Louisiana’s housing market offers a wide mix of opportunities, from lively New Orleans neighborhoods to quiet small towns and rural parishes. Whether you’re looking in a bustling city or a more laid-back community, understanding what financial support is available can be just as important as finding the right home.
For many buyers, especially first-time homeowners, down payment assistance (DPA) can make the path to ownership more achievable. Across Louisiana, state agencies, parishes, and local organizations provide programs such as grants, forgivable loans, and affordable second mortgages to help with upfront costs.
This guide highlights some of the most active and accessible DPA programs in Louisiana. While not exhaustive, it focuses on options with reliable funding and meaningful benefits. We’ll continue to update it as programs evolve.
Statewide Down Payment Assistance Programs
Louisiana has several statewide programs administered primarily by the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC). Here are some of the most impactful.
HomeStart Assist
HomeStart Assist pairs a 30-year first mortgage with down payment and closing cost assistance equal to 4% of the original principal balance. The assistance is a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments. The second mortgage is forgiven after 60 months if program requirements are met.
Eligibility: Borrowers generally must be first-time buyers, although program exceptions apply. The minimum credit score is generally 640, or 660 for manufactured homes. Conventional borrowers generally must have income at or below 80% of AMI.
HomeStart Advantage
HomeStart Advantage provides down payment and closing cost assistance equal to 4% of the final first-mortgage amount. The assistance is a 0% second mortgage with no monthly payments. The second mortgage is forgiven after 60 months if program requirements are met.
Eligibility: First-time homebuyer status is not required, but borrowers cannot own another residential property at closing. The program has a maximum annual household income of $125,000 and is available statewide.
HomeStart Plus
HomeStart Plus provides a soft second mortgage equal to as much as 20% of the purchase price, capped at $55,000, plus a closing cost grant of up to $5,000. The 0% second mortgage is forgiven monthly over 10 years while program requirements are met.
Eligibility: Buyers generally must be first-time homeowners, earn no more than 80% of AMI, and purchase in a designated disaster-affected parish outside a Special Flood Hazard Area. Buyers must contribute the greater of 1% of the purchase price or $1,500.
Down Payment Assistance Programs by Parish and Region
Some parishes in Louisiana operate their own DPA initiatives, while regional authorities offer programs across multiple parishes.
Jefferson Parish First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
Jefferson Parish provides up to $50,000 in down payment aid for homes within the parish, and up to $60,000 for purchases inside Kenner. Assistance is a forgivable second mortgage. The required occupancy period is 5, 10, or 15 years, depending on the assistance amount. Selling the home, moving out, or otherwise ending owner occupancy before the required term ends may trigger repayment of the unforgiven balance.
Eligibility: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers, complete homebuyer education, and have household income within HOME program limits.
Lafayette Consolidated Government First-Time Homebuyer Program
Lafayette Consolidated Government provides qualifying buyers with a $20,000 deferred-payment loan that may be used for down payment, closing costs, and other eligible home-purchase expenses. This program is separate from upLFT Capital Access.
Eligibility: Applicants must be first-time homebuyers purchasing in Lafayette Parish and must meet the program’s low- and moderate-income requirements.
CAFA First Home
CAFA First Home combines a 30-year mortgage with down payment and closing cost assistance equal to 4% of the final loan amount. The assistance is a 0% second mortgage. No balance is forgiven during the first 36 months. The loan is then forgiven in equal monthly portions over the next 24 months. The remaining balance becomes due after an early sale, transfer, refinance, payoff, or loss of owner occupancy.
Eligibility: The program is available in participating parishes. Buyers and their spouses generally must be first-time homebuyers, with exceptions for veterans and purchases in targeted areas. Published minimum credit scores are 620 for Land Home Financial Services and 640 for U.S. Bank. Homebuyer education is required.
CAFA Capital Advantage
CAFA Capital Advantage offers a nonrepayable grant of up to 5% of the first-mortgage amount for down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, or mortgage insurance costs. The grant has no lien, repayment, or recapture requirement except in cases of fraud.
