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Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish

Jefferson Parish Finance Authority · St. Bernard Parish County, Louisiana

Last verified
See what you qualify forOfficial program site →
Assistance

3%

Of the purchase price, as the program sets it

Income limit

115% AMI

Of area median income; varies by county and household size

Repayment

Grant

Not repaid

What is Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish is a grant for homebuyers in St. Bernard Parish County, Louisiana, administered by Jefferson Parish Finance Authority.

  • The Southern Mortgage Assistance Program provides a grant of 3% or 4% of the loan amount to cover down payment and closing costs for income-eligible buyers purchasing in St. Bernard, Jefferson, St. Charles, or St. Tammany Parishes. The DPA is a true grant with no repayment required.
  • No-repayment DPA grant.
  • 3% or 4% of loan amount.
  • 30-year fixed rate first mortgage.
  • Available for FHA, VA, RHS, and Freddie Mac HFA Advantage loans.
  • Funding comes from Jefferson Parish Finance Authority bond proceeds.

How much assistance does it provide?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish provides assistance worth 3% of the purchase price, as set by the program.

  • Award tiers: 3% DPA (FHA/VA/RHS/Freddie Mac HFA) or 4% DPA (FHA/VA/RHS only).
  • The program can be combined with other assistance, subject to the rules of each.
  • Amounts are the program's published maximums, not an offer — Jefferson Parish Finance Authority determines any individual award.

Do you have to pay it back?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish is structured as a grant, so it is not repaid.

  • Forgiveness and repayment terms are set by the program and can change — confirm them on the official program page before applying.

Who qualifies?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish is open to buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence.

The program requires

  • The home is occupied as a primary residence
  • On credit: Minimum FICO 640
  • A completed homebuyer education course, through Required for Freddie Mac HFA Advantage only; not required for FHA/VA/RHS
  • Residency: Property must be located in St. Bernard Parish
  • DRAFT (dpa-gap-finder 2026-06-13): pending review. Borrower must occupy within 60 days of closing; Freddie Mac HFA Advantage requires FTHB status and homebuyer education; exact current interest rates not confirmed — contact lender

The program excludes

  • Manufactured homes
  • Households above 115% 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?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish limits household income to 115% of the area median income, which varies by county and household size.

  • 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?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish caps the purchase price as follows: FHA: $271,050; VA: $417,000; RHS: no limit; Freddie Mac: $417,000.

  • Eligible property types include single_family, condo, and townhouse.
  • New construction is eligible.
  • Manufactured homes are not eligible.

Is there eligibility for specific groups?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish names veterans, active-duty service members, and reservists and National Guard members 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?

Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish serves buyers purchasing in St. Bernard Parish County, Louisiana.

How do you apply?

Applications for Southern Mortgage Assistance Program (SMAP) – St. Bernard Parish go through Jefferson Parish Finance Authority, which publishes the current terms and the application steps on its own site.

  1. Take a homebuyer education course

    Required by the program, through Required for Freddie Mac HFA Advantage only; not required for FHA/VA/RHS.

  2. Contact Jefferson Parish Finance Authority to reserve funds

    Funds are reserved with the provider 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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