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First-Time Homebuyer Programs to Help You Afford a Mortgage

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SOURCE: Realtor

Conventional wisdom says you need a 20% down payment to buy a house, but let’s face it: That sum can be daunting, particularly for first-time homebuyers who don’t have a pile of cash from a property they have just sold.

The good news is that the average down payment for first-time homebuyers can be as low as 3.5% depending on what type of mortgage you get or grants programs you are eligible to apply for.

Even still, coming up with a decent amount of cash when you’re first starting out can be tough. Thankfully, there are a number of first-time homebuyer programs aimed at helping you get a loan.

Don’t know where to start? No problem. To point you in the right direction, we’ve compiled a list of loan assistance programs you should check out if you qualify as a first-time homebuyer.

Who qualifies as a first-time homebuyer?

A first-time homebuyer is not just someone who’s never purchased a home before. You could qualify as a first-time homebuyer if you or your spouse haven’t owned a home in three years. The term also extends to recently divorced persons who have only owned a home jointly with a spouse.

There are some other limitations to who qualifies. You might not be eligible for one of these first-time homebuyer programs if your income exceeds a certain amount, you want to buy a more expensive property, or you plan to buy an investment or rental property.

Now that we have the fine print out of the way, let’s look into some first-time homebuyer assistance programs that might be perfect for you.

FHA loans

The Federal Housing Administration offers a program that allows first-time buyers to purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down. One caveat—and it can be a serious one—is the mortgage insurance requirement on an FHA loan.

Unlike a conventional loan, where you no longer have to pay mortgage insurance once you reach 20% equity in your home, FHA loans require you to pay mortgage insurance throughout the life of the loan at whatever the rate was when you first closed your loan, unless you refinance. Still, it’s hard to beat the low down payment for those who are short on ready cash.


VA loans

As a veteran or active service member of the United States military, you qualify for 100% financing with a VA loan, which means no down payment and no need to purchase private mortgage insurance. Most reservists, National Guard members, and spouses of military members who died while on active duty may also apply.

To qualify for a VA loan, you’ll need a certificate of eligibility and a good debt-to-income ratio, and you’ll have to meet VA and lender guidelines for credit score. Borrowers are responsible for paying a fee, but in certain situations (such as if you we disabled during your service) the fee can be waived.

USDA loans

Wait, the people who certify your beef can also help with your down payment? Yup! If you qualify for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Guaranteed Housing Loan Program, you’ll receive 100% financing—no down payment necessary.

The properties must be in areas with a population below 35,000, so they are primarily rural areas, although some suburban areas could qualify.

These loans are available only to families demonstrating need—they are without current safe housing and have an adjusted income at or below the local limit. Keep in mind that the limit can be relatively high in pricey areas like California, where a $232,200 income (for a family of four) can get you a USDA loan in some counties.

National Homebuyers Fund

The National Homebuyers Fund provides down payment assistance in the form of a nonrepayable grant, for up to 5% of the loan amount. You read that right—you don’t have to pay back anything. The NHF offers two down payment assistance programs with different sets of requirements, but both are meant for low- to moderate-income earners.

The NHF Sapphire program is available in multiple states and has generous FICO score requirements (which is a good thing if you have a subpar credit score). Ask your mortgage lender if this program would be applicable to you.

Local programs

Many states and counties have a wide variety of down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. For example, the Colorado Housing Finance Authority offers a portfolio loan that allows a consumer to pay only 3% down and has no mortgage insurance requirement. While this program is specific to Colorado, many other states have similar products.

While these programs provide only down payment assistance, David Hosterman, branch manager for Castle & Cooke Mortgage, in Denver, recommends checking with your real estate agent for assistance in getting seller concessions to help with closing costs.

“In many cases, consumers can get into a house with no money down,” he says, although he cautions that there are still out-of-pocket expenses associated with buying a property, such as an appraisal and home inspection.

Many of these local programs have specific requirements, such as for the buyer to complete a homebuying class before obtaining the grant.

