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Here is an article you may find helpful.

Luke Star
October 15, 2015
https://www.madisonmortgageguys.com/fall-home-buying-tips/

https://www.thinkglink.com/2017/07/20/finding-home-qa-with-author-michael-trickey/
By Ilyce Glink| July 20th, 2017

Buying a home can be stressful, especially if it’s your first home purchase. CPA Michael Trickey, managing director of The Berkshire Group in Lake Zurich, Illinois, hopes his new book, Finding Home: Everything You Need to Know – and Do – For Home Buying Success, will help first time homebuyers navigate the complicated homebuying process.

Below is a Q&A with Trickey about the book.

• Tell me about “Finding Home” – what sets it apart from other homebuying books?

Finding Home brings the homebuying process to life by following a young couple (Jack and Eva) through all the steps of finding and buying the right home for them. Throughout the book, Jack and Eva interact with family and friends, asking and answering the same types of questions first time homebuyers will have in their searches. This conversational style provides a comfortable way of learning the vocabulary and key concepts necessary for successful homebuying.

Along the way, checklists, questionnaires and forms are filled in for the young couple, providing the reader with examples and ideas. Blank versions of the checklists, questionnaires and forms are available for download at the Finding Home’s companion website, www.findinghomebook.com.
Finding Home is segmented into five main sections:

1. Qualifying yourself;
2. Knowing your priorities;
3. Understanding mortgage loans;
4. Finding the right location and home for you;
5. Buying the home.

• What makes the homebuying process so intimidating?

The homebuying process has many steps unfamiliar to new homebuyers.

1. There is specialized jargon to learn.
2. Buying a home requires commitment of time and money, and intent to remain in one place. There is a fear of making a costly mistake.
3. Buyers need to depend on help, advice and services from many people they’ve never met before. It is unclear who to trust.
4. There is uncertainty about how much the buyer can afford, and homes they want may seem beyond their reach.
5. Even a good bid might be rejected as someone else could offer a better price or more favorable terms.
6. Most new buyers need to qualify for a mortgage loan. There are many forms and documents to complete and provide.
7. Timelines can be frustrating. The buyer will be evaluated according to lender’s criteria, and they may be denied.

• What causes the most confusion for homebuyers?
Buyers are often confused about the amount of money they will need before and at the time they close on their home, especially if they are financing the purchase of their home. Lenders require homebuyers to put some of their own money towards the purchase price as a downpayment. The lender may charge points and/or fees. Depending on the day of the month on which the loan closes, the buyer may have to prepay interest to the lender for the remaining days in the month. There are also fees for appraisals, inspections, title insurance, document preparation, and a host of other items.

Even if the homebuyer is not using a mortgage loan to finance the purchase of their home, they will still have closing costs in excess of the downpayment. These include the fees for appraisals, inspections, title insurance, document preparation, and a host of other items.

• What is the biggest mistake homebuyers make? How can they avoid it?

The biggest mistake homebuyers make is jumping in without being adequately prepared. Buying a home requires preparation, knowledge, reliance on professionals, and time. Homebuyers can avoid many mistakes by educating themselves before they begin the process. Investing time reading books, articles, blogs, and other sources of information will pay dividends many times over in savings of time, money, anxiety and frustration.
Common mistakes made due to lack of preparation include:

1. Borrowing more money than the buyer can afford;
2. Failing to consider closing costs;
3. Buying a home in a neighborhood that does not meet the buyer’s needs and wants;
4. Obtaining a loan with terms that can lead to significant payment shock;
5. Providing partially filled-in forms to mortgage brokers or lenders, who say they will fill in the blanks for the buyer;
6. Not checking out and comparing loan programs and terms offered by multiple lenders.

• The housing market is very competitive for buyers right now, what can they do to make sure they get their dream home?

Buyers need to figure out, and prioritize, what they really want and need in a home, and the general location of the home. Then they need to figure out what they can comfortably afford to pay, both upfront and on a monthly basis.
Knowing those parameters is the starting point for their home search. It helps them to focus their efforts, and maximizes their chance for success. They will be able to more effectively use online search tools and set preferences and filters to help locate homes in desired locations that fit their parameters. They can then research and walk the neighborhoods to gain a feel for each one. By doing this type of preparation, buyers can be ready to jump on affordable homes for sale, that best meet their needs and fit their budget.

