Missouri Mortgage Guides 2026
This complete Missouri mortgage guide covers FHA loan limits statewide, MHDC down payment and closing cost assistance, USDA rural loans for eligible Missouri areas, VA resources for Missouri’s veteran community near Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman AFB, and a complete closing cost breakdown — all in one place.
Everything You Need for a Missouri Home Purchase
Six in-depth guides covering every aspect of getting a mortgage in Missouri — from loan program selection to what you’ll pay at closing.
Missouri Mortgage Guide
The complete overview: 2026 FHA and conforming loan limits, MHDC programs, property taxes, closing costs, and Missouri’s major housing markets in one place.
Read guide →Missouri First-Time Home Buyer Guide
MHDC’s First Place and Next Step programs, forgivable down payment assistance, and income and purchase price limits explained.
Read guide →Missouri FHA Loan Requirements
2026 FHA limits for Jackson County, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, and all 115 Missouri counties — credit score requirements, MIP, and how FHA competes in Missouri’s market.
Read guide →Missouri VA Loan Requirements
VA loan benefits for Missouri veterans — no down payment, no PMI, and military market context for Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman AFB communities.
Read guide →Missouri USDA Loans
USDA-eligible rural areas across Missouri — about 96% of the state qualifies — with current income limits and eligibility explained.
Read guide →Missouri Closing Costs Guide
Missouri’s constitution bars any new real estate transfer tax — see what buyers and sellers typically pay, and how to reduce your total cash to close.
Read guide →Key Missouri Mortgage Guide Facts
FHA Loan Limits (2026)
- All 115 Missouri counties sit at the national floor: $541,287
- No high-cost counties — Missouri has zero areas above the floor
- Applies statewide, including Jackson, St. Louis, Boone, and Greene counties
- Confirm your county at HUD’s official lookup
Down Payment Assistance
- First Place: 4% forgivable second loan for first-time buyers
- Next Step: same 4% assistance for repeat buyers above First Place income limits
- 100% forgiven after 10 years of occupancy
- Minimum credit score: 640
Property Taxes
- Est. effective rate statewide: ~0.85% (median tax paid ÷ median owner-occupied home value)
- Assessed and collected at the county level; rates vary by school district and municipal levies
- Est. effective: Jackson County ~1.12%, St. Louis County ~1.20%; Greene County (Springfield) ~0.71%
- Census ACS 2020–2024, table B25103
Closing Cost Highlights
- Mo. Const. Art. X, §25 bars any new tax on the sale or transfer of real estate (effective Dec. 2, 2010)
- Recording fee: $5 first page + $3 each additional page (RSMo 59.310); other statutory fees may apply — confirm with the county recorder
- Your lender’s Loan Estimate itemizes buyer-side costs
- Buyers pay county recording fees at closing
Buying or Refinancing in Missouri?
Missouri offers MHDC down payment assistance, and its constitution bars any new real estate transfer tax. Our guides above break down all of it, and every figure links to the official source so you can verify current terms.
- ✓ Check First Place and Next Step eligibility and current terms at mhdc.com
- ✓ Confirm your county’s 2026 FHA limit with HUD’s lookup tool
- ✓ Compare FHA vs. conventional using our loan program guides
- ✓ Estimate your total cash to close with our closing cost guide
No obligation · Educational first
Talk to a Missouri Mortgage Advisor
Have questions about buying or refinancing in Missouri? A licensed mortgage advisor can walk you through your loan options, assistance programs and costs, with no obligation.
Speak to a Mortgage Advisor