LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Help is available for low to moderate-income families looking to buy a home in Louisville. 

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville Metro Government is accepting applications for its Down Payment Assistance Program

  • The program helps cover the cost of down payments and closing costs

  • Low to moderate-income households can apply for assistance

  • The average amount of assistance per household is $29,000

The Louisville Metro Down Payment Assistance Program is once again accepting applications. 

For Laura Grabowski, Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development at Louisville Metro Government, that means more “sold” signs in town.  

“It creates stability and creates great neighborhoods, safe neighborhoods, and so to be able to increase the homeownership rate in our neighborhoods throughout the city, really helps the community in general,” said Grabowski.  

Her team at the Office of Housing and Community Development help low to moderate-income families get to closing day. The office’s Down Payment Assistance Program covers the down payment and closing costs of homes. On average, the program saves home buyers an average of $29,000. 

“Of course, that’s certainly not a guarantee. We do look at every application on a case-by-case basis and we try to help people make the house as affordable as possible for their family while staying within the limits of the program,” said Grabowski. 

Applicants must live in the house as their primary residence and the household must be at 80% of the area’s median income.

“That can be confusing to people,” said Grabowski. “We can help you figure out if you’re eligible and, if so, what type of price point you should be looking for in your house, and then go find a house and come back. That’s the fastest way to make this work.” 

During the fiscal year 2022, the team helped 105 families buy a home. This cycle it hopes to help another 80 to 100 homebuyers. “This year we have about $4 million, which is more than in the past. A lot of those funds have come from the American Rescue Plan,” said Grabowski. 

The goal of the program is to encourage homeownership, mixed-income neighborhoods and reinvestment in vacant and abandoned properties. 

For Grabowski, the best part of her job is celebrating closing day with families. 

“It’s a program that really makes you feel good about the work that you do just to be able to see people build wealth and essentially have the American dream of owning your own home,” says Grabowski. 

Applications for the program will be accepted until funds run out. Funds can be applied to the purchase of an existing or newly constructed home in Louisville. The program is not limited to first-time homebuyers. 

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