City of Alexandria HAP: up to $55,000 for first-time buyers
First-time buyers inside Alexandria city limits can receive up to $50,000, plus $5,000 more in a Target Neighborhood, as a 0% subordinate mortgage from the City's Community Development Department.
Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)
Money may run out
City of Alexandria
Help available
Up to $50,000, plus $5,000 more in a Target Neighborhood (max $55,000), for principal reduction, closing costs and up to 50% of the required down payment
Kind of help
Forgivable second loan
Who it's for
First-time homebuyers (no ownership in 3 years; some single parents, divorced people and displaced homemakers qualify) buying within city limits
$219,000 existing / $284,000 new construction (2026 HOME value limits, 1 unit)
Only for first-time buyers?
Yes
Also worth knowing
8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer course (City pays); apply through a participating lender; 0% subordinate mortgage with 5/10/15-year affordability period, prorated repayment if you leave early
2026 guidelines final (updated 6/30/2026); FAQ rev. 7/1/2026. Target neighborhoods: North Alexandria, Business District, Lower Third, South Alexandria, Samtown/Woodside. Contact Vanity Givens, 318-449-5074.
Want a heads-up? Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) works from a limited pot that can run dry. Ask us to tell you when a new round of money opens.
What HAP pays for
The City of Alexandria's Homebuyer Assistance Program provides up to $50,000, rising to a $55,000 maximum for homes in a Target Neighborhood: North Alexandria, the Business District, Lower Third, South Alexandria and Samtown/Woodside. The money can cover principal reduction, closing costs and up to half of your required down payment, so the other half comes from you or another source.
The assistance is a 0% subordinate mortgage with an affordability period of 5, 10 or 15 years. If you leave early, repayment is prorated. The 2026 guidelines were finalized and updated June 30, 2026, with an FAQ revised July 1.
2026 limits for Alexandria
You must not have owned a home in three years; some single parents, divorced people and displaced homemakers also qualify. Income must be at or below 80% AMI under limits effective June 1, 2026:
Household size
80% AMI limit
1
$46,400
2
$53,000
3
$59,650
4
$66,250
5
$71,550
6
$76,850
7
$82,150
8
$87,450
Price is capped at $219,000 for an existing home and $284,000 for new construction under the 2026 HOME value limits for one unit. The Rapides Parish guide covers the wider area.
Using HAP with a state or CAFA loan
Rapides Parish buyers can choose LHC's HomeStart Advantage or CAFA First Home as their first mortgage. HAP's guidelines, as summarized in our sources, don't say whether it sits behind either, so a participating lender confirms whether they combine. Because HAP covers only half the required down payment, it helps to know how much cash you'll still need; our guide to cash needed to buy a house walks through it.
Applying for HAP
Take the 8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer course, which the City pays for. Then work with a participating lender, who submits your application. Buyers who earn more than the 80% AMI limit can still look at HomeStart Advantage, which allows household income up to $125,000, or CAFA First Home, whose non-targeted limits in most parishes are $84,900 for one or two people and $97,635 for three or more. Program questions go to Vanity Givens at 318-449-5074. You can check your eligibility before you call.
Summarized from the program's official page as of November 2026. Funding and rules can change, so confirm the current terms with the program or a lender who takes part. Louisiana Down Payment Assistance has no connection to this program.
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