See programs you qualify for
Get Matched Free →By Tyler Thompson · Licensed Real Estate Agent · Updated April 7, 2026
Homebuyer Programs in Shreveport, LA (2026)
Shreveport is the largest city in Northwest Louisiana, serving as a regional hub for healthcare, education, and the energy industry in the Ark-La-Tex region. With a median home price around $185,000, Shreveport offers some of the most affordable housing in Louisiana. The city's HAPPI Program provides first-time buyers with up to 20% of the home's purchase price for down payment and closing costs. At the state level, the LHC Resilience Soft Second and Pathways to Homeownership programs each offer up to $60,000 in forgivable assistance, and the Keys for Service Program gives teachers, first responders, and healthcare workers a 4% forgivable grant. With Shreveport's low home prices and generous assistance programs, many buyers can cover their entire down payment and closing costs through available programs.
City Programs in Shreveport
| Program Name | Type | Amount | First-Time Only | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport HAPPI Program | Forgivable Loan | Up to 20% of the sales price or appraised value (whichever is lesser) for down payment, buy down, and closing costs | Yes | View → |
- Type:
- Forgivable Loan
- Amount:
- Up to 20% of the sales price or appraised value (whichever is lesser) for down payment, buy down, and closing costs
- 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 of Northwest Louisiana | Zero-Interest Loan | Affordable home sold at no profit with a zero-interest mortgage | No | View → |
- Type:
- Zero-Interest Loan
- Amount:
- Affordable home sold at no profit with a zero-interest mortgage
- First-time only:
- No
How to Apply
Step 1: Check your eligibility. The Shreveport HAPPI Program requires household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income as determined by HUD. State programs like the LHC Resilience Soft Second also cap at 80% AMI, while the Keys for Service Program allows incomes up to $125,000 for essential workers.
Step 2: Complete homebuyer education. Catholic Charities of North Louisiana offers free HUD-certified First-Time Homebuyers Classes. The course consists of four 2-hour sessions covering financial preparedness, credit, financing, and the homebuying process. Contact them at 318-865-0200 to register.
Step 3: Contact a local housing partner. Call the Shreveport Department of Community Development at (318) 673-5900 to learn about the HAPPI Program and get the current list of approved lenders. Catholic Charities can also help identify HAPPI-eligible homes.
Step 4: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Work with a HAPPI-approved lender or an LHC participating lender. Many lenders in Shreveport participate in multiple programs, allowing you to combine city and state assistance.
Step 5: Find a home within program limits. The HAPPI Program requires purchasing in a HAPPI-designated neighborhood within the City of Shreveport. Properties must be eligible for HUD mortgage insurance and meet minimum property standards. No HUD, VA, repossessed properties, or manufactured housing are eligible for HAPPI.
Step 6: Submit your applications. Your lender will process HAPPI and any state program applications together. The HAPPI assistance of up to 20% of the sales price can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Allow time for processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much down payment assistance can I get in Shreveport?+−
Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify?+−
What is the maximum home price I can pay?+−
What homebuyer education is required?+−
Are there restrictions on which homes I can buy with HAPPI?+−
Are there programs for teachers and first responders in Shreveport?+−
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