See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Hammond, LA (2026)
Hammond is a city in Tangipahoa Parish and home to Southeastern Louisiana University, located about 45 miles east of Baton Rouge. With a median home price around $230,000, Hammond offers affordable homeownership in a growing community with easy access to both Baton Rouge and New Orleans via I-12 and I-55. The city is USDA-eligible, allowing qualified buyers to purchase with zero down payment. Louisiana state programs provide significant additional help: the LHC Pathways to Homeownership Soft Second offers up to $60,000 in forgivable assistance, and the CAFA Capital Advantage Program provides a non-repayable grant of up to 5% of the mortgage amount. Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West serves Tangipahoa Parish and operates the only HUD-approved housing counseling agency in the region. By combining USDA financing with state assistance programs, Hammond buyers can often purchase a home with little to no money out of pocket.
County Programs in Tangipahoa Parish
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAFA Capital Advantage Program | Grant | Non-repayable grant of up to 5% of original mortgage amount | No | View → |
| CAFA First Home Program | Repayable Loan | Up to 4% of the final loan amount for down payment, closing costs or prepaid items, as a repayable second lien paired with a 30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Non-repayable grant of up to 5% of original mortgage amount
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Repayable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 4% of the final loan amount for down payment, closing costs or prepaid items, as a repayable second lien paired with a 30-year fixed-rate FHA, VA or USDA first mortgage
- First-time only:
- Yes
State Programs in Louisiana
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHC Keys for Service Program | Forgivable Loan | 4% of loan amount for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
| LHC MRB Home Program | Grant | 5% to 9% of mortgage amount for down payment and closing costs | Yes | View → |
| LHC Pathways to Homeownership Soft Second | Forgivable Loan | Up to 20% of purchase price (up to $55,000) plus up to $5,000 for closing costs (up to $60,000 total) | Yes | View → |
| LHC Preferred Conventional Program | Grant | Up to 4% of total purchase price | Yes | View → |
| LHC Resilience Soft Second Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $55,000 plus up to $5,000 for closing costs (up to $60,000 total) | Yes | View → |
| Louisiana Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) | Tax Credit | Federal tax credit of up to 40% of annual mortgage interest, capped at $2,000 per year | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- 4% of loan amount for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- 5% to 9% of mortgage amount for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 20% of purchase price (up to $55,000) plus up to $5,000 for closing costs (up to $60,000 total)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Up to 4% of total purchase price
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $55,000 plus up to $5,000 for closing costs (up to $60,000 total)
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Tax Credit
- Amount:
- Federal tax credit of up to 40% of annual mortgage interest, capped at $2,000 per year
- First-time only:
- Yes
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West Homeownership Program | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable income-based mortgage payments | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable income-based mortgage payments
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Louisiana state programs generally require household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income for Tangipahoa Parish. USDA loans have income limits up to 115% of AMI. The CAFA programs have separate income thresholds.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Most first-time buyer programs require a HUD-approved homebuyer education course. Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West operates the St. Tammany Homeownership Center (STHOC), the only HUD-approved counseling agency in the region. The Louisiana Housing Corporation also offers a free 6-hour online course.
Step 3: Contact a participating lender. LHC programs and CAFA programs are offered through approved lenders. Visit lhc.la.gov or thecafa.org to find a participating lender in the Hammond area. For USDA loans, contact a USDA-approved lender.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Your lender will determine which programs you qualify for based on your income, credit score, and the property. Ask about combining USDA financing with LHC and CAFA programs for maximum benefit.
Step 5: Find a USDA-eligible home in Hammond. Verify the property address on the USDA eligibility map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov.
Step 6: Submit your application and close. Once you have a signed purchase agreement, your lender will process all applicable assistance alongside your mortgage. The LHC Pathways soft second is forgiven after 10 years of owner-occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Hammond?+−
Is Hammond eligible for USDA loans?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
Can Habitat for Humanity help me buy a home in Hammond?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
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