Many
people dream of owning a home but the home loan process can be
confusing for many first time home buyers. Mortgage lenders offer first
time buyers with many home loan options and assist the buyer in finding
the best home loan for them. First time home buyer programs can offer
lower interest rates, low down payments, or reduced taxes.
If you're a first time home buyer and need help
paying closing costs, consider a loan that allows you to roll your
closing costs into the loan amount.
103% - allows 3% of the purchase price to be rolled into the loan.
107% - allows 7% of the purchase price to be rolled into the loan.
Many lenders and insurance companies offer a First
Time Home Buyers Education course that is free. Some first time home
owner loan programs require you to take this course. The company that
offers the course will often issue a certificate once the course has
been completed.
Be sure to get prequalified by your mortgage
professional so that you will know how much you can afford to spend on
a home. There are many different first home buyer loan programs
available. It's important to consider all aspects of the program, not
just the amout of the down payment, to ensure that it will be the best
one for you both initially and over the next several years.
If you have not owned a home in 3 years you are
considered a first time homebuyer and can be eligible for first time
homebuyer programs.
Some of the programs require you to be a true first
time home buyer. This means that you have never had any interest in any
real property, ever, compared to some other programs that simply
require a three year window with no ownership.
Many states and local counties offer down payment
assistance programs to First Time Home Buyers. To qualify, most such
programs require that the FTHB's incomes be within a certain limit.
There may also be limits on the property locations and project
developments. These programs also have measures in place so assistance
recipients cannot profit from selling the homes or refinancing the
mortgages to cash in the equities built in the homes within a specified
period of time.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both have 100% first
time home buyer programs. You may have to pay Private Mortgage
Insurance (PMI) There are alternatives to paying PMI, ask you mortgage
broker for more information.
With an abundance of no and low down payment loan
programs along with loan programs that allow seller contributions
toward closing costs, the climate as never been easier for the first
time home buyer.
If you are a first time home buyer, please speak
with a loan officer and your realtor or seller about seller's
concessions which may help cover closing costs in a no money down or
100% financing scenario.
When shopping for your first home, it is extremely
beneficial for you to be "pre-approved" for a mortgage. This means that
the bank has already reviewed your credit report and income
documentation and commits that they will lend you x dollars (based on
the house being acceptable collateral). This is like shopping for a
home with cash in your pocket! Both sellers and realtors get excited
when they have a pre-approved customer. It moves you to the front of
the line!
Ask your mortgage broker about what first time home
buyer programs that are available to you. You might even qualify for a
down payment assistance program. There are several down payment
assistance programs, that may be able to grant you the money for your
down payment. The grant must be agreed upon by both the seller and
buyer, and must be in the offer to purchase. The grant money does not
need to be paid back, and could help you qualify for your first home!
Some of the first time home buyer programs can be
used with multiple down payment assistance programs on the local and
state level as well.
There are some differences in Buyer's Assistance
programs though. Some programs will actually put a lien on the property
for a certain period of time. As long as you own the home for that time
period the lien will be released and won't have to be paid back. You
might want to ask about the program if you are looking at this option
to determine if it will fit into your needs.
Many first time home buyers purchase property with
no money down.
In 2005 43% of first time home buyers used 100%
financing. That's right! No money down! Those buyers only had to pay
their closing costs.
Being a first time homebuyer can be a scary yet
exciting time for a family. Along with the freedom and pleasure of
owning your own home come many responsibilities. You will now have to
pay property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintain the upkeep you your
lawn, landscaping and exterior of your house, be prepared for inside
home maintenance and take care of old worn out appliances in your home.
When you furnace goes in the middle of winter there will be no landlord
to call to come over immediately and have it fixed or replaced. However
the rewards of owning your own home tremendously overshadow these minor
responsiblities. Being a homeowner allows you to have the freedom you
have always desired to have with YOUR OWN HOME. This home will belong
to you and is yours to do with as you please. No more rules from
parents or family members, no more landlord restrictions, no more
neighbors that live above you and below you as in the apartment you
just moved out of and no more having to be quiet as a mouse so that you
will not disturb your neighbors through the paper thin walls in your
apartment building. You make your own rules now. Being a homeowner
gives you tax advantages during income tax time, it provides you with
an investment of your money, and it provides you with a place to grow
memories for yourself and your family. A good mortgage professional can
help you understand what to expect during your first years of
homeownership and will walk you through step by step of the mortgage
process so that you understand what is going on throughout the
processing of your home loan application. Find a mortgage professional
that comes highly recommended from a family member or friend, or make
sure you find someone you can TRUST when you are looking to buy your
first home. This will truly make a big difference.
There are many programs for purchasing a new home
with no money down. Perfect credit is not required and in most cases
closing cost up to 6% of the loan amount can be financed into the loan.
Not only can you acquire 100% purchase which
entails no down payment money, but a good real estate professional can
also get the seller to pay closing cost. Which means no money out of
pocket at all.
Find a good loan professional in your area to give
you an overview of the process and also get preapproved so that you
know what price of home you can purchase.
Using a real estate broker is a very good idea. All
the details involved in home buying, particularly the financial ones,
can be mind-boggling. A good real estate professional can guide you
through the entire process and make the experience much easier. A real
estate broker will be well-acquainted with all the important things
you'll want to know about a neighborhood you may be considering...the
quality of schools, the number of children in the area, the safety of
the neighborhood, traffic volume, and more.
VA entitlements are an excellent way for certain
borrowers to get into their first home with little to no money down,
and a great helping hand from the government.
Your mortgage broker can recommend a realtor in
your area that specifically works with first time buyers. They will be
more sensative to 1st time buyers needs as well as their constrants.
With the many 100% financing mortgage programs
availible today you may not need to use a down payment assistance
program if you have fair credit. Ask your mortgage broker the pros and
cons of each scenario.