• What do homebuyers worry about that isn’t such a big deal?

Homebuyers should not worry about purely cosmetic features of a home that can easily be changed. If the home otherwise fits their needs and wants, they should factor in the cost of making cosmetic changes, but not let those items prevent them from moving forward on a transaction. It is amazing how much simple changes to paint, flooring, fixtures, cabinets, countertops, and landscaping can impact a home’s look and feel.

Cosmetic features outside of your control, such as a next door neighbor’s ugly, ill-maintained house or trashed yard is a big deal, however, and should factor into decision-making.

• What’s the one thing you want people to take away from reading “Finding Home”?

The homebuying process may seem intimidating, but it does not have to be so. Just prepare yourself before you begin, and don’t get discouraged if you encounter set-backs. You can find and buy an affordable home that has what you want and need, in a location that is right for you. If you have questions, check out the FAQs on my website www.findinghomebook.com. If you do not see the answer there, please send me an email at mtrickey@findinghomebook.com.

5 mortgages that require no down payment or a small down payment
By Holden Lewis • Bankrate.com

https://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/4-mortgages-that-require-little-money-down-1.aspx

Homebuyers with little money for a down payment are finding more home loans available for a low down payment or even no down payment.

Following are a few options for borrowers seeking low-down-payment and zero-down-payment home mortgages.

No down payment: VA loan

The Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, guarantees purchase mortgages with no required down payment for qualified veterans, active-duty service members and certain members of the National Guard and Reserves. Private lenders originate VA loans, which the VA guarantees. There is no mortgage insurance. The borrower pays a funding fee, which can be rolled into the loan amount.

For purchase and construction loans, the VA funding fee varies, depending on the size of the down payment, whether the borrower served or serves in the regular military or in the Reserves or National Guard, and whether it’s the veteran’s first VA loan or a subsequent loan. The funding fee can be as low as 1.25 percent or as high as 3.3 percent.

For first-time purchasers making no down payment, the funding fee is 2.15 percent for members or veterans of the regulator military, and 2.4 percent for those who qualify through service in the Reserves or National Guard.

No down payment: Navy Federal

Navy Federal Credit Union, the nation’s largest in assets and membership, offers 100 percent financing to qualified members who buy primary homes. Navy Federal eligibility is restricted to members of the military, some civilian employees of the military and U.S. Department of Defense, and family members.

The credit union’s zero-down program is similar to the VA’s. One difference is cost: Navy Federal’s funding fee of 1.75 percent is less than the VA’s funding fees.

No down payment: USDA

The (Department of Agriculture, or) USDA’s Rural Development mortgage guarantee program is so popular that it has been known to run out of money before the end of the fiscal year.

Some borrowers are surprised to find that Rural Development loans aren’t confined to farmland.

The USDA has maps on its website that highlight eligible areas. In addition to geographical limits, the USDA program has restrictions on household income, and it is intended for first-time buyers, although there are exceptions.

The USDA mortgage comes from a bank, and there is no mortgage insurance. Instead, the USDA levies a 1 percent upfront guarantee fee, which can be rolled into the loan amount, and an annual guarantee fee of 0.35 percent of the loan balance.

Low down payment: Mortgage insurance

Qualified borrowers can make down payments as low as 3 percent with private mortgage insurance, or PMI. For most borrowers, PMI costs less than Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance. But PMI has stricter credit requirements.

PMI has another edge over FHA: Once your mortgage balance is under 80 percent of the home’s value, you can cancel PMI. You can’t get rid of FHA insurance unless you refinance into a non-FHA loan.

Low down payment: FHA

With a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent, the FHA is the low-down-payment option that’s available to people with imperfect credit histories.

The FHA charges an upfront premium of 1.75 percent of the mortgage amount. On a 30-year loan with the minimum down payment, there’s an annual premium of 0.8 percent of the mortgage amount, or $800 a year for each $100,000 borrowed — $66.67 a month for a $100,000 loan.

https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/first-time-homebuyer-grants-and-programs/
Rachel Hartman
August 10, 2017

Buying your very first home can be overwhelming. There’s all the financial jargon and the mountainous mortgage paperwork, not to mention the dollar amounts that can make you dizzy.

