Home financing in Jefferson Parish.
County-by-county financing guides. No paperwork. No social. No ID.
10 institutions are headquartered inside the Jefferson Parish line, Kenner included, and 4 more keep a branch here. Below, we say which is which.
Not this lane? Business FinancingPersonal Financing
The doors in Jefferson Parish.
The CDFIs, credit unions, and microlenders that actually say yes — county by county, in two languages. We are not a lender. Nobody paid to be listed. And where a county has no good doors, we say so.
- 14
- DOORS HERE
- 10
- BASED HERE
- 43
- LA COUNTIES WITH DOORS
- Lane
- Home Financing
- People
- 441Kresidents of Jefferson Parish
- Covers
- Kenner
- Elsewhere in LA
- Orleans Parish →27 doors — the biggest list of any other county in Louisiana
- State
- Louisiana →43 of 64 counties hold a door in this lane
Certified by the U.S. Treasury to lend where a bank will not. Nonprofit, patient, and used to a file that is not clean.
Epic Credit Union · Onpath Credit UnionOwned by their members, not by shareholders. They look at your whole story rather than a score, and that is the difference when a bank says no.
Epic Credit Union · Fleur-De-Lis Credit Union- Epic Credit UnionCDFI-certifiedPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Fleur-De-Lis Credit UnionPersonal · Home
- Jefferson Parish Employees Credit UnionPersonal · Home
- Louisiana Central Credit UnionPersonal · Home
- Onpath Credit UnionCDFI-certifiedMinority depositoryPersonal · Home · Business capital
- IN THIS LIST
3 of the 14 doors inside the county line are CDFI-certified.
The U.S. Treasury certifies them to lend to the people banks pass over. It is a loan, not a favour.
- The New Orleans Firemen's Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Xplore Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Electrical Workers Local 130 Credit UnionPersonal
Show the other 2Show fewer
- New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union, TheCDFI-certifiedPersonal
- New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Credit UnionPersonal
Based elsewhere, with a member-facing office inside the Jefferson Parish line. You can walk in.
- Keesler Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- La Capitol Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Post Office Employees Credit UnionPersonal · Home · Business capital
- Riverland Credit UnionPersonal · Home
- Mission Asset FundAccepts ITIN
Zero-interest lending circles and credit building. SSN or ITIN accepted. Works through nonprofit partners across the country.
Personal - Accion Opportunity FundAccepts ITIN
Nonprofit small-business lender. Accepts ITIN in place of SSN. Serves most states, in English and Spanish.
Business capital - Grameen AmericaAccepts ITIN
Microloans for women entrepreneurs. Requires photo ID and proof of address — no SSN requirement. Branches in major metro areas.
Business capital
Nobody paid to be on this list.
The 14 doors inside the county line come off public data, and 14 of them are owned by their own members. We do not ask for your name, and we earn nothing if you knock on one door rather than another.
How to read this list.
We do not ask for your name, your email, or your number. Nothing on this page changes based on who you are.
A door is headquartered here when its head office sits inside the county line. The rest are based elsewhere and keep a branch you can walk into. We list both, and we label which is which.
Every institution on this page comes from public federal data — the CDFI Fund certified list (Aug 2026), NCUA credit union data (Jun 2026), and the SBA microloan intermediary list (Sep 2026) — plus a short national tier we verified by hand. We refresh each list as its agency publishes. No listing is paid.
Who actually approves home loans in Jefferson Parish.
home-purchase applications that reached a decision were turned down: 316 of 2,784.
- Applications
- 3,463
- Loans made
- 2,367
- Median rate
- 6.5%
- Too much debt for the income33.2%
- Credit history19.3%
- The home's value or condition14.2%
- United Shore Financial Services42328421%6.4%
- Rocket Mortgage43227726.6%6.4%
- Gulf Coast Bank and Trust3142368.8%6.5%
- Movement Mortgage2521833.6%6.4%
- Hancock Whitney Bank28816621.4%6.2%
- First Horizon Bank2291649.7%6.4%
- Fidelity Bank2381539.9%6.6%
- Eustis Mortgage1701236.1%6.5%
- Freedom Mortgage22910612.6%6.3%
- GMFS1541044%6.4%
The 10 lenders that made the most home loans in Jefferson Parish in 2025, buying and refinancing together. The mark on each bar is the whole county's denial rate (22.4%). Home loans only: first-lien, owner-occupied, one-to-four-unit homes, as reported under the federal HMDA law. Small lenders below its reporting threshold — many of the credit unions above — don't report, so their loans aren't counted here. Rates are for loans made. Source: HMDA 2025 public loan records (FFIEC).
Buying a home in Jefferson Parish means Metairie ranch houses on slabs, Kenner neighborhoods near the airport, more affordable streets in Marrero, Harvey and Westwego, and fishing-town homes on stilts down the bayou. It also means the questions that decide affordability here: flood zones, insurance premiums, storm-ready roofs and clear title. This guide explains the loans that exist, how to qualify on construction, maritime, seasonal or ITIN income, the documents to gather, the credit unions actually based in the parish, Louisiana's property rules, and the traps to walk away from.
