Parish seatNew Iberia
People66,846
Income cap, 3+$97,635
Highest price$554,850
What should you know about buying in Iberia Parish?
Iberia Parish sits along Bayou Teche, with New Iberia as its seat. The Iberia Parish School District employs teachers across the parish, and the New Iberia Police Department, New Iberia Fire Department and Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office are the main public safety employers.
Keys for Service was launched for those workers. HomeStart Advantage keeps the 4% and the $125,000 household cap, and since Sept. 9, 2026 it doesn't ask what you do for a living.
Iberia's HomeStart Assist limits are the standard $84,900 for 1 to 2 people and $97,635 for 3 or more.
What are the limits in Iberia Parish?
| Household of 1 or 2 | Household of 3+ | Highest price |
|---|
| $84,900 | $97,635 | $554,850 |
Iberia uses the standard HomeStart Assist limits; HomeStart Advantage goes up to $125,000, and a lender confirms the FHA price limit. Compare every area's limits or run the home budget calculator.
Is there local money in Iberia Parish?
Yes. The programs below are run closer to home. Some can sit on top of the state program and some replace it, so your loan officer sorts out which ones work together.
61 Louisiana parishes (all except Orleans, Jefferson and a few others)
- Help available
- 4% of the total note amount for down payment, closing costs, prepaids or Realtor commission, with a 30-year fixed FHA/VA/USDA first mortgage
- Kind of help
- Forgivable second loan
- Who it's for
- First-time homebuyers; waived for veterans (DD-214, one-time use) and targeted census tracts
- Income cap
- Effective 05/01/26, non-targeted: $84,900 (1-2) / $97,635 (3+) in most parishes, up to $107,700 / $123,855 in St. Tammany; targeted areas: $101,880 / $118,860 up to $129,240 / $150,780
- Price cap
- $544,233 (1 unit, non-targeted); $665,173 (targeted)
- Only for first-time buyers?
- Yes
- Also worth knowing
- 0% 5-year second: no forgiveness in months 1-36, then 1/24 forgiven each month. Homebuyer education for all buyers on title. Min FICO 620 (640 US Bank).
Guide published 05/13/26, rev. 07/20/26; program page https://thecafa.org/homebuyers/cafa-first-home (shows 7% government rate). This is a separate bond first mortgage: choose CAFA OR LHC HomeStart, not both. Essentially a second regional/statewide option with income and price limits close to LHC HomeStart Assist.
Checked November 2026 · our sources
Read our full write-up →Browse every Louisiana program.
Where can you take a homebuyer class near Iberia Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Iberia Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
| Counseling agency | Located in | How far | Offers | Meets you | Languages |
|---|
| Saint Martin, Iberia, Lafayette Community Action Agency | Lafayette | 20 mi | Class and coaching | in person / by phone / online | English, French, Spanish |
| Lafayette Consolidated Government Neighborhood Counseling Services | Lafayette | 20 mi | Class and coaching | by phone | English |
| Saint Mary Community Action Agency, Inc. | Franklin | 23 mi | Class and coaching | in person | English |
Taken from HUD's list of approved counseling agencies. Programs differ on which classes they accept.
Which class will count for you? Ask the loan officer handling your file. They know which courses each Louisiana program accepts, and they can get your pre-approval going in the same conversation.
Start the check
Which local employers are covered?
A few of the Iberia Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
- Iberia Parish School District
- Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office
- New Iberia Police Department
- New Iberia Fire Department
New Iberia teachers, officers and firefighters qualify, along with every other occupation. See the list of eligible jobs.
Iberia Parish questions we hear
Is there a minimum down payment?
That depends on the loan type. FHA, conventional, VA and USDA each have their own rules, and the 4% can cover down payment and closing costs.
What are Iberia Parish's HomeStart Assist limits?
$84,900 for 1 to 2 people and $97,635 for 3 or more.
Who reserves the funds?
Your LHC participating lender, once you have a fully executed purchase agreement.
Other parishes: East Baton Rouge Parish Jefferson Parish Orleans Parish St. Tammany Parish Lafayette Parish Caddo Parish Calcasieu Parish Ouachita Parish Every parish
