Pay Less for Your Dream Home

It typically depends on the program itself. While you may not qualify for every form of home buying assistance, you may be a perfect candidate for several options. Again, see what’s available in your area and if you could be eligible. Some first-time homebuyer programs aren’t limited to borrowers purchasing a house for the first time. Talk to a lender about the possibilities if you owned a home in the past but have since been renting. Resources are available in down payment or closing assistance, even if you have a lower credit score or higher DTI.

There’s no minimum amount of money required to buy a house. Lenders and borrowers considered a 20% down payment standard because it eliminated the need for mortgage insurance. Today’s borrowers are putting down much less, often ranging from 6-12% of the loan value. The obvious downside of a smaller down payment is a higher monthly payment. That’s why it’s beneficial to set aside a down payment fund and regularly add to it. Doing so ensures you’ll have the funds for your dream home while still giving you the flexibility to work toward other financial goals, such as paying off high-interest debt or saving for retirement.

A new homebuyer should avoid draining their savings account to buy a house. Ask yourself how much money you would need to cover your mortgage payment and all other expenses following a loss of income. Experts recommend always having an emergency fund that would pay for three to six months of expenses.

It depends on the transaction more often than not. If you’re purchasing an existing home, there’s a good chance you can move into your new residence on the day of closing. It’s also possible you’ll need to give the seller some additional time to move out of the house and into their new property. Your timeline will be different if you’re buying a new construction home. Though your builder will require a deposit, also known as earnest money, you’ll need to be patient until your home is completed. Some developers can finish a new build within a few months, while others might need over a year to finish the job.

Don’t feel like you need to wait for a certain age to become a homeowner. There are plenty of new homebuyer programs to help you get into your own place sooner than expected. Lenders will see you as a prime home buying candidate as long as you have a stable income, solid credit history, and manageable debt obligations. What if you’ve rented your whole life and now want to buy a home for retirement? More older Americans are choosing to leave their apartments in favor of condos for themselves or even single-family homes where they can reside with loved ones. Regardless of your age, know that there’s no rush to buy your next home.

Check out our mortgage affordability calculator. New homebuyers can use their monthly budget and down payment to see how much house they can afford. Gain a clearer picture of homeownership costs by including homeowners insurance, estimated property taxes, and HOA fees. Once you’re happy with the numbers, start the conversation with a salary-based mortgage expert. Pre-qualify for free and lock in a low rate today!

Closing costs total 2-6% of the loan amount. So, if you’re looking to buy a $500,000 home, expect to spend upwards of $30,000 on closing costs. The good news is that new homebuyers can usually roll part or all of these costs into the loan.

It’s worth looking into an FHA loan if you’re hoping to put down as little as possible. However, conventional loans offer down payments as low as 5%, as we said earlier. Use a mortgage calculator to understand how different down payment amounts could affect your future monthly payment.