
First Time Homebuyer Program
In an effort to help residents achieve their dreams of homeownership, the City of Blue Springs and mortgage lenders of the area created the First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) Program.
Missouri Housing Development Commission DPA Program
The Missouri Housing Development Commission offers eligible applicants assistance funds with the Cash Assistance Loan to help cover the cost of the down payment and other closing costs. This is to help qualifying borrowers achieve their dream of homeownership and gain access to safe and affordable housing.
Next Step Program
One of the major obstacles on the path to homeownership is the down payment. In an effort to help individuals overcome this obstacle, the Missouri Housing Development Commission introduced the Next Step Program.
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