HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service)
Home loans for Louisiana nurses and healthcare workers
Louisiana nurses and healthcare workers can get 4% forgivable down payment help through HomeStart Advantage, formerly Keys for Service. Income up to $125,000.
Who counts?
The April 2023 Keys for Service expansion added employees of hospitals, pharmacies, physicians' offices, outpatient care centers, nursing care and assisted living facilities, and raised the income cap to $125,000. HomeStart Advantage now covers all occupations, so every healthcare role qualifies.
No occupation proof is needed. Your lender verifies income with a 2-year written verification of employment and a recent paystub.
HomeStart Advantage is the Louisiana Housing Corporation program formerly called Keys for Service. It began in 2023 for teachers and first responders and, since Sept. 9, 2026, is open to all occupations. It pairs a 30-year fixed mortgage with 4% of the loan as a 0% second mortgage that is forgiven after 5 years in the home, for households earning up to $125,000, and you don't have to be a first-time buyer.
Two incomes in a healthcare household
The $125,000 cap counts projected income for every adult 18+ who will live in the home. If both partners work, run the combined number with your loan officer early.
Not a first-time buyer?
That's fine for HomeStart Advantage. You just can't own another residential property when you close.
What paperwork should you have ready?
- Written verification of employment covering 2 years
- Paystub dated within 30 days
- Income details for every adult 18+ in the household
- Homebuyer education certificate if you're a first-time buyer
What else do people ask?
Do I need to work at a hospital?
No. HomeStart Advantage is open to all occupations, so clinic, pharmacy, home health and nursing home staff all qualify.
Is there a separate program for nurses?
Not from LHC. HomeStart Advantage is the same for every occupation. HUD Good Neighbor Next Door is limited to teachers, law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs.
What credit score do I need?
640 for HomeStart programs, or 660 for a manufactured home.
