Buying a first home is a big step, and it is normal to feel both excited and unsure. The process follows a set order, and you do not have to work it out alone. This guide walks through each stage of buying in the Kansas City metro, along with the first-time buyer programs the Kansas and Missouri state housing agencies offer in 2026, so you know what to expect and what comes next.
Get pre-approved
Before you start touring homes, talk with a lender about pre-approval. This is different from a quick online estimate. A lender reviews your income, savings and credit to tell you a realistic price range and what your monthly payment might be. Once you apply, the lender must give you a Loan Estimate within three business days, a standard three-page form that shows the estimated rate, monthly payment and closing costs, so you can compare lenders line by line.
A pre-approval does two things. It keeps your search on homes that fit your budget, and it shows sellers you are prepared when you make an offer. If you are not sure where to begin, I can point you to lenders so you can compare options.
Set a budget
Your pre-approval shows what you could borrow, but your budget is about what feels comfortable. Think beyond the mortgage payment to property taxes, insurance, any HOA dues, utilities and room for maintenance. The mortgage calculator gives a quick monthly estimate, and the post on how much home you can afford goes through the factors lenders weigh.
Kansas or Missouri
You can look on either side of the state line, and because I am licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, we can compare homes across the whole area. Property taxes are figured differently in each state. In Kansas, a home's assessed value is 11.5% of its appraised value. In Missouri, residential property is assessed at 19% of its value. The levies that apply depend on the address, so review the full cost for any home you are serious about rather than assuming one side is cheaper.
Down payment help in Kansas and Missouri
Each state's housing finance agency runs a first-time buyer program, and the terms are different.
Missouri: MHDC First Place. The Missouri Housing Development Commission's First Place program offers below-market interest rates on 30-year loans to first-time buyers and qualified veterans anywhere in Missouri, through certified lenders. Its March 2026 manual sets these terms:
- A first-time buyer is someone who has not owned or had an ownership interest in a principal residence in the past three years. Qualified veterans, and buyers in federally targeted census tracts (including several in Jackson County), do not have to be first-time buyers.
- The minimum credit score is 640 (660 for a manufactured home).
- An optional second loan equal to 4% of the total first mortgage helps with down payment and closing costs. It is forgiven if you stay in the home and keep the original loan for 10 years, and from year five it shrinks by 1/60 each month until it is gone.
- Household income and purchase price must fall under limits that vary by area, which MHDC publishes for lenders.
- You must move in within 60 days of closing, and homes in flood zones A and V are not eligible.
- If you sell within nine years, at a gain, and your income has risen above a set level, a federal recapture tax can apply, capped at the lesser of 6.25% of the loan amount or half the gain.
Missouri also had a first-time home buyer savings account deduction, but the Missouri Department of Revenue says that program ended on September 1, 2025.
Kansas: KHRC First Time Homebuyer Program. Kansas Housing Resources Corporation offers a 0% second loan of 15% or 20% of the purchase price for down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments, forgiven if you live in the home for 10 years. If you sell sooner, you repay the unused portion. Its January 2026 fact sheet sets these terms:
- You must be a first-time buyer or not have owned a home for three years, with household income at or below 80% of the area median. For 2026, the limit for a household of four in Leavenworth County is $89,100.
- You put in at least 1% and no more than 10% of the sale price from your own funds.
- The home must be an existing home, or new construction only after the certificate of occupancy is issued, and it must pass KHRC's inspection.
- The program cannot be used in Johnson County or inside the city limits of Kansas City, Kansas, Lawrence, Topeka or Wichita, because those areas receive their own federal housing funds.
Kansas also lets you save for a first home in a designated First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account and deduct contributions from Kansas income: up to $3,000 a year for an individual or $6,000 for a joint return, with lifetime limits of $24,000 and $48,000. The account has to be open and funded for at least a year before you use it, and the home must be in Kansas.
Ask your lender which of these programs you qualify for, and whether city or county programs can be combined with them.
Search for homes
Next we talk about what matters most to you, such as commute, square footage, layout, yard, and the features you need versus the ones that would be nice to have.
