Today’s Mortgage Rates in Missouri: Jan 2026 Rates & Analysis

Ready to find your precise rate? Click the button below to get a personalized, assumption-free rate quote tailored to your specific county in Missouri.

The Missouri State Tax Advantage: A Key to Affordability

A critical differentiator for Missouri homebuyers is the state’s property tax structure. While your county’s mill levy determines the final rate, the state sets the specific assessment ratio that applies to your property’s value.

Residential Property Tax Assessment

In Missouri, residential properties are assessed at 19% of their market value. While this percentage is higher than in some neighboring states, Missouri boasts low overall tax rates, often leading to significantly lower overall property tax bills compared to other regions. This reduction in the escrow portion of your monthly payment is a major factor in long-term affordability across the state.

Funding Your First Home: MHDC Programs

Unlike federal programs, the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) offers state-backed programs specifically designed to assist first-time and low-to-moderate-income buyers across the state.

We specialize in helping clients access active MHDC loan products, which often include:

• Down Payment Assistance (DPA): Funds provided at closing to cover part or all of the required down payment and closing costs.
• Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCC): A federal income tax credit that can save a qualifying homeowner thousands of dollars over the life of the loan, effectively lowering the cost of homeownership in Missouri.

These state-level resources are vital to maximizing your buying power and achieving homeownership sooner.

Geographic Market Segmentation: St. Louis vs. Kansas City

Missouri is defined by its two massive metro areas. Understanding the economic and housing differences between them is essential when securing financing.

St. Louis Metro Area (The East Side)

• Market Focus: Driven by a diverse economy including healthcare, education, and finance, the St. Louis area (including St. Charles and St. Louis County) often sees a high volume of conventional and Jumbo loans.
• Financing Nuances: Properties located near the Mississippi River or in known flood plains may require mandatory flood insurance, which must be factored into the total monthly escrow payment.
• St. Louis Property Tax Differentiator: St. Louis County utilizes a complex “Multi-Rate” millage system based on school districts. Homebuyers in Ladue or Clayton should factor in a 1.81% effective rate, while the City of St. Louis averages 1.89%, impacting the final P&I payment more significantly than national rate shifts.

Kansas City Metro Area (The West Side)

• Market Focus: Defined by a robust bi-state economy (logistics, technology, engineering), the KC area in Missouri (like Lee’s Summit and Independence) features intense lender competition.
• Resource Bridge: Because the market is intertwined with Kansas, for the most detailed interest rate comparisons, we direct all KC-based borrowers to our primary Kansas City Mortgage Rates page.

Rural and Secondary Markets

Outside of the major metros, we utilize programs tailored for smaller communities, including USDA Rural Development loans, which provide 0% down payment financing in many Missouri counties and are often the best route for securing a home in the vast, non-metro regions of the state.

Navigating Conforming and Jumbo Loan Limits

Your loan amount classification determines the type of rate you receive. A Jumbo loan is defined as any loan amount that exceeds the Conventional Conforming Loan Limit set for your specific county.

To ensure your loan is properly structured and priced, you must confirm the official cap for your area.

➡️ Find the official Missouri Conforming Loan Limits by County

We possess deep experience securing competitive rates for both conforming and non-conforming (Jumbo) mortgage solutions across all Missouri markets.

Compliance and Licensing

Working with a trusted, local lender is essential.

Metropolitan Mortgage is licensed by the State of Missouri and the NMLS (National Multistate Licensing System & Registry) to operate throughout the state.