Increase your buying power in Louisiana
28 homebuyer assistance programs in Louisiana put grants, forgivable loans and special mortgages toward your down payment and closing costs, so your budget goes further. Add creative financing like seller credits and rate buydowns, and it stretches even more.
What 28 programs tell us about buying in Louisiana
Free money dominates
20 of 28 Louisiana programs are grants or forgivable loans, one of the highest shares we track.
Finance authorities do the heavy lifting
The Capital Area Finance Authority alone runs 7 programs paying 4% to 6% of the loan, most forgiven over 7 to 10 years.
Soft seconds carry the biggest awards
Louisiana Housing Corporation, New Orleans and Kenner each offer up to $60,000 by pairing a soft second loan with closing cost help.
How the help arrives · 28 programs
Award sizes · grants and loans with a dollar cap
13 more pay a percentage of the price or loan, which scales with the home you buy. Your award depends on income, price and location.
Who runs them
16 programs are available statewide. 12 are limited to a city, county or region, so the address you buy at changes what you can get.
More programs, more buying power. Most buyers qualify for more than one. The Wallet Wizard checks income limits, price caps and location rules across all 28 Louisiana programs and 6 multi-state programs at once, and shows where creative financing like seller credits can stack on top.
Check my eligibilityPrograms to know in Louisiana
A few of the 28 programs we track, chosen for reach, award size and terms. Amounts are program maximums; what you receive depends on income, price and location.
Pathways to Homeownership Soft Second
Louisiana Housing CorporationA soft second of 20% of the price up to $55,000, plus up to $5,000 for closing costs, for households at or below 80% of area median income.
Direct Homebuyer Assistance Program
City of New OrleansUp to $55,000 in soft second funds plus $5,000 toward closing costs, on homes priced up to $324,000.
First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program
Jefferson ParishUp to $50,000 in Jefferson Parish and up to $60,000 in Kenner, for households at or below 80% of area median income.
HOME MRB Program
Louisiana Housing Corporation5% to 9% of the loan for down payment and closing costs for first-time buyers, with an LHC bond mortgage.
Gold 100
Capital Area Finance AuthorityUp to 6% of the final loan amount as a second lien for down payment and closing costs.
Keys for Service
Louisiana Housing Corporation4% of the final loan amount as a soft second toward homebuying costs, with a $125,000 household income cap.
6 multi-state programs also serve Louisiana
Offered by banks, credit unions and Federal Home Loan Banks in several states at once. Most are tied to that lender's own mortgage, so the lender you choose decides whether you can use them. The Wallet Wizard shows which ones you can pair.
FHLBank Dallas Homebuyer Equity Leverage Partnership (HELP)
Grant · 5 states Check eligibilityThese are 2 of the 6 multi-state programs open to Louisiana buyers. See which ones you qualify for
See how much more home you can afford in Louisiana
- 1Answer a few questions in the Wallet WizardWhere you want to buy, household size, income range, job and military status.
- 2Get matched against every program we trackIncome limits, price caps, location rules and repayment terms, checked for you.
- 3Work with a pro who knows creative financingAgents and loan officers on Homebuyer Wallet see the same matches you do, and can layer in seller credits, lender credits and rate buydowns.
Every Louisiana program, matched to your buyer in seconds
Homebuyer Wallet gives professionals the full program record: income tables, price caps, approved lenders, provider contacts and application steps. Close the deals that stall on cash to close.
Louisiana homebuyer assistance FAQ
How much down payment assistance can I get in Louisiana?
It depends on where you buy and your household income. Among the 9 Louisiana programs we track that publish a dollar cap, the median award is $60,000. Others pay a percentage of the price or loan. The Wallet Wizard shows the amounts you could get for the home you want.
How do these programs increase my buying power?
Assistance covers part of your down payment or closing costs, or lowers your rate, so less of your own cash goes in upfront. The same savings and income can then support a higher purchase price or a lower monthly payment. Many buyers stack a statewide program with a local one to stretch further.
Can I combine these programs with seller credits or other creative financing?
Usually, yes. Seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits and rate buydowns can often be used alongside assistance programs, within your loan’s limits. The Wallet Wizard shows what fits together, and Homebuyer Wallet agents and loan officers can help you structure it.
Do I have to pay the assistance back?
20 of the 28 active programs (71%) are grants or forgivable loans: you repay nothing if you keep the home as your primary residence for the required period. 2 more are deferred or repayable second loans, due when you sell, refinance or move out, or paid monthly.
Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer?
Not always. 3 of the 28 Louisiana programs we track explicitly require first-time status, and most of those count anyone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The Wallet Wizard checks each program’s ownership rule for you.
Are there programs for teachers, first responders or other workers?
Yes. 4 programs we track in Louisiana are tied to a specific employer or profession, such as public employees, educators, first responders, healthcare workers or service members. Job-based programs often stack with income-based ones.
Can I combine more than one program?
Sometimes. Louisiana has 16 programs available statewide and 12 limited to a city, county or region. Many local programs are built to layer on top of a statewide loan; others prohibit stacking. Your lender confirms what combines with your first mortgage.
How do I find out which programs I qualify for?
Answer a few questions in the Wallet Wizard: where you want to buy, household size, income range and job. It checks income limits, price caps, location rules and funding status across every program we track in Louisiana, plus multi-state and national programs, and shows the ones that fit.
How current is this information?
Our team reviews every program against the provider’s own materials on a rolling basis. Funding opens and closes often; the Wallet Wizard shows each program’s current status.
Explore another state
All Top ProgramsSource: the Homebuyer Wallet database of 2,000+ Community Home Investment Programs (CHIPs). Each program is reviewed by our team against the provider’s own website and documents. Award amounts are program maximums.