East Baton Rouge Parish County Down Payment Assistance Programs

Before you dig into our comprehensive guide to Down Payment Assistance, there are 6 important steps you need to know about and complete. You may already have some of them checked off your list, but if you haven’t yet – do yourself the favor and complete at least one TODAY!

STEP 1 – Look at properties in the areas you are interested in.

Set that intention in your mind that you would like to own that home or one like it someday soon, and commit to taking that action.

Our top resource for viewing homes that may qualify for Federal, State, or Local Down Payment Assistance Programs can be found at Zip-HudHomes.com. You can sign up for their trial offer for only $1 and see some of the amazing deals on homes. Click Here To See Homes Now.

STEP 2 - Get Your Current Credit Report.

Most all Down Payment Assistance Programs will require you to have a current credit report on hand when applying. Even if you have work to do to get your credit score up, you should start by getting your report first. Our top resource for getting your credit report can be found at YourScoreAndMore. They also have a $1 trial offer to get your report. Click Here To Get Your Report Now.

STEP 3 - Complete the HUD-Certified Homebuyer Course.

Taking the course is a smart next step for any first-time homebuyer. It's required by many local, state, and federal housing and down-payment assistance programs and is widely accepted by lenders and housing agencies nationwide. Not only does it boost your eligibility for down payment assistance, but it also helps you avoid costly mistakes that many first-time buyers make. Click Here For More Info

STEP 4 – Apply For A FREE Money For Housing Assistance.

Browse Housing Assistance Programs, including Section 8 Government Vouchers, Section 8 Home Buying Programs and Subsidized Housing Payments Click Here To Apply.

STEP 5 - Check If You're Eligible For A Grant.

There are over 900 grant programs offered by the country's 26 federal grant-making agencies. Find grants that can fund your dream. Click Here To Check Your Eligibility.

STEP 6 - Consider Rent-To-Own Home.

If your credit score is insufficient to get reasonable mortgage rates, or it's hard to save a lump of money towards a down payment, a rent to own agreement might be the solution. Obtaining a rent-to-own home can help bridge the gap between renting a property and buying it. You make rent payments each month and a portion of those payments can count toward your down payment. Browse Rent-To-Own Homes Nearby Here.

Take the initiative to complete any or all of the 6 steps above and put yourself in a position to make your homeowner dreams a reality. Now, grab a coffee sit down and read through our comprehensive guide to Down Payment Assistance. It could be the single most important thing you do all day!

Your Comprehensive Down Payment Assistance Guide:

Huge numbers of Americans who want to be homeowners are currently saving for a down payment. But they know little about lenders' down payment requirements. And too few have even heard of down payment assistance programs.

Renter to homeowner in a flash -- if you know about DPA

Yet down payment assistance (DPA) programs can be lifesavers. Because they can provide some or all the down payment and/or closing costs to buy a home. Sometimes, DPA is an outright grant you never have to repay. More commonly, it's some form of loan -- often one with low or even no interest.

In many cases, you only have to repay this loan when you sell the home. Or the provider might forgive the loan once you have lived in the home for a certain number of years. For instance, the Good Neighbor Next Door program from HUD drops its loan once you've lived in the home for three years.

Many could qualify for DPA, few apply

And there's a good chance you could qualify. In a 2025 update to report, Barriers to Accessing Homeownership, the Urban Institute reckoned between 22% and 51% of people in the metropolitan statistical areas it studied would be eligible. And these consumers could receive between $2,000 and $39,000 each.

When ignorance isn't bliss

Not knowing about these helpful programs forces aspiring homeowners to save much longer and much harder than necessary. While home prices rise faster than incomes, according to The Boston Globe. Buying sooner makes sense for another reason -- today's low mortgage rates won't stick around forever.

Yes, it's genuinely tragic. Because there are some 2,500 down payment assistance programs across the country just waiting to help wannabe homebuyers achieve their ambitions. And every community is covered by at least one.

What would-be homeowners really, really need to know about DPA

At the end of 2017, the Urban Institute explored gaps in the knowledge of those who'd like to be homeowners. You're an optimist if you think things have changed much since then.

Here are some of the findings from a survey included in the report:

More than half (53%) of those currently renting said saving for a down payment is an obstacle to their homeownership
About 80% of respondents were either unaware of how much lenders require for a down payment or believed down payments must be above 5% of the purchase price
Some 15% think lenders require a 10% down payment
A whopping 30% percent believe lenders expect a 20% down payment

But they're flat-out wrong about those last two. Down payments of 3%-3.5% are commonplace. And those who are eligible for loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans) or the Department of Agriculture (USDA loans) need no down payment at all.

And with DPA, buyers may need less than 3% and may get help with closing costs as well. You don't know unless you ask.

How down payment assistance (DPA) works

It's worth noting that the agencies, charities and local governments that sponsor these programs fund them annually. That means they can be flush with cash at the start of each financial year but run out before the end. The federal government fiscal year runs from October 1 until September 30. So you have a better shot at that money in the fall than you do late summer.

But program fiscal years are not all the same, and not all budget annually. With thousands of down payment assistance programs nationwide, operating in virtually every community, you may have several choices. Nearly all programs are local and independent of each other. Many are run by state, city or local governments and others by not-for-profit organizations and charities.

