MHDC Income Limits 2026: County Table + the Household-Size Twist
Missouri publishes two limits per county — one for 1-2 person households, a higher one for 3+. Miss that split and you'll miscalculate eligibility entirely. Full tier map, targeted-area boost, and the Next Step lane repeat buyers miss.
Check Your MHDC Eligibility — Free
County cap + household size + program lane. 2 minutes, no credit pull.
~$85-120K
1-2 Person Cap
by county
~$98-135K
3+ Person Cap
higher tier
+15-20%
Targeted Boost
income & price
Next Step
Repeat Buyers
no FTB rule
MHDC Income Limits — County Tiers (1-2 Person Households)
| Tier | Counties | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Metro (~$105-120K+) | St. Louis, Jackson (KC), Clay, Platte, St. Charles | KC + STL metros run the highest caps |
| Mid (~$95-105K) | Boone, Greene, Jasper, St. Louis City, Cass, Cole | College towns and mid-size metros |
| Base (~$85-95K) | Most rural Missouri counties | The floor — but the lowest price caps too |
| Targeted areas (+~15-20%) | Federally designated census tracts statewide | Higher income AND price caps — first-time rule waived |
3+ person households get higher limits (typically +10-15%). Approximate — verify the posted figure at mhdc.com; limits revise annually.
Which Cap Applies to Which Program
| Program | Income Cap | Price Cap | Key Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Place (first-time buyers) | County cap, split by household size | County acquisition caps | 1-2 person vs 3+ person households get DIFFERENT limits |
| CAL (Cash Assistance Loan) | Same First Place limits | Same caps | 4% DPA as 2nd mortgage — forgivable over 10 yrs |
| Next Step (repeat buyers) | Higher limits than First Place | Same/similar caps | No first-time rule — the repeat-buyer lane |
| MCC (Mortgage Credit Certificate) | Same program limits | Same caps | Federal tax credit up to ~25% of interest annually |
The 3-Step Eligibility Math
Count the household
Everyone 18+ who'll live in the home. That decides WHICH column of the limit table applies to you — 1-2 or 3+.
Check the county column for your size
A 3-person household uses the higher cap. Families qualify on the second column where couples fail on the first.
Check BOTH caps: income AND price
Income under the limit + home under the acquisition cap = eligible. Either one over = out, unless the property sits in a targeted tract (+15-20% on both).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the MHDC income limit in my county?
Missouri caps run roughly $85K-$120K+ for 1-2 person households and ~$98K-$135K for 3+ person households — the household-size split is the detail most sites miss. KC and STL metro counties top the table; rural Missouri sits at the base. Targeted census tracts add ~15-20% to both income and price caps. Verify the posted county figure at mhdc.com — limits revise annually.Check my county limit — free →
Q2. How does the household-size split work for MHDC?
MHDC publishes TWO limits per county: one for 1-2 person households, a higher one for 3+ person households. A 3-person household at $110K can qualify in a county where a 2-person household at $105K fails. Count every occupant, not just borrowers.
Q3. What's a targeted area and why does it matter?
Federally designated census tracts — mostly lower-income pockets inside KC, STL, and rural counties — get ~15-20% higher income limits, higher price caps, AND waive the first-time-buyer rule for First Place. Buying in one? Check the targeted-area map before assuming you don't qualify.
Q4. I bought before — am I locked out of MHDC?
First Place yes (3-year ownership rule, waived for veterans and targeted areas). But Next Step is the repeat-buyer lane: same below-market structure, its own (usually higher) income limits, no first-time requirement. Most MHDC guides ignore it — it's the answer for move-up buyers.See Next Step options →
Q5. Does MHDC count income I don't earn yet?
MHDA lenders project 12 months of qualifying income — a raise, overtime pattern, or bonus history counts forward. Household income includes adult occupants' earnings. If you're within ~5% of the cap, ask the lender exactly how they're projecting before self-rejecting.
Q6. What credit score does MHDC require?
640 minimum across First Place and Next Step (some lender overlays at 660). Below that, Missouri HUD-approved counselors offer free credit coaching — most borrowers reach 640 in 3-6 months.Boost my score →
Related Missouri & DPA Guides
Household Size + County + Both Caps — the Full Math
Missouri's two-column limit table rewards bigger households. Run the real numbers free before assuming you're out.