First-Time Home Buyer Programs

FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAMS Article Source: Image Source: www.nerdwallet.com https://artesiantitle.com/

Buying a home is so hard, they should make it an Olympic event.

It’s not just the paperwork; it’s the terminology, the fees and the number of people involved. It’s natural to want to agree to whatever, sign everything and just get through the process as fast as you can. But while that may make you a medalist in downhill skiing, it won’t earn you many style points in life’s uphill battle to financial wellbeing.

Here are some of the most useful first-time home buyer programs that you might overlook if you rush the process. They may score you some big savings.

FHA THIS IS THE GO-TO PROGRAM FOR MANY AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE A CREDIT HISTORY THAT’S ... LET’S SAY SHAKY. THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION GUARANTEES A PORTION OF HOME LOANS, WHICH FREES LENDERS TO BROADEN THEIR ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS. WITH FHA BACKING, BORROWERS CAN QUALIFY FOR LOANS WITH AS LITTLE AS 3.5% DOWN. FHA LOANS DO HAVE AN UP-FRONT AND ONGOING ADDITIONAL COST BUILT IN: MORTGAGE INSURANCE PREMIUMS. THIS PROTECTS THE LENDER’S STAKE IN THE LOAN IF YOU DEFAULT.

USDA THIS ONE MAY SURPRISE YOU. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS A HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND NO, YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE ON A FARM. THE PROGRAM TARGETS RURAL AREAS AND ALLOWS 100% FINANCING BY OFFERING LENDERS MORTGAGE GUARANTEES. THERE INCOME LIMITATIONS, WHICH VARY BY REGION.

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR THIS INITIATIVE WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED THE TEACHER NEXT DOOR PROGRAM BUT WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, HENCE THE SNAPPY “GOOD NEIGHBOR” NAME. A HUD-SPONSORED PROGRAM, IT ALLOWS 50% DISCOUNTS ON THE LIST PRICE OF HOMES LOCATED IN REVITALIZATION AREAS. YES, HALF OFF. WHO KNEW? YOU JUST HAVE TO COMMIT TO LIVING IN THE PROPERTY FOR AT LEAST 36 MONTHS. THESE HOMES ARE LISTED — FOR JUST SEVEN DAYS — ON THE GOOD NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR SALES WEBSITE.

HOME UPGRADE PROGRAMS HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW YOU TO BUY MORE HOME FOR YOUR MONEY. THE ENERGY EFFICIENT MORTGAGE PROGRAM EXTENDS YOUR BORROWING POWER WHEN YOU BUY A HOME WITH ENERGY-SAVING IMPROVEMENTS OR UPGRADE A HOME’S GREEN FEATURES. IF YOU QUALIFY FOR A HOME LOAN, YOU CAN ADD THE EEM BENEFIT TO YOUR REGULAR MORTGAGE. IT DOESN’T REQUIRE A NEW APPRAISAL OR AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DOWN PAYMENT. THE PROGRAM SIMPLY ALLOWS YOUR LENDER THE FLEXIBILITY TO EXTEND LOAN LIMITS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE ARE ALSO HUD 203(K) LOANS, DESIGNED FOR BUYERS WHO WANT TO TACKLE A FIXER-UPPER. THIS SPECIAL FHA-BACKED LOAN CONSIDERS WHAT THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE AFTER IMPROVEMENTS AND ALLOWS YOU TO BORROW THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AS PART OF YOUR MAIN MORTGAGE.

VA THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HELPS SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND SURVIVING SPOUSES BUY HOMES. VA LOANS ARE ESPECIALLY GENEROUS, OFTEN REQUIRING NO DOWN PAYMENT OR MORTGAGE INSURANCE. BUT LIKE A LOT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS, THE APPROVAL TRACK IS BUILT FOR ACCURACY, NOT SPEED. WHILE THE VA HAS ONLY A FEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE DEBT AND SUFFICIENT INCOME, VA LENDERS MAY ADD THEIR OWN "OVERLAYS," OR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

DOLLAR HOMES THIS SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THOSE LATE-NIGHT TELEVISION OFFERS, BUT HUD CLAIMS TO OFFER $1 HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE FHA THROUGH FORECLOSURES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A TINY POOL OF HOUSES. AT LAST CHECK, ONLY A HANDFUL OF LISTINGS APPEARED ON THE WEBSITE. CURIOUSLY, ONE HOME WE CHECKED OUT IN THE DOLLAR HOME CATEGORY SEEMED TO BE LISTED FOR $17,900.

WE’RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT’S ABOUT, BUT SHOP CAREFULLY.