From there I set up a search so you see homes that match your criteria, including new listings as they come on the market. You can also browse the home search yourself. The metro is large and varied, so narrowing your priorities early keeps your time on the homes most likely to work.
Tour homes
When something looks promising, we go see it in person. Photos only tell part of the story, so touring shows you the space, the light, the flow and the surroundings.
As we walk through, I will help you look past the staging and notice what matters, like condition, layout and anything that might need attention. You do not have to decide on the spot.
Make an offer
When you find the home, we put together an offer. It covers more than price: your proposed closing date, earnest money, contingencies for inspection and financing, and any items you want included.
I will walk you through each part so you understand what you are agreeing to, and I will represent your interests in any negotiation.
Inspection and appraisal
Once your offer is accepted, you typically have a set number of days to have the home inspected. An inspection tells you about the property's condition and flags concerns before you are fully committed. If the home was built before 1978, the seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and give you a chance to test for it. Depending on what comes up, we may ask for repairs or adjustments.
If you are financing, your lender will also order an appraisal to confirm the home's value supports the loan. The post on earnest money, inspections and appraisals covers the Kansas and Missouri rules for each.
Closing
As closing approaches, your lender finalizes the loan and a title company prepares the documents. The lender must give you the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing, so you can compare the final terms and costs with your Loan Estimate. You will usually do a final walk-through to confirm the home is in the expected condition. At closing you sign the documents, the funds are handled, and the home becomes yours.
I keep an eye on deadlines and stay in close contact so nothing slips during this stretch. The home-buying timeline shows how the weeks usually line up.
Moving in
The keys are yours. Keep your closing documents together for future reference, including the Closing Disclosure, the deed and any warranties. Even after closing, I am glad to answer questions that come up as a new homeowner.
Contact Tom
Tom Staats is a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Partners, Inc. in Overland Park, licensed in Kansas and Missouri. If you are thinking about buying your first home anywhere in the Kansas City metro, call or text 913-777-4461, and the buyer guide has more on the process.
Common questions
How much do I need saved before buying my first home?
It varies by loan program and lender, so there is no single number. Beyond a down payment, plan for closing costs, an inspection and a cushion for early expenses, and ask a lender for a Loan Estimate, which it must give you within three business days of your application.
Should I get pre-approved before I start looking?
Yes. A pre-approval tells you a realistic price range, shows sellers you are prepared, and helps you move quickly when you find a home. It is the first step before touring.
Is there first-time buyer help in Missouri?
The Missouri Housing Development Commission's First Place program offers below-market rates to first-time buyers and qualified veterans, with an optional second loan of 4% of the mortgage for down payment and closing costs that is forgiven after 10 years. It requires a 640 credit score and has income and purchase price limits by area.
Is there first-time buyer help in Kansas?
Kansas Housing Resources Corporation offers a 0% second loan of 15% or 20% of the price, forgiven after 10 years, for buyers at or below 80% of area median income. It cannot be used in Johnson County or inside the city limits of Kansas City, Kansas, Lawrence, Topeka or Wichita. Kansas also offers a state income tax deduction for first-time home buyer savings accounts.
Can Tom help me buy on either the Kansas or Missouri side?
Yes. Tom is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, so you can compare homes across the whole metro rather than being limited to one side of the state line.
Related pages
Sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What is a Loan Estimate? (reviewed August 9, 2024)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: What is a Closing Disclosure? (reviewed May 2, 2023)
- Kansas Housing Resources Corporation: First Time Homebuyer Program fact sheet (updated January 2026)
- Kansas State Treasurer: First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account (2026)
- Missouri Housing Development Commission: First Place Loan Program operations manual (revised March 11, 2026)
- Missouri Housing Development Commission: First Place program (2026)
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Form 5766, First-Time Home Buyers Bank Worksheet (revised December 2024)
- Johnson County Appraiser: Frequently asked questions (2026)
- Revisor of Missouri: Section 137.115 RSMo, assessment of real property (effective January 1, 2026)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards