See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 11, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Nicholasville, KY (2026)
Nicholasville is the county seat of Jessamine County, located just south of Lexington in Central Kentucky. With a median home price around $260,000, it offers affordable homeownership in the greater Lexington metro area. While Nicholasville does not currently offer a city-funded down payment assistance program, buyers can take advantage of Kentucky Housing Corporation programs including the KHC Regular Down Payment Assistance of up to $12,500 and the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program with grants of $10,000 to $20,000. Community Ventures, a CHDO designated by KHC, purchases and renovates homes in Jessamine County and sells them to first-time buyers at affordable prices. By combining state and nonprofit programs, Nicholasville buyers may be able to stack $20,000 or more in total assistance.
State Programs in Kentucky
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program | Grant | Grants of $10,000 to $20,000; up to $25,000 for veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses | Yes | View → |
| KHC Affordable Down Payment Assistance (Affordable DAP) | Repayable Loan | Up to $7,500 | No | View → |
| KHC Regular Down Payment Assistance (DAP) | Repayable Loan | Up to $12,500 | No | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Grants of $10,000 to $20,000; up to $25,000 for veterans, active-duty military, and surviving spouses
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $7,500
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $12,500
- First-time only:
- No
Federal Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FHA Loans | Government-Insured Mortgage | Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026) | No | View → |
| Good Neighbor Next Door (HUD) | Government Property Sale Program | 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes | Yes | View → |
| Home Possible Mortgage (Freddie Mac) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HomeReady Mortgage (Fannie Mae) | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment | No | View → |
| HUD $100 Down Program | FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase | Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs. | No | View → |
| USDA Rural Development Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value | No | View → |
| VA Loans | Government-Guaranteed Mortgage | No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026) | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government-Insured Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to FHA county loan limits ($541,287 floor to $1,249,125 ceiling for single-family in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- 50% discount off the list price of HUD-owned homes
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- Up to conforming loan limits ($832,750 standard / $1,249,125 high-cost in 2026); 3% minimum down payment
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- FHA-Financed HUD REO Purchase
- Amount:
- Only $100 down payment required (vs. standard 3.5% FHA down payment). HUD may also pay up to 3% of buyer's closing costs.
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- 100% financing (no down payment required); loan amount up to appraised value
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Government-Guaranteed Mortgage
- Amount:
- No loan limit for veterans with full entitlement (0% down at any price); partial entitlement subject to conforming limits ($832,750 standard in 2026)
- First-time only:
- No
Nonprofit Programs
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Ventures CHDO Homeownership Program | Government Property Sale Program | Subsidized home purchase price through renovation and rehabilitation | Yes | View → |
| Habitat for Humanity of Jessamine County Homeownership | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home purchase with favorable mortgage terms | No | View → |
- Type:
- Government Property Sale Program
- Amount:
- Subsidized home purchase price through renovation and rehabilitation
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home purchase with favorable mortgage terms
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Most Kentucky state programs require household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income for Jessamine County. Contact a KHC-approved lender to determine your specific income limits and program eligibility.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Kentucky Housing Corporation requires completion of a homebuyer education course for many of its programs. You can complete homebuyer education online through eHome America or contact a local HUD-approved counseling agency. Call (800) 569-4287 to find a HUD-approved counselor near you.
Step 3: Explore nonprofit homeownership options. Community Ventures at (859) 231-0054 offers a CHDO homeownership program that purchases and renovates homes in Jessamine County for first-time buyers. Habitat for Humanity of Jessamine County at (859) 285-9775 also builds affordable homes for qualifying families.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a KHC-approved lender who can help you access the KHC Regular Down Payment Assistance of up to $12,500 or the KHC Affordable Down Payment Assistance of up to $7,500.
Step 5: Apply for the FHLB Cincinnati Welcome Home Program. This program offers grants of $10,000 to $20,000 for down payment and closing costs. Funding opens annually and is typically exhausted quickly, so apply as soon as the window opens. Your KHC-approved lender can help coordinate this.
Step 6: Find a home and close. Once pre-approved, find a home within program guidelines in Nicholasville or Jessamine County. Your lender will coordinate the DPA funds to be applied at closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Nicholasville?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay in Nicholasville?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Are there any nonprofit homeownership programs in Nicholasville?+−
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