Every Kentucky Loan Type. One Local Expert.
Whether you’re buying your first home, using down payment assistance, or rebuilding credit — there’s a program that fits. Compare them side by side before you commit.

🏠 FHA Loan

The go-to for first-time buyers and 580+ credit. Low down payment and flexible guidelines.

3.5% down · 580+ creditLearn More →

🎖 VA Loan

Zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance for veterans and active-duty service members.

$0 down · VA eligibleLearn More →

🌾 USDA Loan

100% financing for eligible rural and suburban Kentucky buyers within income limits.

$0 down · USDA areasLearn More →

🏛 KHC Assistance

Kentucky Housing down payment assistance for first-time and repeat buyers.

Up to $12,500 assistanceLearn More →

📈 Conventional

Best long-term value for stronger credit. PMI cancels at 20% equity, unlike FHA.

3% down · 620+ creditLearn More →

💰 Zero Down Options

Every route to buying with nothing down in Kentucky — VA, USDA, and KHC combos.

$0 down programsLearn More →

🌟 First-Time Buyers

All Kentucky first-time homebuyer programs compared in plain English.

Programs & grantsLearn More →

📊 Credit Scores

What score you actually need for each loan type in 2026 — and how to raise yours.

By loan programLearn More →

How to Get Approved for a Mortgage Loan in Kentucky (2026 Guide)

Image
How to Get Approved for a Mortgage Loan in Kentucky Thank you for visiting. I hope you find this website both informative and empowering as you explore your Kentucky mortgage options. My goal is simple: help you understand what mortgage underwriters actually review, help you avoid preventable approval issues, and help you choose the right loan program for your situation. I specialize in assisting Kentucky first-time homebuyers with FHA, VA, USDA Rural Housing, KHC down payment assistance , and Fannie Mae conventional mortgage loans . I proudly serve all 120 counties in Kentucky. FHA Loans in Kentucky VA Loans in Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Loans in Kentucky Fannie Mae Conventional Loans KHC Down Payment Assistance Programs With over 20 years of lending experience, I've had the privilege of helping more than 1,300 Kentucky families buy a home or refinance their current mortgage. Whether you are a first-time buyer, a veteran, a USDA buyer, a credit-challenged ...
Getting a Kentucky Mortgage in 3 Simple Steps
No confusing paperwork trails. No surprise fees. A clear path from first call to keys in hand.
01

💬 Get Pre-Qualified

Free application review with same-day answers. We look at your credit, income, and goals — no cost, no obligation, no pressure.

02

📋 Compare Your Options

FHA vs. Conventional vs. USDA vs. KHC — run side by side with your actual numbers so you see the real payment before you commit.

03

🏠 Close & Get Your Keys

Guided from contract to closing — appraisal, title, and underwriting coordinated so you always know what happens next.

Watch: Kentucky Mortgage Guides
Straight answers from my YouTube channel — no jargon, no sales pitch.
▶ More videos on my YouTube channel →
Joel Lobb and family - Kentucky mortgage loan officer
Kentucky Local. Not a Call Center.

Hi, I’m Joel Lobb — a Kentucky dad who’s spent 20+ years helping families across all 120 counties buy their first home. When you call, you get me — not a phone tree. Questions on a Saturday morning? I answer.

1,300+ Kentucky families have trusted me with their mortgage — from Louisville to Lexington to the smallest towns in the state. Free application reviews, same-day pre-approvals, and honest answers about what you actually qualify for.

See What You Qualify For →

USDA Rural Housing’s Streamline Refinance Pilot Program has great news for homeowners with a USDA home loan......

USDA Rural Housing’s Streamline Refinance Pilot Program has great news for homeowners with a USDA home loan......





(USDA Section 502 Guaranteed loans) allowing homeowners to include closing costs and other settlement charges into a lower rate USDA mortgage with streamlined guidelines making it easier to refinance to a lower interest rate and payment.  USDA mortgages offer buyers the ability to finance 100% of the purchase price when purchasing a primary residence but now USDA is making it much easier to refinance these USDA mortgages so homeowners can take advantage of today’s low fixed mortgage rates.
Effective June 22, 2012 Primelending began accepting the USDA Rural Housing Refinance Pilot Program and the financing of the principal balance of the existing USDA loan plus the accrued interest used to calculate the payoff, and any eligible closing costs.  The two year pilot refinancing program is available to homeowners with USDA mortgages in 19 eligible states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  But, if a borrower with a USDA loan in any of the other 31 states is looking to refinance, there is still a USDA streamline refinance that does not require an appraisal but it cannot finance the closing costs like the Pilot Refinance Program.
The USDA Pilot refinance program is available to help homeowners with a USDA mortgage refinance at a lower interest rate without an appraisal, inspection, or calculating debt to income ratios as long as the property is still in an eligible area and the household is under the USDA income limit for the county in which the property is located.   With the new USDA refinance guidelines, it provides a less restrictive form of refinancing to save money.
PrimeLending is one of the leading USDA lenders in the country and the Russell Smith team is one of the top producing USDA loan officers as well and both have extensive experience in USDA Rural Housing Mortgage Loans.
The USDA Rural Development Pilot refinance program guidelines include the following:
  • The interest rate on the new USDA loan must be a minimum or 1.00% lower than the existing USDA loan
  • Pilot eligible states include AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MS, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OR, RI, SC, & TN.  All other states are ineligible
  • Rural Refinance Pilot loans must meet basic eligibility:  Property must be in a USDA eligible area and the household income must be under the USDA county income limit
  • New term of the refinance loan must be 30 years
  • Upfront USDA Guarantee fee is 2.00% of the loan amount which can be financed on top of the base loan amount
  • Annual fee of 0..40%.  This would be new for most USDA borrowers since this is fairly new for USDA guaranteed loans.  This fee is paid monthly in the payment. For example:  $100,000 loan would be $30 per month.  $100,000 x .40% / 12 = $30..00
  • New USDA loan refinance loan may include the principal balance of the existing USDA guaranteed loan plus accrued interest through the payoff date, and any eligible closing costs
  • No cash out is permitted
  • Reasonable and customary closing costs and other fees may be collected from the borrower by the originating company
  • Income verification for all adult household members is required for income eligibility determination only, not for determining repayment ability
  • Ratio waivers are not required as income is just used for compliance income calculation only for verifying the income is under the county USDA household income limit


To apply for the Kentucky  USDA Pilot Refinance Program, click here.







Apply for a home loan by clicking the link below:It's free and takes less than 5 minutesOr call us at 502-905-3708 for your free application over the phone

Popular posts from this blog

How to Get Approved for a Mortgage Loan in Kentucky (2026 Guide)

Kentucky's Welcome Home Grant

Using a Pastor / Minister’s housing Clergy Income for A Mortgage Loan Approval