Finding DPA programs

The sheer number or organizations and programs means there's no standard set of rules for how down payment assistance works. That makes them harder to find and understand. You may qualify under one program but not another. And you might get an outright grant (effectively a gift) from one but a low- or zero-interest loan from another.

This guide shows you what's available in your area as of this writing.

Approved lenders

When you accept down payment assistance, you'll borrow from a lender that participates in the program. And those approved lenders generally offer a wide range of mortgages, including ones backed by the government (VA, USDA or FHA loans) or that comply with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's rules.

So once you know what program you want, you may be able to shop among several lenders approved to fund a loan through your program.

Closing costs

Some assistance programs explicitly allow you to use the funds they provide for closing costs. Others may not.

Some programs require a minimum contribution from you when you use them to buy a home. That's because the lender and agency has less risk when the buyer has some of his or her own money tied up in the purchase.

Do I need my credit report to apply Down Payment Assitance program?

Yes, most programs will ask you to have a current credit report on file. You can get yours here..

How to qualify for down payment assistance

Eligibility criteria vary wildly between different programs. So, if you don't qualify for one that covers your area, it's worth hunting further to see if there's one that will help you.

Some programs specialize in helping select groups. So it's possible you may get to the front of the line if you're a veteran/current servicemember, or a firefighter, or work in education, health care or law enforcement. Many others prioritize applicants on average or lower incomes. But anyone with a mortgage preapproval letter can apply.

Many programs insist you take a homebuyer education course before they'll give you any money. You may be able to complete your course online. This is an important step, and understanding homeownership increases your chance of success.

One requirement for a majority of programs (but not nearly four in 10 of them) is that you be a first-time buyer. But don't panic ...

First-time buyer status is not like virginity

Once you lose your virginity, it's gone forever. But you can be a "first-time" buyer more than once.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) counts you as a first-time buyer if you haven't owned a home in the last three years. To be clear, HUD's website says:

"An individual who has had no ownership in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of purchase of the property. This includes a spouse (if either meets the above test, they are considered first-time homebuyers)."

There's no law to say everyone must adopt HUD's definition. But many programs do. So if you or your spouse haven't had an ownership interest in a primary home over the last three years, carry on and apply for programs for first-time buyers. Obviously, your spousal qualification will only work if you're buying the home jointly with him or her.

The home needs to qualify, too

When you apply to a program, the home you wish to purchase is also a factor. These programs are not for trust fund kids to buy mansions. The home you buy can't be expensive for the area. Usually, your maximum is some percentage of the median price for homes, often up to 115%.

For instance, if hoe prices ranged from $200,000 to $1,000,000 in your area (usually defined as your county or metropolitan statistical area), and half of the homes cost more than $400,000, and half cost less, the median price would be $400,000. If the limit was 115% of this, the maximum eligible home price would be $460,000 ($400,000 * 1.15).

Multifamily dwellings and Down Payment Assistance

Suppose you want to buy a multifamily building, containing two, three or four units. Many down payment assistance programs won't help. But at least one in five will.

You'll probably have to live in one of the units. Presumably, you'll want to rent out the other one, two or three. And that's no problem.

What's on offer where YOU want to buy: DPA state by state

We've covered the main points about how down payment assistance works. And have explored how to qualify for down payment assistance. So now it's time to tell you about the main programs that operate in the state where you want to buy a home. And to tell you how you may be able to discover others.

Other sources of Down Payment Assistance

The following down payment assistance programs and government grants are available for homebuyers in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana:

Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) - LHC Home Ownership Programs: Offers several programs such as Delta 100, Market Rate GNMA, and Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), which provide down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time and repeat homebuyers statewide, including West Baton Rouge Parish.
LHC Lagniappe Grant Program: Provides up to 4% in grant funds on FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional loans to use for down payment or closing costs. Available to eligible borrowers throughout Louisiana.
HUD's Louisiana Homeownership Assistance: Aggregates local and state-level resources for down payment assistance and homebuying education, including programs for West Baton Rouge Parish.
NHS of Acadiana, Inc. Down Payment Assistance: Provides counseling and limited down payment help to eligible buyers in some areas of south Louisiana. Contact them directly to see if you qualify in West Baton Rouge Parish at (337) 234-1327 or info@nhslafayette.org.
USDA Rural Development - Section 502 Direct Loan Program: Provides low-interest loans with no down payment required for eligible low-income buyers in rural areas, including parts of West Baton Rouge Parish. Contact the Louisiana State Office at (318) 473-7920 for eligibility details.
VA Home Loan Program: For eligible veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses, offers zero down payment loans with no private mortgage insurance across West Baton Rouge Parish.
AmeriDream Down Payment Assistance: Lists grant and assistance programs available in Louisiana, many of which can be used by buyers in West Baton Rouge Parish.

Potential next steps for a homebuyer interested in these programs:

Obtain your most recent credit report to check your eligibility for assistance programs and mortgage pre-approval.
Enroll in a HUD-approved homebuyer course to strengthen your application and meet program requirements.
Search for and compare local lenders that participate in Louisiana down payment assistance programs.
Contact the Louisiana Housing Corporation at (888) 454-2001 or info@lhc.la.gov for personalized guidance about the best programs available to you in West Baton Rouge Parish.
Verify if additional assistance is available by reaching out to the West Baton Rouge Parish Government, Housing Department at (225) 383-4755.