Parish seatThibodaux
People95,505
Income cap, 3+$99,590
Highest price$554,850
What should you know about buying in Lafourche Parish?
Lafourche Parish runs along Bayou Lafourche toward the Gulf, with Thibodaux as its seat. Lafourche Parish Public Schools serves the whole parish, and the Thibodaux Police Department, Thibodaux Fire Department and Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office handle public safety.
Keys for Service was written for those workers in 2023. HomeStart Advantage keeps the same 4%, forgiven after 5 years, and extends it to everyone from oilfield crews to nurses.
Lafourche shares HomeStart Assist limits with Terrebonne: $86,600 for 1 to 2 people and $99,590 for 3 or more. Like other Ida-area parishes, ask a lender whether HomeStart Plus applies to your address.
What are the limits in Lafourche Parish?
| Household of 1 or 2 | Household of 3+ | Highest price |
|---|
| $86,600 | $99,590 | $554,850 |
Lafourche's HomeStart Assist limits are $86,600 and $99,590; under HomeStart Advantage the cap is $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 Lafourche 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 Lafourche Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Lafourche Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
| Counseling agency | Located in | How far | Offers | Meets you | Languages |
|---|
| Jefferson Community Action Programs | New Orleans | 35 mi | Class and coaching | by phone | English |
| Family Resources of New Orleans | New Orleans | 38 mi | Class and coaching | by phone / online | English |
| Desire Community Housing Corporation | New Orleans | 40 mi | Class and coaching | by phone / online | 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 Lafourche Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
- Lafourche Parish Public Schools
- Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office
- Thibodaux Police Department
- Thibodaux Fire Department
Thibodaux teachers, officers and firefighters qualify, as does any other Lafourche worker. See the list of eligible jobs.
Lafourche Parish questions we hear
Does offshore or rotation income count?
Your lender reviews 2 years of employment history to project your income, which counts toward the $125,000 household cap.
What are Lafourche's HomeStart Assist limits?
$86,600 for 1 to 2 people and $99,590 for 3 or more.
Can I buy in Golden Meadow or Cut Off?
Yes. HomeStart Advantage is statewide, for one-unit homes you live in.
Other parishes: East Baton Rouge Parish Jefferson Parish Orleans Parish St. Tammany Parish Lafayette Parish Caddo Parish Calcasieu Parish Ouachita Parish Every parish