Eligibility: First-time homebuyer status is not required. Borrowers need a minimum 640 credit score. The maximum DTI is 45% with a score from 640 to 679 and 50% with a score of 680 or higher. First-time buyers must complete homebuyer education. Manufactured and mobile homes are not eligible, and the property must be in a participating parish.
CAFA Capital Advantage Plus
CAFA Capital Advantage Plus provides up to 5% of the first-mortgage amount through a fully amortizing second mortgage. The second loan has a 6% interest rate, a 20-year term, and monthly payments. The remaining second-mortgage balance is due after a sale, transfer, first-mortgage payoff, refinance, or loss of owner occupancy.
Eligibility: First-time homebuyer status is not required. Borrowers need a minimum 640 credit score. The maximum DTI is 45% with a score from 640 to 679 and 50% with a score of 680 or higher. First-time buyers must complete homebuyer education, and the property must be in a participating parish.
Eustis Edge
Eustis Edge offers up to 6% of the loan amount through a forgivable second mortgage with a 7- or 10-year term. Funds may be used for down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, or mortgage insurance.
Eligibility: Borrowers need a minimum 640 credit score, must meet applicable income limits, and must purchase in a participating parish.
Comfort of Home
Comfort of Home pairs a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with assistance of up to 4% through a 0% deferred second mortgage. The deferred second mortgage is forgiven after 10 years if program requirements are met.
Eligibility: First-time homebuyer status is not required. Borrowers need a minimum 640 credit score and must purchase in Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Tammany, or St. Bernard Parish.
JPFA Series 2025A Bond Program
JPFA Series 2025A Bond Program provides assistance equal to 4% of the first-mortgage amount through a 0% deferred second mortgage. The second mortgage is fully forgiven after five years if program requirements are met. The full second-mortgage balance is due if the home is sold or the first mortgage is refinanced before the forgiveness term ends.
Eligibility: Borrowers generally must be first-time homebuyers, with exceptions for veterans, targeted-area purchases, single parents, and displaced homemakers. The minimum credit score is 640, the maximum DTI is 50%, and the home must be in Jefferson or St. Tammany Parish.
Heroes to Homeowners
Heroes to Homeowners adds a $2,500 grant to eligible Jefferson Parish purchases financed through another Jefferson Parish Finance Authority assistance program.
Eligibility: Eligible buyers include qualifying education and healthcare workers, first responders, and active or former military members. Only one grant is available per property.
Southern Mortgage Assistance
Southern Mortgage Assistance offers a grant equal to 3% or 4% of the first-mortgage amount for down payment and closing costs. Current St. Charles Parish materials permit FHA, VA, and USDA Rural Development financing. The grant does not create a second lien and has no repayment or recapture requirement.
Eligibility: First-time and repeat homebuyers may qualify, subject to the applicable loan and program requirements.
Lagniappe Advantage
Lagniappe Advantage combines a conventional 30-year first mortgage with grant assistance for down payment and closing costs. The program may be layered with other eligible assistance. The grant does not create a second lien and has no repayment or recapture requirement.
Eligibility: The Finance Authority of St. Tammany Parish identifies the program as a homebuyer option. Borrowers should confirm current loan and property requirements with a participating lender.
Down Payment Assistance Programs by City
Louisiana’s largest cities also operate their own programs.
Alexandria Homebuyer Assistance Program
The City of Alexandria Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to $50,000 citywide, with up to $5,000 in additional assistance for homes in approved target neighborhoods. Assistance is a 0% forgivable subordinate mortgage. The required term is 5, 10, or 15 years, depending on the assistance amount. If the home is sold or owner occupancy ends early, the remaining prorated balance may become due.
Eligibility: Applicants must be first-time homebuyers, have income at or below 80% of AMI, and complete eight hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education. Manufactured and mobile homes are not eligible, although qualifying IRC-compliant modular homes may be allowed.
New Orleans Direct Homebuyer Soft Second
The City of New Orleans Program offers up to $55,000 through a soft second mortgage, plus up to $5,000 for closing costs. Closing cost assistance cannot exceed 50% of eligible closing costs. The 0% second mortgage has a 10-year term. No balance is forgiven during the first five years; forgiveness then follows the program schedule during years six through 10.
