Rapides Parish · HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service)
Down payment help in Rapides Parish, Louisiana
In central Louisiana's Alexandria and Pineville, or smaller towns like Ball, Boyce and Lecompte, HomeStart Advantage puts 4% of your loan toward your purchase.
Parish seatAlexandria
People125,877
Income cap, 3+$97,635
Highest price$554,850
What should you know about buying in Rapides Parish?
Rapides Parish is the center of the state, with Alexandria as its seat and Pineville just across the Red River. The Rapides Parish School Board runs the public schools.
The Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Fire Department, Pineville Police Department and Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office are the main public safety employers. When Keys for Service launched they were exactly who it served. Since the rename to HomeStart Advantage, a hospital tech in Pineville or a retail manager in Ball qualifies on the same terms.
Rapides 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 Rapides Parish?
Household of 1 or 2
Household of 3+
Highest price
$84,900
$97,635
$554,850
Rapides 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 Rapides 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.
Up to $50,000, plus $5,000 more in a Target Neighborhood (max $55,000), for principal reduction, closing costs and up to 50% of the required down payment
Kind of help
Forgivable second loan
Who it's for
First-time homebuyers (no ownership in 3 years; some single parents, divorced people and displaced homemakers qualify) buying within city limits
$219,000 existing / $284,000 new construction (2026 HOME value limits, 1 unit)
Only for first-time buyers?
Yes
Also worth knowing
8-hour HUD-approved homebuyer course (City pays); apply through a participating lender; 0% subordinate mortgage with 5/10/15-year affordability period, prorated repayment if you leave early
2026 guidelines final (updated 6/30/2026); FAQ rev. 7/1/2026. Target neighborhoods: North Alexandria, Business District, Lower Third, South Alexandria, Samtown/Woodside. Contact Vanity Givens, 318-449-5074.
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 Rapides Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of Rapides Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
Counseling agency
Located in
How far
Offers
Meets you
Languages
Cenla Community Action Committee, Incorporated
Alexandria
6 mi
Coaching
in person / by phone
English
Rapides Station Community Ministries
Alexandria
9 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 Rapides Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
Rapides Parish School Board
Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office
Alexandria Police Department
Alexandria Fire Department
Pineville Police Department
Alexandria and Pineville teachers, officers and firefighters qualify, as does every other worker in the parish. See the list of eligible jobs.
Rapides Parish questions we hear
Is HomeStart Advantage available in Pineville?
Yes. It works anywhere in Louisiana for an owner-occupied primary residence.
What credit score do I need?
640, or 660 for a manufactured home.
Does the 4% have to go to the down payment?
It can cover down payment, closing costs and prepaids.
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.
