St. Tammany Parish · HomeStart Advantage (formerly Keys for Service)
Down payment help in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
On the Northshore in Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Lacombe or Madisonville? HomeStart Advantage, formerly Keys for Service, can put 4% of your loan toward closing.
Parish seatCovington
People279,108
Income cap, 3+$123,855
Highest price$554,850
What should you know about buying in St. Tammany Parish?
St. Tammany Parish has the highest HomeStart Assist income limits in the state: $107,700 for 1 to 2 people and $123,855 for 3 or more. That makes it one of the few parishes where first-time buyers should compare Assist and Advantage side by side.
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools is the single school system, and public safety jobs are spread among the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the Slidell, Mandeville and Covington police departments and the parish's fire protection districts.
Covington is the parish seat. Wherever you buy, the home must be your primary residence for 5 years for the second mortgage to be fully forgiven.
What are the limits in St. Tammany Parish?
Household of 1 or 2
Household of 3+
Highest price
$107,700
$123,855
$554,850
St. Tammany's HomeStart Assist limits are the highest in Louisiana; HomeStart Advantage's $125,000 cap is still a bit higher, and a lender confirms the FHA price limit. Compare every area's limits or run the home budget calculator.
Is there local money in St. Tammany 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.
JPFA Comfort of Home Program
Taking applications
Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Charles and St. Bernard Parishes
Help available
A fixed percentage of the note amount (percentage not stated in the guide) for down payment, closing costs and prepaids, with a 30-year fixed first mortgage
Kind of help
Forgivable second loan
Who it's for
Buyers in the four parishes; no first-time homebuyer requirement
Income cap
$125,720 (FHA/USDA/VA/Fannie HFA Preferred); $71,840 for Fannie/Freddie 80% AMI offering
Price cap
Agency (FHA/VA/USDA/Fannie/Freddie) loan limits; no separate dollar cap
Only for first-time buyers?
No
Also worth knowing
0%, no payments, forgiven after month 60 (no pro-rata). Pre-closing homebuyer education for first-time buyers only. Plaquemines removed 09/02/25.
Guide revised 01/05/26. Separate first mortgage; pick this OR an LHC HomeStart loan. The DPA percentage wasn't in the guide text (rates and offerings are shown in the eHousingPlus system).
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 St. Tammany Parish?
Nearly every assistance program wants you to finish a homebuyer class before you close. These HUD-approved agencies are within reach of St. Tammany Parish and offer classes or one-on-one counseling before you buy:
Counseling agency
Located in
How far
Offers
Meets you
Languages
Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West
Mandeville
6 mi
Class and coaching
by phone
English
Bogalusa Rebirth
Bogalusa
26 mi
Class and coaching
in person / by phone
English
Desire Community Housing Corporation
New Orleans
30 mi
Class and coaching
by phone / online
English
Family Resources of New Orleans
New Orleans
32 mi
Class and coaching
by phone / online
English
Jefferson Community Action Programs
New Orleans
34 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 St. Tammany Parish employers whose staff fit the program:
St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office
Slidell Police Department
Mandeville Police Department
Covington Police Department
St. Tammany Parish fire protection districts
Northshore teachers, deputies and fire district crews qualify, and so does every other occupation. See the list of eligible jobs.
St. Tammany Parish questions we hear
Why are St. Tammany's limits higher?
HomeStart Assist limits follow area median income, and St. Tammany's are the highest in the 2026 table: $107,700 and $123,855.
Should I use Assist or Advantage in St. Tammany?
Both give 4% forgivable after 5 years. Advantage has no first-time rule and a $125,000 cap; Assist has parish limits and may carry federal recapture tax if you sell within 9 years. A lender can compare.
Do fire protection district employees qualify?
Yes. All occupations qualify under HomeStart Advantage.
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.
