United States · Louisiana

Louisiana mortgage calculator

Estimate your monthly payment in Louisiana — principal & interest, property tax, and insurance — using the live national average rate and Louisiana's estimated ~0.56% effective property tax rate. Adjust any figure below.

Affording a home in Louisiana

Stretched

Median home price: $195,000
Income needed: $56,000; to qualify (28% rule, 20% down)
Typical household income: $53,000
Income gap: +$3,000

A median Louisiana home costs $195k and needs $3k more annual income than the typical household earns.

Data as of 2026-06-30. Sources: Zillow ZHVI, U.S. Census ACS, Splitero. Median is a statewide figure — expensive cities and more affordable rural areas vary widely.

A single median income can qualify in Louisiana — here's what that looks like

The typical Louisiana household earns $53,000/year. To buy a median-priced home here, lenders generally want to see $56,000/year — which a single median income can cover. Louisiana is one of the more accessible markets in the country right now.

The roles and income paths that commonly reach it in Louisiana are listed below — some single high-earning roles, some two incomes combined.

Roles and income paths that commonly meet the income in Louisiana

Nurse
Teacher
Oil & gas worker
Government worker

Pay varies widely by employer, experience, and city — these are paths that often (not always) reach the income needed, not a guarantee for any individual. Entries like “+ partner income” mean two incomes combined.

First-time buyer programs available in Louisiana

Louisiana Housing Finance Agency programs
Soft Second Mortgage program

Programs and their terms change — verify current availability and eligibility with the official state housing agency before relying on any of these.

What makes Louisiana legally different for homebuyers

Louisiana operates under civil law (derived from French and Spanish law), not common law like every other state. This affects mortgage documents, property rights, and foreclosure procedures in ways that are genuinely different from all other US states. Louisiana homeowners insurance is the second most expensive in the nation (~$6,000–$7,000/year) due to hurricane exposure.

If you buy here

Louisiana's civil law system means standard legal advice from other states may not apply. Use a Louisiana-licensed real estate attorney for any purchase. Also budget aggressively for homeowners insurance — the state's hurricane exposure makes it one of the most expensive in the country, and some insurers have exited the market.

Foreclosure: judicial, ~6 mo
Post-sale redemption: None
Anti-deficiency protection: No

General overview only — laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a real estate attorney for advice specific to your purchase. (Verified 2026-06-30.)

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Loan details

Understanding your numbers before you sign.

A mortgage is likely the largest financial commitment of your life. The Mortgage Ledger was built so you can explore what that commitment actually looks like — payment by payment, line by line — before you're sitting across from a lender.

Rates sourced from FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Estimates only — not a loan offer.

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