Grant Directory

Verified government funding opportunities

Louisville Metro Down Payment Assistance Program

Temporarily closed to new applications

Louisville Metro Government – Office of Housing & Community DevelopmentKYFirst-Time Homeowner

Funding: Zero percent interest second mortgage covering up to 20 percent of the home purchase price, capped at 40000 dollars, to be used for down payment and closing costs; a portion is typically forgiven after 15 years of continuous occupancy and the remainder is due upon sale or transfer, subject to equity.0% interest partially forgivable second mortgage loanRolling (paused)Deadline: Scope: Localstate

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

Summary

Louisville’s Down Payment Assistance Program is one of Kentucky’s most generous local homebuyer initiatives, offering an interest-free second mortgage of up to 20% of the purchase price (maximum $40,000) to help income-qualified buyers cover down payment and closing costs on primary residences in the Louisville Metro area.

Benefits

down payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable loan

Who Can Apply

individualfirst-time homebuyerlow- to moderate-income homebuyer

Eligible Locations

Existing or newly constructed owner-occupied homes in the Louisville Metro area, Kentucky, purchased by income-eligible households.

Eligibility

Low- to moderate-income buyers purchasing an existing or newly constructed primary residence in the Louisville Metro area, with household income at or below 80% of area median income, minimum savings of about $2,000, no unpaid collections or undischarged bankruptcies, and liquid assets below roughly $15,000; applicants must be pre-approved for a qualifying first mortgage, complete HUD-certified homebuyer education, meet purchase-price limits (generally in the $260,000–$340,000 range for single-family homes and $300,000–$400,000 for duplexes), and must not have owned a home within the previous 12 months.

Full Description

Administered by Louisville Metro’s Office of Housing & Community Development, the Down Payment Assistance Program is designed to close the affordability gap for working households that can afford a mortgage payment but lack enough cash for a down payment and closing costs. Qualified buyers earning no more than 80% of local area median income can receive a 0% interest second mortgage sized at up to 20% of the home’s purchase price, capped at $40,000, which can be layered with a primary FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loan. The assistance is structured to be homeowner-friendly: borrowers make no monthly payments on the DPA loan, half the balance is typically forgiven after 15 years of continuous owner-occupancy, and the remainder is repaid only when the home is sold or transferred, subject to available equity. To qualify, households must purchase an existing or newly constructed home in the Louisville Metro area, complete HUD-approved counseling, show at least about $2,000 in savings, avoid unpaid collections or recent bankruptcies, and meet purchase-price caps that vary by property type. While recent notices indicate that new applications are temporarily paused as funds are reallocated, the program remains a key reference point for Louisville down payment assistance and may reopen as future funding cycles are approved.

Verification & Details

Status: Temporarily closed to new applications
Source: louisvilleky.gov
Official source → louisvilleky.gov
Apply on official siteUpdated Dec 5, 2025

Recommended Resource

First-Time Homebuyer Starter Pack (2025 Edition)

A complete first-time homebuyer toolkit: 9 checklists, timelines, grant guidance, worksheets + editable Excel/Google Sheet budget & affordability calculator.

first-time homebuyerhomebuyer starter packhome buying checklistbudget templategoogle sheet budgetdown payment assistancehomeownership toolkitdigital downloadPDF workbookaffordability calculator

More statewide programs

Explore additional grants available throughout Kentucky that complement this opportunity.

The Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium’s Home Buyer Assistance Program offers 0% interest, deferred down payment assistance loans—up to $10,000—to help income-qualified buyers in eight Northern Kentucky cities cover down payment and closing costs and transition into long-term homeownership.

Eligible for: Low- and moderate-income homebuyers purchasing an owner-occupied home in one of the Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium cities—Covington, Ludl…

Funding: Deferred, forgivable second mortgage loan up to 10000 dollars to cover lender required down payment and customary closing costs, forgiven pro rata over 10 years while the buyer remains in the home.Deadline: Rolling; homebuyers can apply year-round, but funds are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis once a fully executed purchase contract and complete application are submitted.RollingRegionalindividualfirst-time homebuyerlow- to moderate-income homebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistanceforgivable loan

Kentucky Housing CorporationKYFirst-Time Homeowner15-year amortized loan at 4.75% interest

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

KHC’s Down Payment Assistance page explains how the Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP) helps buyers cover down payment, closing costs and prepaids that often block first-time and moderate-income homebuyers from purchasing a home.

Eligible for: Kentucky homebuyers using a KHC first-mortgage loan who meet KHC income limits, credit and underwriting guidelines, and purchase an owner-oc…

Funding: Up to 12500 dollars in down payment/closing-cost assistanceDeadline: 2025-11-302025-11-30Statewideindividualhomebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistance

Lexington’s First-Time Homebuyer Program connects income-eligible households to a network of nonprofit partners that provide non-repayable mortgage subsidies and 0–2% loans, helping first-time buyers bridge the gap between what they can borrow and the total cost of purchasing a home in Lexington.

Eligible for: Lower- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers who live in Lexington and are purchasing an owner-occupied home within Lexington-Fayette Cou…

Funding: Assistance varies by partner agency; structured to fill gap between affordable mortgage and purchase price/closing costsDeadline: Rolling; assistance is delivered through partner nonprofits on an ongoing basis while funding is available—interested buyers must contact partner agencies rather than applying directly to LFUCG.RollingLocalindividualfirst-time homebuyerdown payment assistancesubsidyaffordable loan

Kentucky Housing CorporationKYFirst-Time HomeownerSecond mortgage down payment assistance loan plus mortgage credit certificate tax credit

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

This partner-facing page shows lenders how KHC’s down payment assistance and home buyer tax credits work together to make homeownership possible and more affordable for Kentuckians who might otherwise be priced out.

Eligible for: Designed for KHC lending partners originating KHC loans for Kentucky homebuyers; borrowers must qualify for KHC first-mortgage programs, mee…

Funding: Explains that KHC offers Down Payment Assistance Program loans up to 12500 dollars, repaid over 15 years at 4.75 percent interest, and a Home Buyer Tax Credit providing a federal tax credit of up to 20 percent of annual mortgage interest for eligible borrowers.Deadline: 2025-11-302025-11-30Statewidelenderhomebuyerdown payment assistanceclosing cost assistancetax credit