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First-Time Home Buyer Loans Guide You Should Know

Stephen Bryant
Buying your first apartment or household can be the most challenging process, especially because it is your first time and you are not familiar with steps you must take to finalize everything and move inside. The process can be highly overwhelming due to bunch of information your must consider and decision you must make beforehand.  Generally, first-time homebuyers tend to qualify for special benefits such as special grants, minimum down payment and assistance regarding closing costs, which can be sponsored by federal and state government. Many lenders offer first-time buyers’ special loans and incentives. You should enter here to learn more about home loans.  When it comes to the term first-time homebuyer, it refers to a person who is buying a primary residence for the first time. However, the definition is more generous because it is not age-specific, meaning you can become a first-time buyer in any period including 20s, 30s, 40s and older.  We can differentiate various government programs to assist first-time homebuyers. Besides, the IRS allows early withdrawals from retirement accounts for such people. You can find wide array of programs that will offer you a peace of mind and help you reduce expenses, while reaping benefits of owning a first home. 

Understand First-Time Homebuying Process

You should know that a first-time homebuyer is an individual who is purchasing a primary residence for the first time. The household is deemed as the principal or primary residence, meaning the place where the person will live for the next period.  It may also refer to main or primary residence, but you should remember that a principal residence may not come in form of a conventional house. For instance, it can be a boat where you can reside full-time, which is vital to remember.  According to the US HUD or Department of Housing and Urban Development, we can expand such definition further. The first-time homebuyer is: 
  • Person who has not owned a principal residence for three-years period from the moment of purchasing a new household
  • Someone who has never owned a principal residence, even though spouse was a household owner. 
  • Any single parent who previously owned home with ex-spouse or partner
  • Displaced homemaker who owned property with spouse
  • A person who owns a property that is not complying with state or local building codes.
If you fall in these categories, you will be eligible for certain government-sponsored programs that can help you financially reap benefits and reduce overall expenses.  Similarly, as HUD, you should know that Fannie Mae defines a first-time household buyer as an individual who did not have residential property in the last three years. The Federal National Mortgage Association or Fannie Mae, functions to extend ownership to more US citizens by using different programs.  For instance, if you choose HomeReady program, you can get assistance especially if you have unconventional income sources. At the same time, you can put as little as three percent as down payment, which is vital to remember. Visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZeEHYuORhY to learn more about this particular topic. You should remember that Fannie Mae does not originate mortgage, but it buys from banks that originate, meaning it guarantees the repayment. Then, they are repackaging them and selling on secondary markets. As a result, lenders tend to grant more mortgages to buyers that do not have regular financial situation. 

Federal Housing Association (FHA) Loans

It is important to remember that FHA has started back in 1934 with an idea to help homebuyers with modest finances to purchase their residences. The program is not specifically created for first-time buyers, but you can reap the benefits especially if you are struggling to qualify at private lenders or credit bureaus.  Qualified applicants can take advantage of low-down payment, which can be as little as 3.5%, while the FHA qualifications are less strict than banks. The FHA offers reduced closing expenses, meaning seniors can stay in their homes, while you can also reap benefits due to energy-efficiency updates.  However, FHA is not issuing mortgages, but backing up the ones from private lenders such as banks. Remember that the FHA guarantees the mortgage, meaning banks does not need to turn down someone with lower credit score. Still, you should check out the bank, which is FHA-approved. 

US Department of Agriculture

The main idea is to take advantage of the US Department of Agriculture, which is specifically targeted at first-time home buyers who wish to purchase homes in rural areas, especially if they are in lousy condition.  We are talking about SFH Guaranteed Loan Program, which will offer you a hundred percent financing for people who wish to either upgrade or purchase a home they already own. As FHA program, it is a guarantee to a private lender or bank, meaning you will not get a loan from a government.  You do not need to be a low-income applicant, meaning you can have income that goes up to hundred percent of the national average. 

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