What Loan Option Is Recommended For First Time Buyers

Usda Loan: Best For Buyers With A Low Or Moderate Income In Eligible Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, guarantees loans for some rural homes, and borrowers can get up to 100-percent financing . This doesnt mean you have to buy a farm or shack up with livestock, but you do have to buy a home in a USDA-eligible area.

• Strengths: No down payment potentially lower credit score requirements
• Weaknesses: Limited to buyers in designated areas guarantee and annual fees

Read more about USDA loans.

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Supreme Lending Unique Loan Programs

Supreme Lendings customers love it. Indeed, they gave it a nearperfect 4.9 score in our survey of online customer reviews. And it has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Supreme is certainly keen to help firsttime buyers. And it mentions down payment assistance programs on its website, though these vary depending on where you live.

For example, one offer available in Dallas is the Supreme Dream program, which only works with FHA loans. This can provide 100% financing with your down payment taking the form of a second mortgage. But the entire loan can be forgiven after 36 months of ontime payments.

Check with a local Supreme Lending loan officer to see whats available where you wish to buy a home.

Supreme has competitive rates and loan costs as well. So it may be worth getting a quote to see what you qualify for, regardless of whether you want down payment assistance.

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Homeready Mortgages From Fannie Mae

HomeReady mortgages from Fannie Mae are another loan option for low-income buyers. Borrowers are eligible with a 3 percent down payment and a credit score of 620 or higher.

Home buyer education is required if all borrowers are first-time home buyers. All residents may submit their income for consideration and improve chances of approval.

There are also no minimum personal contribution requirements for the down payment. This investment can be covered by gifts, grants, and other DPA programs.

HomeReady loans require mortgage insurance that can be canceled once the buyer reaches 20 percent equity.

How Your Mortgage Choices Can Affect Your Future

Mortgage lenders charge a penalty fee when you break your contract. This means, if you sell your home, you could owe the lender thousands of dollars in penalty fees.

You could also pay penalty fees if you pay off your mortgage early. Unless you plan on owning your home until you pay it in full, you may need flexibility on your mortgage.

Options related to mortgage flexibility include if your mortgage:

• is open or closed

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More Resources For First Time Buyers

Buying your first house can seem overwhelming. But it doesnt have to be. You can find an awful lot of help and support to guide you through the process.

If youre still in the researching phase, here are a few of our favorite firsttime home buyer tools and articles:

• 2022 First time home buyer guide

Once you choose a lender, you should receive plenty of guidance from your mortgage loan officer.

And, if you choose a good buyers agent , youll have another fountain of knowledge.

Fha 203 Loan: Best For Buyers Or Investors Of Homes That Need Work

Backed by the FHA, an FHA 203 loan can help you if youre buying a fixer-upper. This type of loan allows you to borrow funds needed to pay for home improvement projects and roll the costs into one loan. The improvements must cost more than $5,000 and youll need to make a minimum 3.5 percent down payment. Youll also want to make sure youre working with a contractor who is familiar with 203 loans and their timeline.

• Strengths: Low down payment one mortgage payment ability to finance more expensive improvements
• Weaknesses: Limited to $35,000 in repairs larger mortgage payments

Read more about FHA 203 loans.

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More Home Loan Choices

While the list above represents some of the most common home loan choices, there are others that may/may not be applicable to you or the region you are trying to purchasing a home in. Some of these include:

• FHA Section 203 If the idea of buying and rehabbing a home appeals to you, this could be a good option. The loan amount includes the future value of the home after renovations have been made. They offer competitive down payment options too.
• Energy Efficient Mortgages While technically available to existing homeowners to make the home greener, these are good options for anyone who wants to be more environmentally conscious.
• Native American Veteran Direct Loans If you are a native American living on federal trust land, you may qualify for this type of VA loan. The good news is you do not need a down payment nor will you be required to pay for PMI.

What Types Of Loans Are Available For First

Many first-time home buyers don’t have excellent credit histories, and many others don’t have large down payments available. Some have served in the Armed Forces and can access VA loans, while others might be able to explore USDA financing if their homes are in certain rural areas.

