See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Kenner, LA (2026)
Kenner is the largest city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located just west of New Orleans and home to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. With a median home price around $230,000, the city offers accessible homeownership in the Greater New Orleans metro area. Kenner residents benefit from the Jefferson Parish First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, which provides up to $60,000 in forgivable funds specifically for Kenner buyers. The JPFA Southern Mortgage Assistance Program adds a 3% to 4% grant for down payment and closing costs, and the JPFA Comfort of Home Program offers up to 4% as a forgivable second mortgage. At the state level, the LHC Pathways to Homeownership Soft Second provides up to $60,000, and the LHC MRB Home Program offers 5% to 9% of the mortgage as a grant. By combining local and state programs, Kenner buyers can potentially cover their entire down payment and closing costs.
County Programs in Jefferson Parish
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Parish First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to $50,000 per client in Jefferson Parish; up to $60,000 per client in Kenner | Yes | View → |
| JPFA Comfort of Home Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 4% down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% interest forgivable second mortgage | No | View → |
| JPFA Southern Mortgage Assistance Program | Grant | Grant of 3% or 4% of loan amount for down payment and closing costs | No | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to $50,000 per client in Jefferson Parish; up to $60,000 per client in Kenner
- First-time only:
- Yes
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 4% down payment and closing cost assistance as a 0% interest forgivable second mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
- Type:
- Grant
- Amount:
- Grant of 3% or 4% of loan amount for down payment and closing costs
- First-time only:
- No
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home with low-interest mortgage; monthly payments never exceed 30% of household income | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home with low-interest mortgage; monthly payments never exceed 30% of household income
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Jefferson Parish First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program requires household income between 51% and 80% of the area median income. You must not have owned a home in the past three years.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Jefferson Parish requires both Financial Fitness and First-Time Homebuyer Training Classes. Certificates are valid for two years. Contact the Jefferson Parish Community Development Department at (504) 736-6262 for class schedules.
Step 3: Apply for the Jefferson Parish First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, which offers up to $60,000 for Kenner residents. Contact the Jefferson Parish Department of Community Development at 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 605, Jefferson, LA 70123, or the City of Kenner Community Development Department at (504) 468-7588.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Ask your lender about the JPFA Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (3% to 4% grant) or the JPFA Comfort of Home Program (up to 4% forgivable second mortgage). The Jefferson Parish Finance Authority can be reached at (504) 736-6311.
Step 5: Explore state programs through a Louisiana Housing Corporation participating lender. The LHC MRB Home Program, Pathways to Homeownership Soft Second, and Resilience Soft Second may provide additional assistance.
Step 6: Find a home within program limits. The property must be an owner-occupied single-family residence in the incorporated areas of Kenner. The JPFA Bond Program caps purchase prices at $481,176 for non-targeted areas.
Step 7: Submit your applications and close on your home. Your lender and the Community Development office will coordinate the forgivable assistance alongside your primary mortgage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Kenner?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can purchase?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
What income limits apply in Kenner?+−
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