It's a process, not a rejection.
A home loan is not one product. It is a family of them, and the right one depends on who you are and what you are buying.
- A conventional mortgage — the standard loan, not backed by the government. Best terms go to steady income and solid credit.
- An FHA loan — insured by the federal government, built for first-time and moderate-income buyers, more forgiving on credit and down payment, with mortgage insurance as the trade-off.
- A VA loan — for eligible veterans and service members. Check eligibility early; it can change the whole picture.
- A USDA loan — for eligible rural areas only. Most of the parish is too developed, but some lower-parish communities may qualify; check the address.
- An ITIN mortgage — for buyers who file taxes with an ITIN. Fewer lenders offer them, they usually ask for a larger down payment, and they are often held by the institution rather than sold.
- A renovation loan — repair money rolled into the purchase, useful for the many older or storm-worn houses on the market.
- Down payment and closing cost assistance — through the state's housing finance agency and, at times, parish programs, usually with income limits and a homebuyer class.
Jefferson Parish's housing has distinct pieces. Metairie and Kenner on the East Bank are mostly mid-century ranch houses on slabs, with apartment complexes and duplexes where many Latino families rent.
The Westbank, from Gretna through Harvey, Marrero and Westwego, generally offers lower prices.
Down the bayou, in Lafitte and Grand Isle, homes are raised on pilings and face the hardest weather.
In this parish, the purchase price is only half the story. Flood insurance, homeowners insurance and wind coverage can add as much to the monthly cost as taxes do, and premiums have climbed sharply in recent years. A house that floods repeatedly, sits low, or has an old roof can be hard to insure at any reasonable price.
Before you fall in love with a house, get insurance quotes.
They decide what you can actually afford.
Forget what the banks say.
Mortgage underwriters want stable income, a history of paying bills, money for the down payment and closing, and a house worth the loan that can be insured. Here is how that plays out for the way people in this parish earn.
- 01**The construction worker or rebuild contractor
** Storm work makes income jump and fall. Underwriters average two years of tax returns, so a boom year followed by a normal year is fine, but they qualify you on net income after deductions. A roofer who wrote off everything often qualifies for less house than expected. Talk with your tax preparer a year before you plan to buy.
- 02**The maritime
Shipyard or oilfield worker.** Payroll jobs with steady hours and overtime are strong files. Rotational offshore schedules are fine if they show a consistent two-year history.
- 03**The fisherman or shrimper
** Self-employment rules apply: two years of returns, and the lender averages good seasons and bad.
- 04**The restaurant and hospitality worker
** Hourly wages with a two-year history work. Reported tips count; unreported cash does not.
- 05**The mixed-status household
** It is common in Kenner and on the Westbank for one spouse to have a Social Security number and the other an ITIN. Depending on the loan, one may apply alone or both through an ITIN-friendly lender. Ask how each choice changes the amount you qualify for and whose name goes on the title.
- 06**The thin-file first-time buyer
** Some programs accept a year of on-time rent, utilities and phone payments as nontraditional credit. Keep proof of every rent payment.
- 07**The small landlord
** Lenders count rental income from leases and your Schedule E. Buying a duplex and living in one side lets you use owner-occupied financing on an income property.
- MISSING ONE?Ask Iris which one you're missing.ASK A QUESTION ↓
Get your papers in order.
Mortgage paperwork is heavier than any other loan. Gather it early, and keep copies somewhere a flood cannot reach.
- 01Government photo ID
A Louisiana driver license or ID, or a passport
- 02Social Security number or your ITIN
With the IRS letter that assigned the ITIN
- 03Two years of W-2s
1099s and complete federal tax returns, all pages and schedules
- 04Pay stubs covering the last thirty days if you are on payroll
- 05Two months of statements for every bank account, all pages
- 06A written explanation and paper trail for every large deposit.
Cash saved at home and deposited at once is a common problem; lenders must trace it. Move savings into the bank months before you apply.
- 07Gift letter if family is helping
With proof the money moved from their account to yours
- 08Twelve months of rent receipts, canceled checks or a landlord letter
- 09A homebuyer education certificate if you are using assistance
- 10For veterans: your certificate of eligibility
- 11Homeowners
Wind and flood insurance quotes for the specific property, plus any elevation certificate the seller has
- 12For small landlords
Current leases, your Schedule E, and the mortgage, tax and insurance statements for each property
The doors worth knowing.
In our directory, Jefferson Parish's mission lending runs through credit unions headquartered in Metairie and Harahan, several of them with a community development designation.
ALL 14 DOORS, BY NAME AND BY TOWN- 14
- DOORS HERE
- 73
- ACROSS LA
Based in Metairie, Louisiana. A credit union — owned by its members rather than by shareholders, which is exactly what changes the conversation after a bank has said no. It is CDFI-certified.