Eligibility: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers, have household income at or below 80% of AMI, and purchase a home for no more than $324,000. The buyer contribution is the lesser of 1% of the purchase price or $1,500.
Finance New Orleans Green Mortgage
Finance New Orleans pairs a first mortgage with up to $25,000 in down payment assistance through a 0% second mortgage. A separate $2,500 stipend may be available for eligible energy improvements, but it is not additional down payment assistance. For households at or below 80% of AMI, the second mortgage is forgiven over five years while program requirements are met. For households above 80% and up to 140% of AMI, the second mortgage is either amortized over 30 years or deferred, depending on the selected option. Neither option is forgivable.
Eligibility: The published minimum credit score is 640. First-time and repeat buyers may qualify, but borrowers cannot own another financed property at closing. Eligible properties may contain one to four units. Homebuyer education and an energy assessment are required.
Shreveport HAPPI Program
Shreveport’s HAPPI Program may provide assistance equal to as much as 20% of the lesser of the home’s sale price or appraised value.
Eligibility: Applicants must be first-time homebuyers, have household income at or below 80% of AMI, complete homebuyer education, and work with an approved lender.
West Monroe Homebuyer Assistance Program
The West Monroe Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to 20% of the purchase price, capped at $25,000, through a 0% deferred second mortgage. Twenty percent of the original assistance is forgiven after each completed year of compliance over five years. The unforgiven balance becomes due after a sale, refinance, loss of owner occupancy, or other program noncompliance.
Eligibility: Applicants must be first-time homebuyers, have income at or below 80% of AMI, purchase within West Monroe, have a minimum 620 credit score, and complete at least six hours of HUD-approved homebuyer education.
Home in Monroe
Home in Monroe offers several forms of support for first-time homebuyers, including up to $5,000 citywide, a target-neighborhood price buydown of up to $60,000, and a dollar-for-dollar Individual Development Account match of up to $1,000.
Eligibility: Buyers must be purchasing their first home within Monroe. The program includes homebuyer coaching, counseling, and rent-reporting support.
Lake Charles Down Payment Assistance
The City of Lake Charles uses HOME funds to help qualifying homebuyers with down payment and closing costs on a home within the city.
Eligibility: The program serves first-time low- and moderate-income homebuyers who meet the city’s current requirements.
upLFT First-Time Homebuyers Program
upLFT Capital Access provides a second mortgage of up to $8,000 for down payment and closing costs. The loan has a 5% interest rate and a 15-year term; a full $8,000 loan has a monthly payment of $63.26. There is no prepayment penalty. The remaining balance becomes due if the buyer stops occupying the home as a principal residence before the 15-year term ends.
Eligibility: Applicants must be first-time homebuyers purchasing in Lafayette Parish, have a minimum 640 credit score, meet maximum housing and total debt ratios of 29% and 45%, and complete homebuyer education. Eligible homes include single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums; manufactured homes, mobile homes, duplexes, and multifamily properties are not eligible.
Additional Down Payment Assistance Programs in Louisiana
Here are some additional programs, separate from those already mentioned, that may be useful.
Statewide Programs
- Chenoa Fund (nationwide program available in Louisiana)
Regional Programs
Understanding Area Median Income (AMI)?
You likely noticed that many Louisiana down payment assistance programs require applicants to have an income at or below a certain percentage of AMI. In most cases, this figure tends to sit at 80%, although some programs may have different guidelines.
For example, if the area median income where you're looking to buy is $100,000 and the program you're applying to requires you to make no more than 80% AMI, you could earn as much as $80,000 per year and still be eligible.
You can use the Fannie Mae AMI Lookup Tool to search for median income by property address.
Using Down Payment Assistance to Buy in Louisiana
Louisiana provides a strong selection of down payment assistance opportunities. From statewide programs to parish- and city-level initiatives, both new and returning buyers can find resources to help with upfront expenses. Take advantage of our loan calculators to explore different budget scenarios, and monitor mortgage rates so you can make confident choices. With the right mix of planning and support, achieving homeownership in Louisiana can feel well within reach.
Check with the organization directly for the most recent guidelines. While programs were fact-checked at the time of writing, requirements change often, and programs become unavailable when funds are exhausted.
