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 →

Kentucky Homebuyers in 2026: Increased Loan Limits for Conventional and FHA Mortgages

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced higher conforming loan limits for 2026, and the news is good for Kentucky homebuyers: the baseline conventional loan limit jumps to $832,750 for a single-family home — an increase of $26,250 (3.26%) over the 2025 limit of $806,500. FHA loan limits are rising right along with it, with the new FHA floor set at $541,287 for every county in Kentucky. Since no Kentucky county is designated a high-cost area, these baseline limits apply statewide — from Louisville and Lexington to every rural county in between. That means more borrowing power for Kentucky buyers without crossing into jumbo loan territory. New 2026 Loan Limits in Kentucky for Conventional and FHA Mortgage Loans Property Type Conventional Loan Limit (FHFA) FHA Loan Limit 1-Unit $832,750 $541,287 2-Unit $1,066,250 $693,050 3-Unit $1,288,800 $837,700 4-Unit $1,601,750 $1,041,125 Source: FHFA conforming loan limit announcement for 2026 and HUD FHA loan limits...
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 →

Conventional Mortgage Guidelines for Kentucky

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Underwriting Guidelines for Mortgage Approval


These are called conventional because they must conform to the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae standards set by the government, but they are not government insured. This poses a greater risk to lenders because they are not guaranteed repayment in the event the loan defaults; rather, they are forced to take a personal loss.

For these reasons, conventional mortgages are more difficult to obtain with stricter lending requirements in regards to credit score, down payment, debt to income ratio, mortgage insurance  and previous bankruptcies or foreclosure.


KENTUCKY MORTGAGE GUIDELINES FOR CONVENTIONAL MORTGAGE LOANS IN KENTUCKY







 Let's take a look at each subject below:👇


Credit Scores: 


Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Require a minimum 620 credit score.

You have three credit scores from Experian, Equifax, and Transunion, and they take the middle score, throwing out the high and low score. The higher the credit score the better pricing you will get on the rate and mortgage insurance along with your down payment.
Ideally for higher credit score buyers, say over 680, and with at least 3% down payment with a low debt to income ratio.


Down Payment:  

Conventional mortgage loans require a minimum of 3% down payment. The more you put down, the better the rate, lower the mortgage insurance, and greater chances of getting approved.

If you put down 20%, then you will not have to pay mortgage insurance, or if you refinance an existing loan that has mortgage insurance, you can potentially get rid of the mortgage insurance if your equity position is less than 20% of the home's value.


Debt to Income: 


Conventional Mortgage loans typically will not allow for a back-end ratio of over 45%. They're two ratios, the front-end and back-end ratio. The front-end ratio is a percentage of the total house payment of your total gross monthly income. The back-end ratio is the new total house payment along with the monthly payments on your credit report divided by your total gross monthly income.

For example, if you make $3,000 gross a month, your total backend ratio would me maxed out at 1,350 a month. So if you had $300 in monthly payments on the credit report, this would allow for a maximum house payment of $1,050.00

Mortgage Insurance:


 Mortgage insurance is typically cheaper and less expensive on conventional mortgage loans. They're competing private mortgage insurance companies competing for the business with the names of MGIC, Radian, Essent, Genworth and Ugcorp.

 Conversely, it is not like Government insured FHA, VA and USDA  mortgage loans where all applicants get the same premiums regardless of credit score, down payment and debt to income ratio. Mortgage insurance is usually expressed as a monthly premium, with no upfront mortgage premiums like FHA, VA, and USDA government loan programs.

The higher the credit score, lower debt to income ratio and more nd can be removed once you reach 80% equity position in the home.

Bankruptcies and Foreclosure: 

A four-year waiting period is required, measured from the discharge or dismissal date of the bankruptcy action.
Exceptions for Extenuating Circumstances
A two-year waiting period is permitted if extenuating circumstances can be documented, and is measured from the discharge or dismissal date of the bankruptcy action.
A distinction is made between Chapter 13 bankruptcies that were discharged and those that were dismissed. The waiting period required for Chapter 13 bankruptcy actions is measured as follows:
  • two years from the discharge date, or
  • four years from the dismissal date.

.Foreclosure

A seven-year waiting period is required, and is measured from the completion date of the foreclosure action as reported on the credit report or other foreclosure documents provided by the borrower.

These transaction types are completed as alternatives to foreclosure.
  • A deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is a transaction in which the deed to the real property is transferred back to the servicer. These are typically identified on the credit report through Remarks Codes such as “Forfeit deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.”
  • A pre-foreclosure sale or short sale is the sale of a property in lieu of a foreclosure resulting in a payoff of less than the total amount owed, which was pre-approved by the servicer. These are typically identified on the credit report through Remarks Codes such as “Settled for less than full balance.”
  • A charge-off of a mortgage account occurs when a creditor has determined that there is little (or no) likelihood that the mortgage debt will be collected. A charge-off is typically reported after an account reaches a certain delinquency status, and is identified on the credit report with a manner of payment (MOP) code of “9.”
A four-year waiting period is required from the completion date of the deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, pre-foreclosure sale, or charge-off as reported on the credit report or other documents provided by the borrower.




10602 Timberwood Circle Suite 3
Louisville, KY 40223


Text/call 502-905-3708
If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for a loan, please contact us at 502-905-3708.

Disclaimer: No statement on this site is a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower qualifications, including income, property evaluation, sufficient equity in the home to meet Loan-to-Value requirements, and final credit approval. Approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines, interest rates, and program guidelines and are subject to change without notice based on applicant's eligibility and market conditions. Refinancing an existing loan may result in total finance charges being higher over the life of a loan. Reduction in payments may reflect a longer loan term. Terms of any loan may be subject to payment of points and fees by the applicant  Equal Opportunity Lender. NMLS#57916 http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/



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