BEST FORA personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing, and buying, repairing or refinancing a home.Based in Metairie, Louisiana. A member-owned credit union, which means the people deciding on your file answer to depositors in the same towns you work in. It is CDFI-certified, and it is a minority depository.
BEST FORBuying, repairing or refinancing a home, and working capital, equipment and payroll for a small business.Based in Metairie, Louisiana. A credit union: no shareholders to satisfy, and a habit of reading a whole story rather than a single score.
BEST FORA personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing, and buying, repairing or refinancing a home.Based in Metairie, Louisiana. A credit union — owned by its members rather than by shareholders, which is exactly what changes the conversation after a bank has said no.
BEST FORA personal loan, or building a credit file from nothing, and buying, repairing or refinancing a home.
Don't fall into these traps.
Louisiana's version of a contract for deed: the seller keeps the title until you finish paying. Miss payments and you can lose the house and much of what you paid. These deals are marketed to buyers who think they cannot get a mortgage. Before you sign one, sit down with a HUD-approved counselor, and make sure any bond for deed is recorded and reviewed by your own lawyer.
If the person selling is not on the title, or the owner died and no succession was opened, you may be paying for something no one can legally sell you.
Fresh paint and new floors can hide a house that has flooded more than once. Ask for the flood claims history and the elevation certificate, and get the insurance quote before you sign.
After a hurricane, take your time. Hire a contractor licensed in Louisiana, pay as work is completed, and never sign over your insurance check to someone who knocked on your door.
A cheap policy can carry a huge hurricane deductible or exclude wind. Ask what you would pay out of pocket after a named storm.
Legitimate loan officers are paid at closing.
If you fall behind, call your servicer and a HUD-approved counselor. Never sign over your house to someone promising to save it.
Everything below is set by Louisiana, and it reads the same in every county in it. The 14 marks above are this county's own doors — who opens one is decided by them, not by the state.
The rules where you are.
Louisiana property law is different from the other forty-nine states because it comes from the civil law tradition, and a few of those differences matter to buyers.
When an owner dies, the property passes through a succession, a legal process that puts the heirs' names on the title. In this region, many houses have passed down for years without a succession ever being opened, which leaves several relatives as partial owners and no one able to sell or borrow cleanly. If you are buying from a family, or hoping to borrow against a house you inherited, make sure the title is clear first. A title search is not optional here.
Closings in Louisiana are handled by notaries, who in this state have broader legal authority than notaries elsewhere and can prepare and pass the act of sale. That is a legitimate role, but the notary handling your closing does not represent you the way your own attorney would. If anything in the deal is unusual, have your own lawyer look at it.
Louisiana offers a homestead exemption that substantially reduces property taxes on an owner-occupied home, and additional relief exists for qualifying seniors, disabled owners and veterans. It is not automatic: apply with the parish assessor after you close.
Insurance is the biggest cost question. Flood insurance is required when a federally backed loan covers a house in a high-risk flood zone, and it is wise almost everywhere in the parish. Homeowners and wind coverage have become expensive and harder to find; some owners end up with the state's insurer of last resort. The state has run a program that helps pay for storm-fortified roofs, which can lower premiums; ask whether it is accepting applications. When you buy, ask the seller for the elevation certificate, the flood claims history and the age of the roof.
For landlords, Louisiana's landlord-tenant law governs leases, deposits and eviction. Kenner and other municipalities may require rental permits or inspections; ask before your first tenant moves in.
The short version.
- 01
In Jefferson Parish, buy the insurance before you buy the house. Get homeowners, wind and flood quotes for every property you consider, ask for the elevation certificate and the roof's age, and make sure the title is clear and any succession has been opened.
- 02
Start your financing with the credit unions based in Metairie and Harahan, especially the ones with a community development designation, and a HUD-approved housing counselor who can point you to the state's first-time buyer programs. Move your savings into the bank months before you apply, keep proof of every rent payment, and if your income is self-employed or storm-driven, talk with your tax preparer a year ahead. Apply for your homestead exemption after closing.
- 03
An ITIN does not rule you out. Ask every institution whether it lends to ITIN borrowers and whether it keeps loans in its own portfolio. Walk away from unrecorded bond-for-deed deals, flood-flipped houses and anyone who wants money up front.
- 04
Origen Capital is a directory, not a lender. We do not collect your information, we do not sell it, and we do not take applications. Use this page as a map, then work directly with a licensed lender, a credit union, a nonprofit community lender or a HUD-approved housing counselor when you are ready.
Same county, another question.
Business FinancingLoans, lines of credit, and capital for small businesses and contractorsSEE IT IN JEFFERSON PARISH →
Personal FinancingPersonal loans, credit building, and ITIN-friendly financing optionsSEE IT IN JEFFERSON PARISH →43LA COUNTIES WITH DOORSThe whole stateEvery county in Louisiana, in this same lane.73 institutions fund homes and repairs inside Louisiana county lines.OPEN THE STATE →Still don't see your situation?
Ask Iris. She'll explain it the way it should have been explained the first time.