To find more information about loan programs for which you are eligible, check with your lender to see what might be available in your area.

SOURCE: Realtor

Eco-Friendly, Energy-Efficient Homes Attract Buyers

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SOURCE: Keeping Current Matters

Are you planning to sell your house? If so, you may be surprised to hear just how much buyers value energy efficiency and eco-friendly features today. This is especially true as summer officially kicks off.

In fact, the 2023 Realtors and Sustainability Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows 48% of agents or brokers have noticed consumers are interested in sustainability.

 So, if you’re considering selling your house, why does this matter to you? It helps you know what you can do to make your house even more appealing to today’s buyers. According to Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research at NAR: 

“Buyers often seek homes that either lessen their environmental footprint or reduce their monthly energy costs. There is value in promoting green features and energy information to future home buyers.”

Consider Upgrading Your Home To Make It More Appealing

If you want to upgrade your house in a way that maximizes its green appeal, you need to work with a local agent to understand what buyers in your area are looking for. The same NAR report identifies the following green home features as most important to buyers at a national level: 

  • Windows, doors, and siding

  • Proximity to frequently visited places

  • A comfortable living space

  • A home’s utility bills and operating costs

While you can’t change the location of your house, you can take action to make sure it’s as comfortable as possible while also setting up the next owners for lower operating costs. ENERGY STAR shares some suggested upgrades as ones that may be worth considering:

  • Heating and cooling: Ensure your HVAC system is properly maintained and regularly serviced to maximize its efficiency. Consider upgrading to a high-efficiency model, if needed.

  • Water heater: Your water heater uses a lot of energy. Upgrading to a heat pump water heater can significantly reduce energy consumption and appeal to environmentally conscious buyers.

  • Smart thermostat: A big part of your energy bill goes to heating and cooling. Install a programmable thermostat to better regulate temperature settings. This not only enhances comfort but can also lower energy usage.

  • Attic insulation: Proper sealing and insulation in your attic help prevent air leaks and maintain a comfortable temperature, reducing the strain on heating and cooling systems.

  • Energy-efficient windows: Replacing old, drafty windows with energy-efficient ones can minimize heat transfer and lower your energy bills.

 It’s worth noting that you may be able to take advantage of tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient home installations and upgrades. These incentives could help offset a portion of the costs associated with eco-friendly home improvements.

As you prepare to sell your house, it’s important to recognize that real estate agents are valuable resources. They can help you determine which upgrades would be most appealing for buyers in your area and provide guidance on which green features to highlight in your listing. If you’ve already made these updates recently, tell your agent so they can feature them in your listing.

Bottom Line

Focusing on energy efficiency and eco-friendly features can help make your house more appealing to buyers today. Connect with me to ensure you’re choosing the right upgrades for your area.

SOURCE: Keeping Current Matters

Everything You Need to Know About Loan Estimates

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SOURCE: Freddie Mac

Receiving multiple loan estimates gives homebuyers a better idea of the amount of money they can borrow to purchase a home. Learn more about what loan estimates are and what you need to do to prepare before seeking them out.

What is a loan estimate

A loan estimate is a standardized three-page document that outlines the terms of a proposed loan. Your lender will prepare a loan estimate for you based on information provided in your loan application. The purpose of a loan estimate is to give you the details of a loan before deciding if the loan is right for you.

Before requesting a loan estimate, you should also gain a better grasp of your finances to see how much home you afford.

What information should be on loan estimate?

The form uses plain language and is designed to present information clearly to borrowers. While the loan estimate is not a binding agreement, it should provide an accurate picture of the loan terms your lender intends to offer if you decide to move forward with them.

When reviewing your loan estimate form, you should carefully review the following sections:

  • Loan Terms: Here you will find the total amount of the loan, the interest rate the lender is offering as well as the monthly principal and interest (the amount of money being borrowed in addition to the lender’s interest for lending out the funds, paid out monthly by the borrower).

  • Projected Payments: This section will give you an idea of your monthly payment, calculated for the length of the loan. Along with the total monthly payment amount, you will see a breakdown showing what portion goes to principal and interest, mortgage insurance and estimated escrow.

