Louisiana First-Time Home Buyer Programs and Assistance

Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) currently lists 5 programs for Louisiana buyers, with down payment help up to $60,000 through HomeStart. Figures below were read from the agency's own pages on September 11, 2026.

Louisiana first-time buyer programs open now

Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) is the state's housing finance agency (homebuyer programs page). It runs 5 down payment or closing-cost assistance programs. No ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase (federal definition);

Program	Type	Amount	First-time only	Min. credit	Income limit
HomeStart Assist source	Second mortgage	Soft-second loan equal to 4% of the mortgage amount	Yes	640	Local income requirements apply by parish and household size;
HomeStart source	Second mortgage	Soft second loan of 20% of purchase price up to $55,000, plus up to $5,000 grant for closing costs (up to $60,000 total)	Yes	640	80% of Area Median Income or below, by parish and household size
HomeStart Advantage source	Program	See program page	No	n/a	See program page
HomeStart Plus source	Forgivable second loan	Soft second loan of 20% of purchase price up to $55,000, plus up to $5,000 for closing costs (up to $60,000 total)	Yes	n/a	At or below 80% of Area Median Income
HomeStart Ready source	Forgivable second loan	0%, 3%, or 4% of the final first mortgage amount, depending on the interest rate selected	No	640	Maximum $99,000 qualifying borrower income

HomeStart Assist. Terms: Soft second at market-level interest rate; paired with a market-rate first mortgage; reduced mortgage insurance on conventional loans Purchase price limit: Purchase price cannot exceed established purchase price limits (higher Targeted Acquisition Limit applies in Targeted Areas); see limits PDF Must pair with: Market-rate first mortgage through an approved LHC lender Homebuyer education: required Program page
HomeStart. Terms: Below-market interest rate; CDBG Builder Assisted Set-Aside available for a lower rate Purchase price limit: Cannot exceed HOME program purchase price limits Must pair with: Below-market first mortgage through an approved LHC lender Homebuyer education: required Where: Parishes affected by Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Ida Program page
HomeStart Advantage. Must pair with: First mortgage through an approved LHC lender (MRB Keys for Service) Program page
HomeStart Plus. Terms: 0% deferred; fully forgiven if the home is occupied for the full 10-year term Must pair with: First mortgage through an approved LHC/Pathways lender Where: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Ascension, Assumption, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Union, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, Vermilion, Vernon, Winn Program page
HomeStart Ready. Terms: 30-year fixed first mortgage (Fannie Mae HFA Preferred or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage); assistance is a 0% interest forgivable second mortgage, forgiven at 1/36 per month over 3 years of continued owner occupancy Purchase price limit: May not exceed the applicable conforming loan limit Must pair with: Fannie Mae HFA Preferred or Freddie Mac HFA Advantage first mortgage Homebuyer education: required Program page

City and county programs in Louisiana

Local governments run their own down payment funds on top of the state programs. These can be combined with a state loan in most cases; each has its own income limit and area.

City of New Orleans (Finance Authority of New Orleans / Finance New Orleans): Green Mortgage Program. 0% interest second mortgage up to $25,000 for down payment/closing costs, plus a $2,500 Green Home Improvement Stipend. Forgivable second loan. Income limit: Combined income under 140% AMI; buyers under 80% AMI get a 5-year forgivable loan (when funds available), buyers up to 140% AMI get a 30-year non-forgivable loan with deferred repayment option. Official page

How little you can put down

You do not need 20% down. Conventional loans go as low as 3% (through programs like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible), FHA loans start at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can require nothing down. On Louisiana's median-priced home (about $260,300), 3% down is roughly $7,809. Putting 20% down lets you skip private mortgage insurance, but most first-time buyers put down far less.

Who counts as a first-time buyer

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years, so many repeat buyers qualify again. Louisiana programs often add income and purchase-price limits, which is another reason to confirm the details with Louisiana Housing Corporation.

Other ways to save in Louisiana

Buyer commission rebates are not available to most buyers in Louisiana, so beyond Louisiana Housing Corporation assistance, your best levers are comparing lenders on rate and fees, shopping title and settlement services, and asking the seller for a closing-cost concession. See our Louisiana closing-costs guide for the full picture.

Frequently asked questions

What first-time home buyer programs are available in Louisiana?

Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) lists 5 programs: HomeStart Assist, HomeStart, HomeStart Advantage, HomeStart Plus, HomeStart Ready. Down payment help runs up to $60,000. City of New Orleans (Finance Authority of New Orleans / Finance New Orleans) also run local down payment programs.

How much down payment assistance can you get in Louisiana?

Up to $60,000 through HomeStart (second mortgage). Other Louisiana programs offer different amounts; see the table on this page for each one.

Do you have to be a first-time buyer to qualify in Louisiana?

Not for every program. 2 of 5 Louisiana programs are open to repeat buyers. No ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase (federal definition); waived for HomeStart Ready and for purchases in a Targeted Area (Qualified Census Tract) under HomeStart Assist

How much down payment do you need in Louisiana?

As little as 3% on a conventional loan, 3.5% on an FHA loan, and 0% on VA or USDA loans. On Louisiana's median-priced home (about $260,300), 3% is roughly $7,809. You do not need 20% down, though 20% lets you avoid mortgage insurance.

Who counts as a first-time home buyer?

For most programs, a first-time buyer is anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the last three years. Some Louisiana programs also have income and purchase-price limits, so check with Louisiana Housing Corporation.

Can I combine assistance with a buyer rebate in Louisiana?

Louisiana does not permit buyer commission rebates, so first-time buyers here should focus on Louisiana Housing Corporation assistance programs and negotiating the buyer's-agent commission instead.

Official sources

Louisiana program details last verified against Louisiana Housing Corporation on September 11, 2026.

Read the full guide to the cash you need to buy →

This is general information, not financial advice. Program details, limits, and loan terms change; confirm the current rules with Louisiana Housing Corporation and your lender before you rely on them.

See first-time buyer programs in all states