Louisiana’s LHC offers some of the largest percentage-based down payment help around — up to 9% on certain loans — plus a remarkable zero-down program for the Delta parishes that asks for no minimum credit score.
This guide covers what is actually available to first-time buyers in Louisiana in 2026 — the agency behind these programs, the loans and down payment help on offer, who qualifies, and how to apply. For the wider local picture, see our Louisiana first-time home buyer guide.
The LHC and its home loan programs
Louisiana’s first-time buyer programs are run by the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC). Like most housing finance agencies, it does not lend directly — instead it offers below-market first mortgages, bundled with down payment help, through a network of approved local lenders. Its main first-mortgage options are:
- MRB Home & MRB Assisted — mortgage revenue bond loans with the largest assistance
- Market Rate GNMA & Preferred Conventional — more flexible options with down payment help
- Delta 100 — 100% financing for buyers in designated Delta parishes
Most of these can be built on top of an FHA, VA, or USDA loan, or a conventional loan, depending on the product you pick — and the real value comes when you pair one with the down payment assistance below.
Down payment assistance in Louisiana
Down payment assistance is the heart of what LHC offers, and Louisiana gives buyers more than one way to get it. Assistance ranges widely by program, from around 3%–4% up to 9% on certain MRB loans.
- MRB Home — grant/forgivable assistance, up to 9% of the loan amount, tiered by loan size.
- MRB Assisted — forgivable second, up to 4% of the loan amount.
- Market Rate GNMA / Conventional DPA — grant, up to 4% of the loan amount.
- Delta 100 — grant with 100% financing, up to 3% assistance and zero down in designated Delta parishes (borrower contributes 1% or $1,500).
If those terms are unfamiliar, our national guide to down payment assistance explains exactly how grants, forgivable second mortgages, and deferred loans differ — and what each one means when you eventually sell or refinance.
How much help could you get?
On a $220,000 home in Louisiana, MRB Home assistance could reach as high as 9% — nearly $20,000 — toward your down payment and closing costs, depending on the loan size. Buyers in the designated Delta parishes may qualify for Delta 100, which offers 100% financing (zero down) with no minimum credit score, requiring only a small contribution. Because tiers and funding shift, confirm current figures with LHC.
Who qualifies in Louisiana?
Every program sets its own rules, and they change periodically, but the common requirements in Louisiana look like this:
- Income limits. LHC sets income limits by program, roughly 80% to 115–140% of area median income.
- First-time status. First-time status is required for some programs (such as MRB and the MCC); the Market Rate programs are more flexible.
- Credit score. A minimum of 640 applies to most programs, while Delta 100 has no minimum credit score. Our guide to credit score requirements covers what moves the needle.
- Homebuyer education. Homebuyer education is required for most programs.
- Purchase price limits. Purchase-price limits apply (recently about $349,525 for MRB and about $242,000 for Delta 100).
Louisiana programs worth knowing about
Beyond the standard offerings, Louisiana aims extra help at specific buyers and places. Watch for:
- Delta 100 — zero-down, no minimum credit score, for designated Delta parishes
- Resilience Soft Second — a forgivable soft second up to $60,000 (targeted, limited funding — verify availability)
- Mortgage Credit Certificate — annual tax savings
Mortgage Credit Certificates in Louisiana
LHC offers a Mortgage Credit Certificate providing a federal tax credit of up to $2,000 a year on your mortgage interest. A Mortgage Credit Certificate is a federal tax credit worth a percentage of the mortgage interest you pay every year for the life of the loan, and where it is available it can usually be combined with the assistance above — putting money back in your pocket each tax season.
How to apply for Louisiana assistance
- Set your budget first. Our home affordability guide helps you land on a realistic price range before you start shopping.
- Complete a homebuyer education course. Nearly every Louisiana program requires one, and it is usually free and available online.
- Find a participating lender. Not every lender originates LHC loans, so ask directly which LHC programs a lender offers and have them run your numbers against a few.
- Get pre-approved and lock in the right program for your income, credit, and target home before you make an offer.
One important note: LHC program funding and terms change from year to year, and some assistance rounds close when the money runs out. Always confirm current amounts and availability directly with LHC before you count on a specific figure. Our first-time home buyer checklist keeps the rest of your process on track.
Louisiana first-time buyer programs FAQ
Do I have to be a first-time buyer to get assistance in Louisiana?
First-time status is required for some programs (such as MRB and the MCC); the Market Rate programs are more flexible.
What credit score do I need for LHC programs?
A minimum of 640 applies to most programs, while Delta 100 has no minimum credit score. Keep in mind a program’s own minimum can sit above the loan’s floor, so confirm the exact number with your lender.
Can I use Louisiana assistance with an FHA, VA, or USDA loan?
Yes. LHC assistance is built to layer on top of a first mortgage, and FHA, VA, and USDA loans are common partners because their own down payment requirements are already low. Your lender structures both pieces so they close together.
What is the Delta 100 program in Louisiana?
Delta 100 is a zero-down program for buyers in designated Louisiana Delta parishes. It offers 100% financing with up to 3% down payment assistance and, notably, no minimum credit score — using alternative credit history instead — while asking the buyer to contribute just 1% or $1,500. Purchase-price limits apply (recently around $242,000). Confirm current eligibility and the parish list with LHC.
More Louisiana city guides
Buying in a specific Louisiana metro? See our first-time buyer guides for New Orleans, each covering the city’s own local down payment programs.
First-time home buyer grants in Louisiana
Looking specifically for grant money? Our guide to first-time home buyer grants in Louisiana covers which programs are true grants, which are forgivable, and the truth about the widely advertised federal grant.