Ouachita Parish · HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service)
Down payment help in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
On either side of the Ouachita River, in Monroe, West Monroe, Sterlington or Richwood, HomeStart Advantage gives 4% of your loan toward buying a home.
Parish seatMonroe
People158,542
Income cap, 3+$97,635
Highest price$554,850
What should you know about buying in Ouachita Parish?
Ouachita Parish has two school systems: the Ouachita Parish School System and Monroe City Schools. Teachers in both were part of the first Keys for Service group in 2023.
The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, Monroe Police Department, West Monroe Police Department and Monroe Fire Department round out the local public safety employers. HomeStart Advantage now covers every occupation, so their coworkers in civilian roles, and everyone else in the parish, can use it too.
Ouachita uses the standard HomeStart Assist limits: $84,900 for 1 to 2 people and $97,635 for 3 or more.
What are the limits in Ouachita Parish?
Household of 1 or 2
Household of 3+
Highest price
$84,900
$97,635
$554,850
Ouachita follows the standard HomeStart Assist limits, while HomeStart Advantage allows household income up to $125,000 with a price limit a lender confirms. Compare every area's limits or run the home budget calculator.
Is there local money in Ouachita 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.
Home in Monroe
Money may run out
City of Monroe
Who it's for
First-time homebuyers within Monroe city limits
Income cap
CDBG/HOME limits (2025 chart linked; figures not captured)
Only for first-time buyers?
Yes
Also worth knowing
Includes financial coaching, HUD-certified counseling and rent reporting
The city page gives no amount. Interest form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HomeinMonroeProgramInterestForm . The 2024 brochure PDF could not be fetched this session.
Policies and online application on cityofwestmonroe.com
The application deadline was May 1, 2026, so the current round is closed. Source is a news report; the city page was not fetched. Mayor's Office 318-396-2600.
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 Ouachita Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Ouachita Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
Counseling agency
Located in
How far
Offers
Meets you
Languages
Mount Pleasant Community Development Corp. Inc
Monroe
3 mi
Class and coaching
in person / 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 Ouachita Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
Ouachita Parish School System
Monroe City Schools
Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office
Monroe Police Department
West Monroe Police Department
Monroe Fire Department
Monroe City and Ouachita Parish teachers, officers and firefighters qualify, plus every other job. See the list of eligible jobs.
Ouachita Parish questions we hear
Do Monroe City Schools teachers qualify?
Yes, and so do Ouachita Parish School System teachers. HomeStart Advantage has no job requirement.
What income limit applies in West Monroe?
$125,000 for HomeStart Advantage. First-time buyers using HomeStart Assist face $84,900 for 1 to 2 people or $97,635 for 3 or more.
How long do I have to stay in the home?
60 months. After that, the 4% second mortgage is forgiven in full.
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.
