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REACH HOME Program

Lexington, Kentucky

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Income limit

80% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Forgivable

Forgiven after 10 years

What is REACH HOME Program?

REACH HOME Program is a forgivable loan for homebuyers in Lexington, Kentucky.

  • REACH, Inc. is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency / 501(c)(3) headquartered in Lexington's Red Mile area. The REACH HOME Program is the agency's flagship DPA - a HUD HOME-funded forgivable second mortgage of up to $20,000 (1-person), $25,000 (2-person), or $30,000 (3+ person) for first-time homebuyers who reside in any of six Bluegrass counties (Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Scott, Woodford) and are purchasing a primary residence in Fayette County. 80% AMI ceiling; HOME affordability period (10 years for $15K-$40K range). Pre-purchase homebuyer education provided in-house.
  • The REACH HOME Program provides a forgivable second-mortgage loan to assist eligible Bluegrass-region first-time homebuyers with the down payment and closing costs needed to purchase a home in Fayette County (Lexington). The amount of assistance is sized to the actual amount needed to close the gap, capped by household size: up to $20,000 for a 1-person household, up to $25,000 for a 2-person household, and up to $30,000 for a 3-or-more-person household. Funded with federal HUD HOME pass-through dollars from LFUCG (Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government). The loan carries 0% interest, requires no monthly payments, and is forgiven over the HUD HOME affordability period (10 years for assistance amounts in the $15,000-$40,000 range per 24 CFR 92.254). REACH is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency and provides the required pre-purchase homebuyer education in-house.
  • Funding comes from Federal, HOME, and City.

Do you have to pay it back?

REACH HOME Program is forgiven after 10 years, so a buyer who stays that long does not repay it.

  • Repayment is triggered by Forgiven over the HUD HOME affordability period (10 years for $15,000-$40,000 assistance per 24 CFR 92.254). If property is sold, transferred, refinanced (cash-out), or vacated before the period ends, recapture per HUD HOME rules.
  • The assistance is recorded in 2nd Lien position.
  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

REACH HOME Program is open to first-time homebuyers and buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • First-time homebuyer — with exceptions: Standard HUD HOME exceptions to the 3-year FTHB rule apply: displaced homemakers, single parents who only owned a home with an ex-spouse, and prior owners of manufactured homes without permanent foundations.
  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: No published REACH-imposed minimum FICO; participating first-mortgage lender overlays apply (typically 620-640).
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through REACH, Inc. - HUD-approved housing counseling agency. REACH provides the required pre-purchase homebuyer education in-house and via eHome America online (www.ehomeamerica.org/reachky). Certificate of completion required before closing.
  • Residency: Buyer must be a resident of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Scott, or Woodford County for at least one year prior to home purchase. Purchased home must be located in Fayette County (Lexington) and must be borrower's primary residence.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: Per HUD HOME federal eligibility - U.S. citizen or qualifying non-citizen.
  • Eligible client must be a resident of one of six Bluegrass counties for at least one year prior to home purchase: Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Scott, or Woodford. The home being purchased must be located in Fayette County (Lexington). First-time homebuyer required (HUD HOME standard - no homeownership in past 3 years; standard HOME exceptions for displaced homemakers and single parents apply). Household income at or below 80% AMI for the Lexington-Fayette MSA per HUD HOME limits. Must complete REACH's required homebuyer education program. Property must be owner-occupied as primary residence and meet HUD HOME property standards (HQS / NSPIRE). Pre-1978 housing subject to lead-based paint clearance under HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule. Funding is subject to availability under LFUCG's annual HUD HOME allocation; applications may be paused when funding is exhausted (e.g., LFUCG First-Time Homebuyer page noted funds exhausted as of May 2025, with future open application periods).

The program excludes

  • Households above 80% of area median income

These are the program's own published rules, not a decision about any individual — the administering agency and a lender determine who actually qualifies.

What are the income limits?

REACH HOME Program limits household income to 80% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • Household income at or below 80% AMI for Lexington-Fayette MSA per HUD HOME limits (varies by household size). Verify current year limits with REACH or LFUCG Housing Advocacy & Community Development.
  • The limit applies to total household income, not only the borrower’s.
  • Area median income figures are published by HUD and updated annually, so check the current table for the county before relying on a number.

What kind of home can it be used for?

REACH HOME Program caps the purchase price as follows: Subject to LFUCG / HUD HOME 95%-of-area-median purchase-price limit for the Lexington-Fayette MSA (verify current limit with REACH); first-mortgage product loan limits also apply.

  • Eligible property types include Single-family detached, condominium, townhouse, half of duplex (one side owner-occupied), manufactured home on permanent foundation, and new construction - all per HUD HOME property type rules.
  • New construction is eligible.
  • Manufactured homes are eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

REACH HOME Program names veterans, active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, and surviving spouses among the groups it serves.

  • Being named here means the program mentions the group, not that membership alone qualifies an applicant — the rest of the eligibility rules still apply.

Where does it apply?

REACH HOME Program serves buyers purchasing in Lexington, Kentucky.

How do you apply?

Applications for REACH HOME Program go through the administering agency, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through REACH, Inc. - HUD-approved housing counseling agency. REACH provides the required pre-purchase homebuyer education in-house and via eHome America online (www.ehomeamerica.org/reachky). Certificate of completion required before closing..

  2. Contact the administering agency to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved through Eligible buyers contact REACH at 859-455-8057 to enroll in homebuyer education and apply for HOME funds. Subject to availability under LFUCG's annual HUD HOME allocation (funding has been exhausted in past program years - check current status)., and are subject to availability.

  3. Work with a lender who handles the program

    Hey Prescott is not a lender and does not accept applications; this page describes the program so a buyer can take it to a lender or housing counselor.

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