Are You a First-Time Home Buyer in Kentucky?
Here are the mortgage programs available to first-time homebuyers in your state.
Nationwide first-time homebuyer programs
A “conventional” mortgage sourced through the private market can have pretty demanding requirements, including a credit score of at least 620 and a typical down payment of 5%.
More: Use these savings accounts to build up your down payment.
Those standards can be tough to meet when you’re a first-time buyer, so you may want to look into one of these nonconventional mortgages offered through the federal government.
FHA loans
FHA loans were created by the Federal Housing Administration, which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to help more Americans become homeowners.
These loans typically have less stringent requirements. You’ll need a minimum credit score of 580 and are able to make just a 3.5% down payment, but if you can put more money down upfront, you could be eligible with a credit score as low as 500.
The FHA's Loan Requirements Explained.
A walkthrough of how to meet the FHA's requirements.
See GuideVA loans
These loans were created thanks to an act passed by Congress in 1944 to help veterans secure homes. As a result, today’s U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can guarantee or insure home loans made to veterans by various lending institutions.
Active service members, veterans and some surviving military spouses can all qualify for a VA loan. There are fees associated — notably a sizable funding fee — but borrowers are exempt from down payment and mortgage insurance obligations.
USDA loans
USDA loans are for lower-income rural and suburban Americans and are guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Like VA loans, these loans don’t require a down payment or private mortgage insurance.
With a USDA home loan, you’ll have to pay a few fees: an upfront 1% guarantee fee and an annual 0.35% fee. But the total cost still ends up lower than the amount you’d pay in mortgage insurance on another type of loan.
These loans aren’t ideal for most households: They have a strict income limit. The current income limits in most parts of the U.S. are $86,850 for one- to four-member households and $114,650 for five- to eight-member households, but the thresholds may be higher if you live in a county with a steeper-than-average cost of living. The USDA’s website has the exact figures for each region.
First-time homebuyer qualifications in Kentucky
The Kentucky Housing Corporation offers a number of programs for first-time homebuyers from low- to moderate-income households. You’ll work with an approved lender on the application process to qualify for the KHC’s assistance programs.
To qualify for the agency’s loans, you must:
- Fall within your county’s “secondary market” income limit for qualifying for a reduced-interest loan with fewer overall requirements.
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualified noncitizen.
- Have a credit score of at least 620 (though some programs will require a higher score).
More: Get a free credit score and credit monitoring from Credit Sesame.
Programs for first-time homebuyers in Kentucky in 2021
The KHC offers a number of programs to help Kentucky residents afford to buy a home, from mortgage loan programs to down payment assistance and federal tax credit programs.
The housing agency also offers potential homebuyers access to resources including housing counseling and education, and a homebuying guide.
Conventional Preferred Program
The Kentucky Housing Corporation offers a few different loan programs, including the Conventional Preferred program. These home loans have 30-year fixed interest rates, so your rate won’t change over the life of the loan. The mortgages are serviced by the KHC and maintained in Kentucky, not sold off the way other mortgages are.
To qualify for this program, you’ll need:
- A minimum credit score of 660.
- A down payment of 3% of your purchase price.
- To pay monthly mortgage insurance.
- An income that doesn’t exceed 80% of the local median income.
With the Conventional Preferred Program, you also can make use of any of the state’s down payment assistance programs for help with your closing costs.
Conventional Preferred Plus 80 Program
Many of the requirements for the Preferred Plus 80 program are similar to those for the Conventional Preferred Program loans. You’ll need:
- A minimum credit score of 660.
- A down payment of 3% of your purchase price.
- Monthly mortgage insurance.
- An income that doesn’t exceed your county’s “secondary market” limit.
And, the KHC’s down payment assistance programs can be used in conjunction with the Conventional Preferred Plus 80 program.
Home Buyer Tax Credit
This tax credit gives you a dollar-for-dollar reduction on your federal taxes of up to 25% of the interest you pay on your mortgage for each calendar year you occupy your home. The credit is available for all first-time homebuyers.
To qualify, your home’s purchase price must be under $294,600 and the money you make must be within the income limits for your county and household size.
You can apply for the tax credit through your approved lender for an FHA, VA, USDA or conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage loan.
Regular Down Payment Assistance Program
To help cover your down payment and closing costs, your approved lender can help you apply for a down payment assistance loan. For homes with a purchase price of up to $327,334, KHC’s Regular Down Payment Assistance program will offer the buyer a loan of up to $6,000 in $100 increments. The loan has a 10-year term at a 5.5% interest rate. The program is available to all KHC first mortgage loan recipients.
Affordable Down Payment Assistance Program
The purchase price limit for the Affordable Down Payment Assistance Program is also $327,334, but if you meet this program’s income limits, you can receive an up to 10-year, $6,000 loan at just 1% interest.
The Best Lenders for a Mortgage
Click HereNext steps
Now that you know all your options, you may be asking yourself: “What next?”
A great first move would be to take a look at your credit score and see how you measure up to your ideal loan’s requirements. You can get a free score through the site Credit Sesame.
Is your score disappointing? That’s OK; you have plenty of options. An organization like Self credit repair can help you bring your score up.
Once you’re in good shape, don’t forget to gather the important documents you’ll need to prove you’ve got money in the bank and cash flowing in.
Then you can finally think about getting pre-approved for a mortgage and start shopping for your new place.
Support for new homebuyers in other states
| Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) | Read More |
| Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) | Read More |
| California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) | Read More |
| Colorado Housing and Finance Agency (CHFA) | Read More |
| Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) | Read More |
| Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) | Read More |
| Florida Housing Finance Corp. (Florida Housing) | Read More |
| Georgia Dream | Read More |
| Hawaii Housing and Finance Development Corporation (HHFDC) | Read More |
| Idaho Housing and Finance Association | Read More |
| Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) | Read More |
| Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) | Read More |
| Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) | Read More |
| Kansas Housing Resources Corporation | Read More |
| Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) | Read More |
| Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) | Read More |
| MassHousing (Massachusetts) | Read More |
| Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) | Read More |
| Minnesota Housing | Read More |
| Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) | Read More |
| Montana Board of Housing (MBOH) | Read More |
| Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) | Read More |
| Nevada Housing Division | Read More |
| New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) | Read More |
| State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) | Read More |
| North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) | Read More |
| Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) | Read More |
| Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) | Read More |
| Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) | Read More |
| Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) | Read More |
| South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) | Read More |
| Tennessee Housing Development Authority (THDA) | Read More |
| Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) | Read More |
| Utah Housing Corp | Read More |
| Virginia Housing | Read More |
| Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) | Read More |
| Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) | Read More |
| Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) | Read More |
What's Next
Today's Mortgage Rates
See if you qualify for today's mortgage rates.
FHA vs. Conventional Loans: Which Is Better?
Conventional loans and FHA loans are two of the most common mortgage loans in the U.S.; they meet two very different sets of needs.
How Much Can I Borrow for a Mortgage Loan?
By using our mortgage calculator, and taking a few key measurements in your life, you’ll soon have a solid price range you can take with you on your hunt.
