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.
Louisville Kentucky VA Residual Income Guidelines Residual Income VA residual income is one of the major underwriting guidelines required to qualify for a Louisville Ky VA mortgage. Residual income is calculated by determining the gross monthly income of the veteran and spouse. Then, ... deduct from that total gross monthly income the following monthly expenses: 0 State Taxes Social Security Federal Taxes Proposed new monthly house payment (PITI: principle, interest, taxes and insurance) Estimated Maintenance and Utilities Monthly Child Care Expense Alimony or Child Support Monthly consumer debt payments: installment and revolving credit cards The balance remaining is "residual income" and will determine whether the borrower qualifies based on the table below. Louisville Ky VA's minimum residual incomes (balance available for family support) are a guide. They should not automatically trigger approval or rejection of a loan. Inst...
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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.
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.
Credit score: 620-but to get an approval need a 720 or higher usually...
DTI: 36% to 50%, depending on the lender and how strong other parts of your financial profile are-if you have mortgage insurance max debt to income ratio is 45% backend ratio
Down payment: You may need up 5% minimum for standard Fannie Mae loans, but if your mortgage is backed by government-sponsored mortgage companies Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, you'll only need 3% for their Homepath or Homepossible mortgage loans.
A loan from the Federal Housing Administration is for buyers who don't have the best credit scores or DTIs, but still want to buy a home. Here's what you'll need for an FHA loan:
DTI: 56% max approval usually with good scores and a AUS approval through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and money down. DTI is lower on a manual underwrite loan.
Down payment: 3.5%; or if your score is between 500 and 579, you can qualify with a 10% down payment
Other requirements: The FHA restricts how much you can borrow, and your limit depends on where you live in the US and whether you're buying a single- or multi-family place. Your home must meet certain property standards. You can use an FHA loan to buy a home with normal wear and tear, but not one with major structural or safety issues.
Other requirements: You must be an active-duty military member or a veteran who served for a certain amount of time. You'll also qualify if you're a spouse of someone who died in active duty or another military-related incident, or if your spouse is a prisoner of war or MIA. The home you're buying should meet safety standards and be used as your primary residence, but there are no strict borrowing limits set by the VA.
How to qualify for a USDA loan
A loan from the United States Department of Agriculture is for low-to-moderate income borrowers buying homes in rural or suburban areas. You'll need the following to be eligible:
Credit score: 581 minimum score, but most lenders will want a 620 to 640 credit score
Other requirements: Your home must be in a rural or suburban part of the US. If you already know the address of the home you want to buy, enter the information into the USDA Property Eligibility Site to see if it qualifies for a USDA loan. You also must earn a low-to-moderate income, and the limit varies based on where you live.
Knowing which mortgage types you qualify for can help you determine which one is the best fit. There may be some flexibility, though. For instance, a lender may approve you with a high DTI if you have an excellent credit score and sizeable down payment. If you're set on a certain type of mortgage but don't qualify, call a lender to ask about your options.
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 ...
Kentucky Welcome Home Grant 2026 Update: Program Closed and Out of Funds May 2026 update for Kentucky homebuyers: the 2026 Welcome Home Grant is now closed for new reservations. This does not mean you cannot buy a home. It means you need to pivot quickly to other Kentucky mortgage and down payment assistance options. May 2026 Update Welcome Home Grant Closed KHC DAP Still Available USDA, VA, FHA Options Important Update: The 2026 Welcome Home Grant Is Closed The 2026 Welcome Home Grant through FHLB Cincinnati is now closed and out of funds for new reservations . If your lender did not reserve the money before the program closed, you should not build your home purchase plan around receiving this grant for 2026. The hard truth: this grant was popular, limited, and first-come, first-served. Once the available funds were reserved, the program closed. Good News: Kentucky Buyers Still Have Options ...
Using a Pastor / Minister’s housing allowance to qualify for a mortgage Member of the Clergy Income for A Mortgage Loan Approval Where a borrower is a member of the clergy, all of the following will be required to document income: 1) Most recent year full tax return, 2) Most recent pay stubs, 3) W-2s, 4) Contract from the church to determine benefits. The IRS looks at the housing allowance portion of a pastor’s income as an exclusion from income. Therefore the housing allowance is not reported on the personal tax returns as taxable income. Even though it is not reported on the tax returns, a pastor’s housing allowance can be used in qualifying for a mortgage loan to purchase or refinance a home. As long as we can document the receipt of the housing income through a signed letter from the church/employer stating the actual breakdown of the pay and by providing copies of the checks received, we should be able to count the housing allowance as incom...
