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There are two real down payment assistance programs a Louisville-area buyer can actually use: a Louisville Metro Government program for buyers purchasing inside Louisville Metro, and a statewide Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) program that layers on top of a KHC first mortgage. They have different income rules, different purchase price caps, and different terms. Enter your numbers above to see which are worth pursuing.

The two programs, in plain terms

Louisville Metro Down Payment Assistance Program

Run by Louisville Metro Government (Develop Louisville). It's a 0% interest, partially forgivable second loan: half of what you borrow is forgiven if you stay in the home through an agreed occupancy period, and the rest is due when you sell, refinance, or move out. Maximum assistance is $30,000 or 20% of the purchase price, whichever is lower. You don't have to be a first-time buyer in the traditional sense, but you can't currently own a home. Six hours of HUD-approved homebuyer counseling is required for every applicant on the loan. Funding is limited and the program opens application windows periodically rather than staying open year-round.

KHC Down Payment Assistance (DAP)

Run by Kentucky Housing Corporation, available statewide. It only works if you're also getting your first mortgage through a KHC-approved loan program (like KHC Conventional Preferred). It provides up to $12,500 toward your down payment and closing costs, structured as a second loan repaid over 15 years — this one is not forgivable, you pay it back. Income limits are set at 80% of the area median income and vary by county, and the paired first-mortgage purchase price limit is currently $510,939 with a 660 minimum credit score. Because the exact income limit depends on which Kentucky county you're buying in, treat this screener's KHC read as directional — a KHC-approved lender confirms your exact number.

What this screener does not do

This is not a pre-approval and not a guarantee of funding. Both programs are subject to available funds, full underwriting, and program rules that change. The Louisville Metro program in particular runs on a limited annual allocation and can pause new applications once it's spent. Always confirm current numbers directly: Louisville Metro's own program page, or a KHC-approved lender for the KHC side.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use both programs on the same purchase?

Generally no — Louisville Metro's program and KHC's DAP are structured as separate systems with their own first-mortgage requirements, and most lenders will guide you toward whichever fits your loan product rather than stacking both. Ask your lender directly about your specific scenario.

Does "can't currently own a home" mean I have to be a first-time buyer?

Not in the strict three-year IRS sense some programs use. Louisville Metro's rule is that you may not currently own a home at the time you apply — if you sold a home years ago and don't own one now, you can still qualify on that point.

What counts as household income for these limits?

Gross annual income for everyone who will be on the loan and living in the home, not just the higher earner. Use your combined pre-tax household income when you run this screener.

Next steps with Winner Realty

If you screen as eligible for either program, the next move is getting pre-approved with a lender who actively works Louisville Metro DPA or KHC loans, then we can build your home search around your real, assistance-adjusted budget. Licensed in Kentucky and Indiana. Every listing goes live on MLS within 3 business days of signing.