City of Liberal First-Time Homebuyer Program

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Funding: Up to $3,000soft second mortgage (zero-interest)rollingDeadline: Scope: citystate

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Summary

Liberal’s First-Time Homebuyer Program offers a small but impactful zero-interest soft second loan that helps first-time buyers cover upfront down-payment and closing-cost gaps, making entry-level homeownership more attainable for income-qualified households in the city.

Benefits

Down payment assistanceClosing cost assistanceSoft second mortgageHomeownership access

Who Can Apply

First-time homebuyer

Eligible Locations

Low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in Liberal, Kansas, earning ≤125% of area median income.

Eligibility

Low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in Liberal, Kansas, with household income at or below 125% of area median income, who have not owned a home in the past three years, will occupy the home as their principal residence, can qualify for a first mortgage, complete an approved FTHB counseling workshop, and submit an application at least one month before closing.

Full Description

The City of Liberal First-Time Homebuyer Program is a local down-payment and closing-cost assistance initiative targeted at low- and moderate-income residents. Structured as a zero-interest, three-year soft second mortgage, the program provides up to $3,000 that can be applied toward a buyer’s down payment and eligible closing costs. To qualify, households must earn at or below 125% of the area median income, have not owned a home within the previous three years, and plan to occupy the purchased property as their principal residence. The home cannot be rented or leased during the term of the city loan, and applicants with any current real estate ownership are ineligible. Borrowers must complete a city-approved first-time homebuyer counseling workshop and obtain a certificate of completion before closing. Applications must be filed at least one month before the scheduled mortgage closing to allow time for review and underwriting. The soft loan gradually forgives over a three-year period, with a sliding-scale recapture if the home is sold, destroyed, or otherwise ceases to be the borrower’s primary residence within 36 months. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as long as program dollars remain available.

Verification & Details

Complexity: low

Confidence: 90%

Status: open

Source: cityofliberal.org

Program guidelines published on city site; eligibility income thresholds and loan amount clearly stated.

Official source → cityofliberal.org

Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 5, 2025

Recommended Resource

First-Time Homebuyer Starter Pack (2025 Edition)

A complete first-time homebuyer toolkit: 9 checklists, timelines, grant guidance, worksheets + editable Excel/Google Sheet budget & affordability calculator.

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