Home buyers are typically advised to put at least 20% down for a mortgage. Coming up with that amount can seem almost impossible if you have little to no money left over after paying bills each month.
Fortunately, if you want to buy a house but are worried about coming up with the 20 percent down needed for a downpayment, you still have plenty of options. There are still plenty of programs that allow you to buy a home with a low down payment or even no money down in 2018.
Here are some of the best programs that designed for homebuyers who don’t have a massive chunk of cash to put down at closing. Maybe one of these options will be the perfect solution to make your dreams come true.
#1 VA Home Loans
If you are a veteran, in the National Guard and Reserves or an active-duty service member, then you may qualify for a VA home loan. The VA offers 100 percent financing. So, you don’t need any money down. The VA does not require mortgage insurance. There is a funding fee, which must be paid by the borrower. However, the lender can roll the fee into the loan amount. The funding fee is typically 2.15 percent of the loan amount.
#2 USDA Loans
The U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a zero-down mortgage for low to moderate-income families. This program was created to help rural development. The loans are only available in towns that have populations of 10,000 or less. However, this is quite a large area. In fact, the USDA program covers more than 97 percent of the United States. Many eligible smaller towns are located right outside major cities.
The USDA program was designed for first-time home buyers although there are some exceptions to this rule. USDA loans do not require mortgage insurance. There is an upfront guarantee fee of one percent. The lender can roll this fee into the loan amount.
#3 FHA Home Loans
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) provides one of the most popular low down payment mortgage options in the country. Normally this loan product requires a minimum 3.5% down payment. However, 100 percent of the down payment money can be a financial gift from a relative or a non-profit organization. This allows a borrower to get into their home with no money down.
Contact your trusted mortgage professional to find out about these programs or others that might be right for you.
On the surface, a short sale seems like the perfect deal. However, before you take the plunge, you need to understand how this type of home purchase works.
When a homeowner stops making regular mortgage payments, the bank can foreclose on the property. This means that the bank takes possession of the property in an attempt to recover the debt the homeowner owes. In some cases, the bank may try to recover this debt by selling the property at auction. In other cases, the bank will simply list the foreclosed home for sale.
Borrowers who cannot qualify for a conventional mortgage are often able to obtain an FHA loan. However, to secure this type of loan, you must still meet certain requirements.
When you are filling out a mortgage application, the lender will be asking you for specific financial information. One of the reasons they ask for this information is to enable the underwriter to calculate your debt to income ratio.