  • Loan costs and other costs: Loan costs include origination charges, application fee(s) and the underwriting fee. Also included are the other costs: taxes, mortgage insurance premiums, prepaid interest and property taxes.

  • Calculating cash to close: This section breaks down the itemized list of costs that you will need to cover to close your loan. This typically includes down payment, deposits, fees and funds from the borrower.

  • Comparisons: This section compares the loan terms to others and shows the potential savings provided by the lender’s loan offer.

  • Other considerations: Included in this section are a few additional options that the borrower can opt in or out of, depending on their preferences. Topics covered include appraisals, assumptions, homeowner’s insurance, late payments, refinancing and servicing.

Shop Around and Compare Loans

Loan estimates will include their expiration date at the top of the first page and are good for ten business days from the original issue date. Given the brief window, we recommend that you request multiple loan estimates from different lenders and shop around to narrow down your lending options.

Borrowers who compare multiple loan estimates are more likely to save money in the long run. Getting multiple estimates will allow to make a more informed decision before selecting a lender and/or loan product.

SOURCE: Freddie Mac

Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers

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SOURCE: Keeping Current Matters

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s a vision you can bring to life, but, as the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares, you’ll have to overcome some factors that have made it more challenging in recent years:

“Since 2011, the share of first-time home buyers has been under the historical norm of 40% as buyers face tight inventory, rising home prices, rising rents and high student debt loads.”

That said, if you’re looking to purchase your first home, here are two things you can consider to help make your dreams a reality.

Save Money with First-Time Homebuyer Programs

Being able to pay for the initial costs and fees associated with homeownership can feel like a major hurdle. Whether that’s getting a loan, being able to put together a down payment, or having money for closing costs – there are a variety of expenses that can make buying your first home feel challenging. 

Fortunately, there are a lot of public and private first-time homebuyer programs that can help you get a loan with little-to-no money upfront. CNET explains:

“A first-time homebuyer program can help make homeownership more affordable and accessible by offering lower mortgage rates, down payment assistance and tax incentives.” 

In fact, as Bankrate says, many of these programs are offered by state and local governments:

“Many states and local governments have programs that offer down payment or closing cost assistance – either low-interest-rate loans, deferred loans or even forgivable loans (aka grants) – to people looking to buy their first house . . .” 

To take advantage of these programs, contact the housing authority in your state and browse sites like Down Payment Resource.

The Supply of Homes for Sale Is Low, So Explore Every Possibility

It’s a sellers’ market, meaning there aren’t enough homes on the market to meet buyer demand. So, how can you be sure you’re doing everything you can to find a home that works for you? You can increase your options by considering condominiums (condos) and townhomes. U.S. News tells us these housing types are often less expensive than single-family homes:

“Condos are usually less expensive than standalone houses . . . They are also less expensive to insure.”

One reason why they may be more affordable is because they’re often smaller. But they still give you the chance to get your foot in the door and achieve your dream of owning and building equity. Beyond that, another major perk is they typically require less maintenance. As U.S. News says in the same article:

“The strongest reason for purchasing a condo is that all external maintenance is usually covered by the condo association, such as landscaping, pool maintenance, external painting, paving, plowing and more. This fee also covers some internal maintenance, such as gas, electric, plumbing, HVAC and other mechanical systems.” 

Townhomes and condos are great ways to get into homeownership. Owning your home allows you to build equity, increase your net worth, and can fuel a future move.

The best way to make sure you’re set up for success, especially if you’re just starting out, is to work with a trusted real estate agent. They can educate you on the homebuying process, help you understand your local area to find options that are right for you, and coach you through making an offer in a competitive market.

Bottom Line

Today’s housing market provides some challenges for first-time homebuyers. But, there are still ways to achieve your goals, like utilizing first-time homebuyer programs and considering all of your housing options. Connect with me so you have an expert on your side who can help you navigate the process.

SOURCE: Keeping Current Matters

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