Livingston Parish · HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service)
Down payment help in Livingston Parish, Louisiana
Denham Springs, Walker, Watson, Springfield or the town of Livingston: HomeStart Advantage puts 4% of your loan toward your down payment and closing costs.
Parish seatLivingston
People155,036
Income cap, 3+$108,675
Highest price$554,850
What should you know about buying in Livingston Parish?
Livingston Parish is part of the Baton Rouge area and shares its higher HomeStart Assist limits: $94,500 for 1 to 2 people and $108,675 for 3 or more.
Livingston Parish Public Schools is the single school district. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, Denham Springs and Walker police departments and the parish fire protection districts employ the responders Keys for Service was first written for. HomeStart Advantage keeps their benefit and adds every other worker.
Many buyers here commute into Baton Rouge. Your lender counts projected income for every adult in the household against the $125,000 cap, so bring both paystubs if two of you work.
What are the limits in Livingston Parish?
Household of 1 or 2
Household of 3+
Highest price
$94,500
$108,675
$554,850
Livingston's HomeStart Assist limits match the capital region; HomeStart Advantage uses a $125,000 cap, and a lender confirms the FHA price limit. Compare every area's limits or run the home budget calculator.
Is there local money in Livingston 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.
Where can you take a homebuyer class near Livingston Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Livingston Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
Counseling agency
Located in
How far
Offers
Meets you
Languages
Integrity Homebuyer Association, Incorporated
Gonzales
19 mi
Class and coaching
in person / by phone / online
English
Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation
Baton Rouge
23 mi
Class and coaching
in person / by phone / online
English
Mid City Redevelopment Alliance
Baton Rouge
26 mi
Class and coaching
by phone
English
Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West
Mandeville
41 mi
Class and coaching
by phone
English
Jefferson Community Action Programs
New Orleans
46 mi
Class and coaching
by phone
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 Livingston Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
Livingston Parish Public Schools
Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office
Denham Springs Police Department
Walker Police Department
Livingston Parish fire protection districts
Livingston Parish teachers, deputies and fire district crews qualify, and so does anyone else who meets the program rules. See the list of eligible jobs.
Livingston Parish questions we hear
Are Livingston Parish limits the same as Baton Rouge?
Yes. Both use $94,500 for 1 to 2 people and $108,675 for 3 or more under HomeStart Assist.
I work in Baton Rouge but am buying in Walker. Does that matter?
No. The home's parish sets the Assist limit; where you work doesn't affect HomeStart Advantage.
Can I use a USDA loan?
Yes. HomeStart Advantage works with USDA Rural Development loans, along with FHA, VA and HFA conventional loans.
Hey there, I'm Denise. See if you're eligible for down payment assistance in Louisiana. It's a handful of questions and maybe two minutes of your time.
