Buying Your First Home: The Downpayment
First-time home buyers face more hurdles than repeat buyers.
A first-time home buyer may have less savings. He or she might have a collection of student loans and other large debts. Perhaps the buyers is just starting a career. And of course, first-timers have no buying experience.
New buyers may even be about to live on their own for the very first time.
First-Timers Buy One-Third Of Homes
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, first-time home buyers account for 1-in-3 homes sold nationwide. This is the lowest rate in close to 30 years.
Yet, with mortgage rates low and an abundance of low- and no-downpayment mortgages available from mortgage lenders, there's never been a simpler time to get approved for your very first home loan.
This post is the first of a four-part series meant to help first-time home buyers get approved for their first mortgage and become homeowners.
What Is A "Downpayment?"
If you can'r or don't want to buy a house with cash, you need financing -- a mortgage.
Sometimes, a bank will lend you the entire amount you need to buy a home. This is known as 100% financing.
However, most mortgages require some contribution from the borrower.
If you purchase a home for $100,000 and borrow $90,000 (90%), you would put $10,000 (10%) down on the house.
Choose Your Loan Amount
As a home buyer, the size of your downpayment is up to you.
You can put up twenty percent or more, or you can skip the downpayment altogether. Each choice has its benefits.
For example, when you put more money down, you borrow less money from your lender. That reduces your monthly mortgage payment.
You may also get access to lower mortgage rates.
When you make a small downpayment, you keep more cash in your savings account for life's emergencies.
How Much Downpayment Is Required To Buy A Home?
As a first-time home buyer, you have access to a wide range of mortgage loans and mortgage loans can be customized to meet your needs.
Your loan amount is one of your choices.
The downpayment can be as large as you wish, or as small -- so long as you make the minimum investment required by your lender.
The five most-common low- and no-downpayment mortgages used by first-time home buyers are the FHA loan, the VA loan, the USDA loan, the Conventional 97, and the HomeReady™ mortgage.
Each is described below.
The FHA Loan
FHA loans require a downpayment of 3.5% of a home's purchase price, at minimum.
These products are popular with first-time home buyers because the program allows below-average credit scores.
FHA mortgage approval standards are considered to be the most friendly toward first-time buyers.
The VA Loan
VA loans are available to members of the U.S. military and veterans of the Armed Services.
These mortgages provide a 100% financing option, and VA mortgage rates are often lower than those of other programs.
The USDA Loan
Rural Housing or USDA loans also allow 100% financing. The program is available for homes in rural areas and less-dense suburban neighborhoods nationwide.
USDA mortgage rates are often as low as VA mortgage rates.
The Conventional 97
The Conventional 97 is available to home buyers with above-average credit scores. A Conventional 97 loan allows buyers to receive cash gifts for their downpayment, which is only 3%.
This program has a loan size limit of $424,100.
The HomeReady™ Mortgage
The HomeReady™ mortgage is another 3% down program. This program is geared toward multi-generational households, but all home buyers are welcome to apply.
Home buyers using HomeReady™ get access to discounted mortgage rates, and can use the income of boarders and other household residents to help get mortgage-qualified.
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