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Showing posts with the label First-Time Home Buyers
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 →
Free Kentucky Homebuyer Tools
Run your own numbers before you call. Each tool uses 2026 FHA, VA, USDA, KHC and Conventional guidelines.

📈 Credit Score Simulator

See how paying down cards or fixing errors could move your score, and which loan programs it unlocks.

What-if score plannerOpen the tool →

💵 Qualifying Income

Find out what income a lender will count: hourly pay, overtime, self-employment and benefits.

Income calculatorOpen the tool →

⚖️ Debt-to-Income (DTI)

Check your DTI against FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional limits, including student loan rules.

DTI calculatorOpen the tool →

🏡 KHC Assistance Payment

See your monthly payment with the $12,500 KHC down payment loan and how much cash you still need at closing.

KHC DAP calculatorOpen the tool →

Kentucky Homeowners: Draft White House Order Could Make Refinancing Cheaper

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The White House is reportedly considering a draft executive order titled "Decreasing Housing Costs for the American People," first obtained by Scotsman Guide and also reported by HousingWire . As of this writing it has not been signed , and the final details could change. Here is what the current draft includes and why Kentucky borrowers should keep an eye on it. What the Draft Proposes Reducing or eliminating certain loan-level pricing fees on eligible refinances Waiving appraisals and some documentation on qualifying refinances that lower your payment Expanding title insurance waivers to reduce closing costs Directing the VA and USDA to pursue lower rates for eligible borrowers Requiring servicers to notify you when you may qualify to remove mortgage insurance Who in Kentucky Could Benefit Homeowners who bought or refinanced at higher rates over the past few years Veterans and military families, including those near Fort Knox and Fort Campbell Rural home...
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 →

Kentucky first-time homebuyers with a focus on FHA, VA, USDA Home loans in Kentucky

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Kentucky First-Time Homebuyer Loan Programs: FHA, VA, and USDA Explained If you're a first-time homebuyer in Kentucky, it’s easy to get lost in the mortgage details. My job is to simplify the landscape so you can make a confident, well-informed decision. Below is a clear, side-by-side breakdown of FHA, VA, and USDA home loans—three programs designed to help Kentucky buyers secure affordable financing. Learn more about each program here: FHA, VA, and USDA home loans in Kentucky . FHA Loan – Ideal for Buyers with Lower Credit Scores Minimum Credit Score: 580+ (lower scores possible with more down) Down Payment: 3.5% minimum Debt-to-Income Ratio: Up to 45% front-end, 56.99% back-end Employment: Preferably 2-year job history Past Credit Issues: More flexible after bankruptcy or foreclosure Time to Close: Approximately 30–45 days Appraisal: Must meet FHA Minimum Property Standards Income Documentation: Recent pay stubs W-2s (last 2 years) ...

Kentucky Shared Appreciation Mortgage (SAM): Official KHC Guidelines for First-Time Homebuyers

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Updated July 16, 2026. Kentucky Housing Corporation has released SAM program guidelines, the lender matrix, and program FAQ ahead of launch. The full program guide is housed in KHC's AllRegs, which is the controlling source. Guidelines, rates, and fees are subject to change without notice. Buying a home in Kentucky has gotten harder. Prices, closing costs, rates, and mortgage insurance all push the monthly payment out of reach for buyers who could otherwise handle homeownership just fine. Kentucky Housing Corporation's Shared Appreciation Mortgage — SAM — is built for a specific slice of those buyers: first-time homebuyers purchasing a newly constructed home in Kentucky. KHC describes SAM as a zero-interest, deferred-payment second mortgage designed to close the affordability gap. It provides up to 25% of the purchase price as a zero-interest, deferred-payment second mortgage. It is also unlike any down payment assistance Kentucky buyers have used before, because...

Louisville First Time Home Buyers: 2026 Programs & Down Payment Help

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FHA • VA • USDA • KHC Down Payment Assistance • Louisville Metro DPA — updated August 2026 If you are one of the many Louisville first time home buyers trying to figure out how much cash you actually need, this page is the short version: in Jefferson County you can realistically buy with 3.5% down, and in several cases with nothing down at all . What decides which path fits you is your credit score, your household income, and where in the metro you are shopping. Below I break down every program available to Louisville first time home buyers in 2026 — FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) down payment assistance, and the Louisville Metro Down Payment Assistance Program — with the real 2026 numbers, not last year's. The short answer Most Louisville first time home buyers use an FHA loan with 3.5% down — about $9,625 on a $275,000 home — and cover part or all of that with KHC down payment assistance o...

Kentucky First Time Home Buyer Approval Requirement for a Mortgage Loan

Kentucky First-Time Home Buyer Approval Requirements 2026 | FHA, VA, USDA, KHC & SmartBuy Updated May 2026 Kentucky First-Time Home Buyer Approval Requirements in 2026 Here is the practical, no-nonsense guide to getting approved for a mortgage in Kentucky: credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, FHA, VA, USDA, KHC, SmartBuy assistance, required documents, and next steps. FHA 3.5% Down VA 0% Down USDA 0% Down KHC DAP up to $12,500 SmartBuy DPA Options Get a Kentucky Mortgage Pre-Approval Before You Start Shopping A pre-approval should tell you more than just “yes” or “no.” It should show which program fits your credit score, income, cash to close, location, and payment comfort level. Start Free Pre-Approval Call/Text 502-905-3708 Email Joel Approval Snapshot Credit Scores Down Payment KHC DAP SmartBuy DPA Payment Calculator Eligibility Quiz D...