Money issues often stand in the way of homeownership. A survey by rental service Apartment List found that 80 percent of millennial renters want to buy a home, but most say they can’t afford to.

What you may not realize is that many first-time homebuyer programs and grants offer financial help, and you may be eligible for various types of assistance.

Here are nine first-time homebuyer programs and grants designed to help you land a great mortgage and get a place of your own.

1. FHA loan

In an FHA loan, the Federal Housing Administration insures the mortgage. The FHA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The FHA’s backing offers lenders a layer of protection, meaning that your lender won’t experience a loss if you default on the mortgage.

FHA loans typically come with competitive interest rates, smaller down payments and lower closing costs than conventional loans.

If you have a credit score of 580 or higher, you could be eligible for a mortgage with a down payment as low as 3.5 percent of the purchase price. If your credit score is lower than 580, you still might qualify for an FHA mortgage, but the down payment would be at least 10 percent of the purchase amount.

2. USDA loan

While not well known, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a homebuyer assistance program.

While the program focuses on homes in certain rural areas, you don’t need to buy or run a farm to be eligible.

The USDA guarantees the home loan. There may be no down payment required, and the loan payments are fixed.

Applicants with a credit score of 640 or higher typically get streamlined processing. With a credit score below 640, you still can qualify for a USDA loan, but the lender will ask for extra documentation about your payment history.

Keep in mind that there are income limitations, which can vary by region.

3. VA loan

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) helps active-duty military members, veterans and surviving spouses buy homes.

The VA guarantees part of the loan, making it possible for lenders to offer some special features. VA loans come with competitive interest rates and require no down payment. You aren’t required to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), and a minimum credit score isn’t needed for eligibility.

If it becomes difficult to make payments on the mortgage, the VA can negotiate with the lender on your behalf.

4. Good Neighbor Next Door

The Good Neighbor Next Door program, sponsored by HUD, provides housing aid for law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers.

Through this program, you can receive a discount of 50 percent on a home’s listed price in regions known as “revitalization areas.”

Using the program’s website, you can search for properties available in your state. You must commit to living in the home for at least 36 months.

5. Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored entities. They work with local lenders to offer mortgage options that benefit low- and moderate-income families.

With the backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, lenders can offer competitive interest rates and accept down payments as low as 3 percent of the purchase price.

Fannie Mae also provides homeownership education for first-time homebuyers through its “HomePath Ready Buyer” program.

6. Energy-efficient mortgage (EEM)

An energy-efficient, or “green,” mortgage is designed to help you add improvements to your home to make it more environmentally friendly. The federal government supports EEM loans by insuring them through the FHA or VA programs.

The key advantage of this mortgage is that it lets you create an energy-efficient home without having to make a larger down payment. The extra cost is rolled into your primary loan.

Some improvements you can make include installing double-paned windows, new insulation or a modern heating-and-cooling system.

7. FHA Section 203(k)

If you’ve run the numbers to see how much house you can afford and have determined a fixer-upper is best for your budget, the Section 203(k) rehabilitation program may be a good fit.

This type of loan, backed by the FHA, takes into consideration the value of the residence after improvements have been made. It then lets you borrow the funds you’ll need to carry out the project and includes them in your main mortgage.

The down payment for a 203(k) loan can be as low as 3 percent.

8. Native American Direct Loan

Since 1992, the Native American Veteran Direct Loan program has helped Native American veterans and their spouses buy homes on federal trust lands. The VA serves as the lender.

If you’re eligible, you won’t be required to make a down payment or pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI).

This first-time homebuyer loan also offers low closing costs and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

9. Local grants and programs

In addition to the various programs provided by the federal government, many states and cities offer help to first-time homebuyers.

Before buying a home, check your state’s or community’s website for information on housing grants and programs available in your area.

You also might consider contacting a real estate agent or local HUD-approved housing counseling agency to learn more about programs in your area that might apply to your situation.