With that in mind, here’s a quick overview of the four major mortgage types first-time home buyers can use.

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Hire A Home Inspector

When you decide on a home you like and make an offer, have the home thoroughly inspected. You want to make sure there arent structural issues or anything else that could affect the livability of your new place. Inspections usually take a few hours, and cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the size of the home. The cost is entirely worth it, however forgoing this part of the transaction would be a mistake.

Federal Housing Administration Loans

The Federal Housing Administration , part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development , provides various mortgage loan programs for Americans. An FHA loan has lower down payment requirements and is easier to qualify for than a conventional loan. FHA loans are excellent for first-time homebuyers because, in addition to lower up-front loan costs and less stringent credit requirements, you can make a down payment as low as 3.5%. FHA loans cannot exceed the statutory limits described above.

However, all FHA borrowers must pay a mortgage insurance premium, rolled into their mortgage payments. Mortgage insurance is an insurance policy that protects a mortgage lender or titleholder if the borrower defaults on payments, passes away, or is otherwise unable to meet the contractual obligations of the mortgage.

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Homepath Ready Buyer Program

Fannie Mae offers first-time home buyers the chance to buy a foreclosed property for as little as 3% down with their HomePath® program. You can even apply for up to 3% of your closing costs back through the program as well. Fannie Mae homes sell in as-is condition, so you may have to repair a few things before your new place is live-in ready. However, closing cost assistance can help make it more possible to cover these expenses.

The HomePath® Ready Buyer program is only available to first-time buyers who want to live full-time in a house that theyre looking to purchase. You’ll need to take and pass Fannies Framework Homeownership course before you close.

Recap: The 9 Best Mortgage Lenders For First Time Home Buyers

Heres a recap of the best mortgage lenders for firsttime buyers and why we chose them:

• Bank of America Home buyer grants and unique loan options
• Chase Home buyer grants and unique loan options
• CMG Financial Great customer service, unique loan options
• CrossCountry Mortgage Low interest rates, unique loan options
• Movement Mortgage Great customer service, great online experience
• New American Funding Low interest rates, flexible loan terms
• Prosperity Home Mortgage Low interest rates, amazing down payment assistance on FHA loans
• Supreme Lending Unique loan programs
• Veterans United Great for veterans, service members

Every mortgage lender offers different rates and programs. So get custom quotes from your top picks to find out which one has the best deal for you.

1Average customer review scores sourced from LendingTree.com, Zillow.com, Bankrate.com, and J.D. Powers most recent Primary Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study where available for each lender

2 Average interest rates and loan fees based on the most recent self-reported data all lenders are required to file under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

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What Is A First

A first-time homebuyer loan is designed to help people become homeowners, usually in specific geographic areas. These programs vary depending on where you live and what’s available to you, but the general idea is to provide financial assistance to qualified buyers who have a strong enough credit score and fall within income restrictions. Benefits come in several forms:

• Down payment: The ability for buyers to make a very small down payment .
• Interest cost: Organizations subsidize interest charges, and they can also help borrowers qualify for a loan with a lower interest rate. The result is an easier monthly payment.
• Grants: Free money that can be put toward closing costs, a down payment, and improvements to the home after purchase.
• Loan forgiveness: Cancellation of the mortgage debt . This typically happens over a long period of time to encourage buyers to stay in the home long-term.
• Help with fees: Limits on how much lenders are allowed to charge for closing a loan.
• Deferred payments: Loans that dont need to be repaid until you pay off the house, usually by selling the home and moving. These loans sometimes serve as your down payment.

Note that the programs available to you might offer any or none of those benefits it depends on your financial circumstances, and where you live, so you’ll have to research what’s available in your area.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Pros And Cons

An adjustable-rate mortgage carries an interest rate that changes with the prime rate every year. Adjustable-rate mortgages offer some flexibility because you can take them for a much shorter period, but theyre also extremely risky if the interest rate happens to be fluctuating. Discover Home Loans has a good selection of both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, if you are looking for the lowest rates. You can compare adjustable-rate mortgages here.

