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FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS

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. Benefits come in several forms, some of which are described below.

1.Down payment: the ability for buyers to make a very small down payment or no down payment at all.

2.Interest cost: organizations subsidize (or help to pay) interest charges, and they can also help borrowers qualify for a loan with a lower interest rate. The result is an easier monthly payment.

3.Grants: “money” that can be put towards closing costs, a down payment, and improvements to the home after purchase.

4.Loan forgiveness: cancellation of the mortgage debt (or at least some portion of the debt). This typically happens over a long period of time to encourage buyers to stay in the home long-term.

5.Help with fees: limits on how much lenders are allowed to charge for closing a loan.

6.Deferred payments: loans that don’t need to be repaid (and don’t charge interest) until you pay off the house – usually by selling the home and moving. These loans sometimes serve as your down payment.

Where to Find Loan Programs?

Finding good loan programs requires some legwork.

A good place to start is the HUD Web site on homebuying programs (click on your state, then click “Assistance programs” under “Buying a Home”). You can also just search the web, being sure to include your state or city of residence. If you like, you can also include any characteristics about you (with or without your location); for example, if you’re a veteran, teacher, or disabled, you might find additional programs.

Who Qualifies?

1.Define “first-time” buyer

Most programs are targeted towards individuals who have never owned a home. But some organizations will offer assistance to people who have owned before, as long as they have not owned within the last several years. Again, check to see what’s available to you.

2.Financial need

You may have to meet certain financial restrictions as well. For the most part, first-time buyer programs reserve benefits for people with low and moderate incomes. If you earn too much, you won’t qualify for the program. Having substantial assets (like cash in the bank or investment accounts) can also reduce your chances.

Loan Restrictions

1.Expensive homes

Most programs put a dollar limit on the property you’re buying, so don’t expect to buy the most expensive properties in your area. Instead, you’ll be limited to less expensive properties that are probably more affordable for people who meet the income restrictions mentioned above. Again, the idea is to benefit people who have the most need.

2.Owner-occupant

You generally have to live in the home as your primary residence. If you’re going to rent the place out, you’ll need to use a different type of loan – these programs are not for investors.

3.Health and safety

The home you buy most likely has to meet some physical requirements. It must be in good condition and no safety hazards (such as lead-based paint, for example). If you have a home in mind that you can’t buy because it’s in bad shape, you can try using an FHA 203k rehabilitation loan instead. 203k loans allow you to purchase a property and fund improvements in with just one loan.

Drawbacks of First-Time Homebuyer Loans

For some first-time homebuyers, these programs are perfect. They open the door to home ownership where a family would otherwise have been unable to buy a home. Communities also benefit – homeowners take care of their property, get involved, and contribute to the economy. Nevertheless, first-time homebuyer loans can be the wrong choice in some cases.

With a specialized loan, some potential challenges include:

1.Price restrictions might not allow you to buy the home you want
2.You might lose some of the benefits of the program if you sell your home too soon
3.You may have to pay recapture tax for some of the benefits you received
4.You may be limited to a short list of loan types (only 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for example)
5.If your home increases in value, you may have to share those gains with the program.

Given these restrictions, you may be better off avoiding subsidized first-time homebuyer loans. Patrick Schwerdtfeger, a California mortgage broker, notes that you’ll probably come out ahead using a plain-vanilla mortgage if you’ve got decent credit. With a FICO credit score above 720, you might not get any advantage with a subsidized first-time homebuyer loan. Once you get below 680, the subsidized programs will start to look better.

Other Options
If you find that loan programs are too restrictive, consider a conventional loan or FHA loan that’s not designed for first-time buyers.

1.FHA loans
FHA loans allow you to buy with as little as 3.5% down. You don’t need great credit, so they’re an option for people who are just starting to borrow (or those who are recovering from financial hardship).

2.Conventional Loans
Conventional loans also allow for small down payments. However, you’ll most likely need to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) until you get to at least 80% loan to value.

3.Pace Loans
PACE loans allow you to upgrade a property you own, which might expand the universe of homes that you’ll consider borrowing. When a house would be perfect if it just had energy-efficient appliances, you might be able to get funding (which you’ll have to repay) for those upgrades.