Shreveport remains the most affordable of Louisiana’s five largest metros. Median sale prices ticked up 3.1 % year-over-year to $160,000, while days-on-market stayed flat at 28—still brisk for the Deep South. Inventory is tightest under $200k, where first-time buyers compete with investors chasing 8–9 % gross yields.

• Average list-to-sale ratio: 97.4 %
• Share of FHA/VA contracts: 62 %
• Forecast appreciation: 2.5–3 % for 2024

Because wages rose 4 % locally—driven by Barksdale expansions and new healthcare facilities—affordability actually improved. NMHL’s in-house underwriting keeps pace with multiple-offor scenarios; we can issue Same-Day Approval letters that sellers treat like cash.

Whether you want walkable historic streets or a half-acre lot in a gated community, Shreveport delivers.

Under $150k: Shreve City and Queensborough feature 1950s brick ranch homes on generous lots. Many qualify for $0-down USDA since Caddo Parish maps extend into these pockets. Expect 1,200–1,400 sq ft and mature pecan trees.

$150k–$225k: Broadmoor and South Highlands give you stained-glass windows, parquet floors, and access to A-rated magnet schools like South Highlands Elementary. Prices here have climbed 5 % annually, so move fast.

$225k–$350k: The Ellerbe Road corridor and Pierremont Hills offer 1990-2010 builds, 0.3-acre lots, and 2,400 sq ft floorplans. HOA dues stay low ($20–$40) and grocery options on Youree Drive are minutes away.

$350k+: Southern Trace Country Club or University Place provide golf-course views, gated entries, and new construction with energy-efficient spray-foam insulation. Jumbo loans above $766,550 are available with 10 % down through NMHL’s Louisiana Jumbo Access program.

Caddo Parish’s effective tax rate is 0.52 %—$832 yearly on a $160,000 home. That’s half the U.S. average, but parish assessors reappraise every four years, so budget for modest jumps. Homestead exemption knocks $7,500 off assessed value, saving roughly $100 annually.

Insurance: Louisiana’s average premium is $2,037, yet Shreveport sits in a moderate flood zone. If FEMA maps place you in Zone AE, budget an extra $450–$900 for flood coverage; NMHL can escrow both policies.

Utility transfers: SWEPCO and CenterPoint require $150–$200 deposits unless you have 12 months of on-time history. Ask for NMHL’s Utility Connect letter; many providers waive the deposit with proof of closing.

Louisiana Housing Corp. runs four programs that layer with NMHL products:

• Market Rate Conventional: 3 % down, $55,000 in repayable second at 2 %.
• LHC Preferred FHA: 3.5 % down, 4 % forgivable grant after 5 years.
• Delta 100: 100 % LTV plus 3 % forgivable seconds for civil servants.
• Resilience Soft Second: up to $55,000 at 0 % for flood-safe homes.

City-level help: Shreveport Community Development offers First-Time Homebuyer Assistance of up to $25,000 at 0 %, deferred until resale. Income caps are 80 % AMI—about $46,900 for a single buyer. Combine this with NMHL’s FastClose and you can close in 25 days even with 100 % financing.

Over 8,000 active-duty and civilian employees rotate through Barksdale, making VA mortgages the single most-used product in Caddo Parish. Benefits include zero down, no monthly PMI, and sellers can pay up to 4 % in closing concessions. NMHL averages a 3.9-day underwriting turn on VA files because we’re direct with the St. Paul Regional Loan Center.

Funding fee: first-use is 2.15 %, but veterans with a 10 % disability rating are exempt—saving $3,440 on a $160k purchase. We’ll front the fee into the loan or trade rate for lender credit to offset it.

VA Renovation: Add a new HVAC or roof post-closing with up to $50,000 in rehab through NMHL’s VA Reno product—perfect for Highland fixers listed at $120,000.

Shreveport’s workforce is heavy with gig workers, offshore consultants, and creative professionals who write off expenses. Traditional banks decline these files, but NMHL built products for them:

Pathway Bank-Statement: 12 or 24 months of personal or business statements, LTVs to 90 % on loans to $1.1 million. Credit scores to 600; DTI up to 50 %.

Pathway Credit-Repair: We pair you with local non-profits to boost scores 20–40 points in 60 days; once you hit 580, we lock your FHA deal.

Portfolio 550: 20 % down, fully amortized 30-year fixed; no PMI. Great for investors picking up $90k rentals in Mooretown.

Every borrower gets a dedicated Louisiana Mortgage Coach who knows which creditors will delete late payments for on-time utility history—critical for rapid rescoring.