Grant Directory

Verified government funding opportunities

First HOME Down Payment Loan – St. Louis County HOME Investment Partnerships Program

Open

St. Louis County Department of Human Services – Community DevelopmentMOFirst-Time Homeowner

Funding: Provides a zero interest deferred second mortgage typically up to about 10000 dollars to assist with down payment and allowable closing costs, repaid when the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer owner occupied under current program rules.0 percent interest deferred down payment and closing cost assistance loan funded with HOME program dollarsRollingDeadline: Scope: Countywidestate

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Summary

St. Louis County’s 1st HOME Down Payment Loan provides a zero-interest second mortgage to help first-time buyers cover down payment and closing costs. The program uses federal HOME funds to boost affordability for households that can qualify for a primary mortgage but lack enough cash to close.

Benefits

down payment assistanceclosing cost assistance

Who Can Apply

homebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow- to moderate-income homebuyer

Eligible Locations

Income eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing an owner-occupied primary residence in St. Louis County, Missouri and other participating areas that meet HUD HOME income limits, purchase price caps, and property standards.

Eligibility

Income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing an owner-occupied home in St. Louis County (and designated participating areas), who meet HUD HOME income limits, price caps, and occupancy requirements, and complete the County’s underwriting and counseling requirements.

Full Description

The First HOME Down Payment Loan is part of the St. Louis County HOME Investment Partnerships Program and is designed to close the affordability gap for first-time homebuyers in the county. Program materials describe it as a zero-interest down payment loan offered to income-eligible households who are purchasing an owner-occupied home in St. Louis County. According to statewide and national round-up sources on Missouri first-time homebuyer assistance, St. Louis County’s down payment loan program typically provides up to around $10,000 in assistance as a deferred second mortgage that can be used toward down payment and allowable closing costs. The loan is usually repaid when the home is sold, refinanced, or ceases to be an owner-occupied primary residence; in some cases, a portion may be forgiven over time depending on current program rules. Borrowers must meet HUD HOME income limits, local purchase price caps, and basic credit and underwriting standards, and they are often required to complete homebuyer education or counseling through an approved agency. Combined with the borrower’s first mortgage, this county-level program helps St. Louis-area buyers who have sufficient income but limited savings move from renting into long-term homeownership.

Verification & Details

Status: Open
Source: stlouiscountymo.gov
Official source → stlouiscountymo.gov
Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 6, 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.

first-time homebuyerhomebuyer starter packhome buying checklistbudget templategoogle sheet budgetdown payment assistancehomeownership toolkitdigital downloadPDF workbookaffordability calculator
View digital guideBuy now

More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout Missouri that complement this opportunity.

Down Payment Assistance – City of Florissant, Missouri

Open

City of FlorissantMOFirst-Time Homeowner0 percent interest deferred forgivable loan funded with HOME program dollars

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Florissant’s Down Payment Assistance Program offers a $3,500 interest-free, forgivable loan that can be applied to down payment and closing costs for a home purchase within the city. As long as the buyer lives in the home for five years, the assistance is fully forgiven, effectively turning the second mortgage into a homebuyer grant.

Eligible for: Income-eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing an owner-occupied home inside Florissant city limits, who meet local income limits and prog…

Funding: Provides a zero interest deferred loan now offering up to 7000 dollars to be used toward down payment and closing costs, fully forgiven after the homeowner occupies the property for the required five year period under current guidelines.Deadline: Rolling / subject to funding availabilityRollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerlow- to moderate-income homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable loan
View details →

Homebuyer Programs – First Place, Next Step & Mortgage Credit Certificate

Open

Missouri Housing Development CommissionMOFirst-Time Homeowner30 year fixed rate first mortgage loans with optional cash assistance second mortgages and federal mortgage credit certificate tax credits

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

MHDC’s Homebuyer Programs (First Place, Next Step and the Mortgage Credit Certificate) help Missouri first-time and repeat buyers bridge the gap between savings and the cash needed to close. By combining affordable interest rates, down payment assistance and a federal tax credit option, these programs make homeownership more attainable for income-eligible buyers across the state.

Eligible for: First-time and repeat homebuyers (depending on program), typically must purchase a primary residence in Missouri, meet MHDC income and purch…

Funding: Down payment and closing cost assistance is commonly provided as a cash assistance loan sized as a percentage of the first mortgage amount, and a Mortgage Credit Certificate can reduce federal income tax liability by allowing a portion of annual mortgage interest to be claimed as a tax credit.Deadline: Rolling / subject to funding availabilityRollingStatewidehomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerrepeat homebuyerveterandown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancetax creditaffordable mortgage
View details →

Homeownership Assistance Program – City of Columbia, Missouri

Open

City of Columbia – Housing Programs DivisionMOFirst-Time HomeownerZero interest 10 year forgivable second mortgage for down payment and closing costs funded with federal HOME and CDBG dollars

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Columbia’s Homeownership Assistance Program offers $10,000–$20,000 in zero-interest, forgivable loan assistance to help first-time buyers cover down payment and closing costs on a home within city limits. The program targets low- to moderate-income households and pairs HUD income limits, purchase price caps, and property inspections with required homebuyer counseling.

Eligible for: Low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers (with some exceptions such as displaced homemakers) purchasing an eligible home within Columbi…

Funding: Provides a zero interest 10 year forgivable loan up to 10000 dollars or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less, that can be used for down payment and allowable closing costs or to reduce the principal on the first mortgage. Prepaid items such as taxes and insurance are not eligible, and buyers must contribute at least 500 dollars of their own funds.Deadline: Rolling / subject to funding availabilityRollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerdisplaced homemakerlow- to moderate-income homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable loan
View details →

Down Payment Assistance Program – City of Springfield, Missouri

Open

City of Springfield – Planning & Development / Community DevelopmentMOFirst-Time HomeownerZero percent interest 10 year deferred second mortgage for down payment and closing costs funded with HUD resources

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

The City of Springfield Down Payment Assistance Program provides no-interest second-mortgage funds to help first-time homebuyers cover upfront down payment and closing costs. Targeted to income-eligible households, the program leverages HUD funding to make homeownership more accessible within Springfield city limits.

Eligible for: First-time homebuyers purchasing an owner-occupied home within Springfield city limits, with household income at or below roughly 80% of the…

Funding: Offers a zero percent interest deferred loan typically up to about 9000 dollars to help first-time buyers or displaced persons cover down payment and eligible closing costs, with repayment due when the home is sold, refinanced, transferred, or no longer owner occupied under current guidelines.Deadline: Rolling / subject to funding availabilityRollingLocalhomebuyerfirst-time homebuyerdisplaced personlow- to moderate-income homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistance
View details →