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When Buying A Home For The First Time Its Important To Weigh Your Options When Selecting The Best Type Of Mortgage Loan And The Terms You Select Around It

Buying a home for the first-time can be intimidating not only have to choose your neighborhood, your homes features, and nearby school districts then comes the task of being qualified for your first home loan.

Making a smart decision around the purchase of your first home can feel overwhelming, but it doesnt have to be. Your trusted advisors at PrimeWay Federal Credit Union are happy to help you answer any questions you may have about your approaching home loan, and which of those loans might be best for your first time purchase.

In the meantime, heres a little information on some of the most common loans first-time home buyers use, and some tips for deciding on what loan term might work best for you.

Va Loan Benefits For Firsttime Home Buyers

• Zero down payment required
• Lower closing costs
• Lower credit scores accepted

There arent really any drawbacks to using a VA loan. So if you can qualify for one, its definitely something youll want to consider.

Keep in mind, though: only certain mortgage lenders are approved to issue VA loans, so youll want to shop around.

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Consider Your Mortgage Loan Term

If you are a first-time home buyer, you will need to assess the best loan term for you and your familys lifestyle goals. The loan term is the life of the loan the amount of time you have to repay what youve borrowed from the bank.

Circumstances or wishes, like buying to renovate a property, or making your first-time home purchase your starter home could impact the way you choose the loan term for your mortgage.

What Home Loan Options are Best for First-time Buyers

Buying a home for the first time? Its important to weigh your options when selecting the best type of mortgage loan and the terms you select around it.

Conventional 97 Loan Benefits For Firsttime Home Buyers

• Buy with just 3% down
• Mortgage insurance is cancellable
• No upfront insurance fee
• Minimum 620 credit score

Conventional loans also dont require an upfront insurance fee, which can save you money on your closing costs.

Finally, conventional loans arent an option if you have poor credit.

Youll need at least a 620 credit rating to qualify for a conventional loan, so if your scores below that, an FHA mortgage may be a better choice.

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Figure Out Your Budget

Being honest with yourself, your real estate agent and your mortgage lender is key you dont want to wind up with a house you cant afford. Figure out how much youll really be able to afford every month, factoring in maintenance costs and leaving room for unexpected emergencies. If youre buying with a partner or spouse and you each have an income, consider what would happen if one of those income sources were to disappear, either by choice or due to a layoff or other unforeseen circumstances.

The Fha Streamline Refinance Program

FHA loans have another advantage: the FHA Streamline program allows you to refinance an FHA loan without some of the costs or steps needed for other types of refinances.

This refinance option allows you to lower your monthly payments or interest rate faster because it doesnt require a complete credit check or income verification. Often, an appraisal is not required.

The FHA Streamline refinance doesnt allow you to roll closing costs into the new mortgage amount.

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Cons Of Conventional Loans

• Minimum FICO score of 620 or higher often required
• Higher down payment than some government loans
• Must have a debt-to-income ratio of no more than 43 percent
• Likely need to pay PMI if your down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price
• Significant documentation required to verify income, assets, down payment and employment

Which Lenders Offer Low Down Payment Home Loan Options

Once youve determined which program works best for your needs and financial situation, you can start shopping between lenders to find the right loan. Working with a loan officer or mortgage broker can help you uncover the right combination of loan terms and homebuyer assistance programs to unlock the front door of your first home.

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What To Consider With First

Before seeking out a first-time homebuyer program, make sure you meet the definition of a first-time homebuyer. Many nonprofit and government programs consider you a first-time homebuyer if you havent owned a home within the last three years. This includes investors who own rental or investment properties, whether or not its considered your primary residence.

Some government-backed programs, such as an FHA or USDA loan, require that the property meets certain standards before qualifying. There could be income restrictions for local and state programs, as well.

Regardless of what programs you may qualify for, purchasing a home is a major financial decision and shouldnt be taken lightly. That means look at what you can afford, which includes factoring in maintenance costs. Once you figure out a realistic budget, speak to a lender with experience with first-time homebuyers. This might not be your bank it could be a credit union or other type of lender.

Lenders who have ample knowledge about first-time homebuyer programs in your area and knowing what you might qualify for can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, says Diego Corzo, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas.