Looking For a House with Low Down Payment- Know Your Loan Options
Buying a home is not only about finding the right property and location, it’s also about financing. For most people, buying a house in cash is usually impossible. This is why getting a loan or mortgage is so important.
When you begin your search, you will notice one thing: there are countless loans and loan programs. For many people, this is overwhelming. You can’t just pick any loan available. You need to consider many factors before deciding upon which loan to pursue. There many types of loans, including, but not limited to: Jumbo Loans Philadelphia mortgages, FHA loans, USDA loans, VA loans, and more.
Down payment (the amount you are willing to self-finance for your property) is a key factor in loans. Your credit history and debt-to-income ratio (DTI) are also important. If you can put down 20% value of the property, have a good credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio, you can opt for any conventional loan.
Home loans with reduced down payments
If you are looking to own a home with a reduced down payment, your best option is an FHA loan. An FHA Loan Philadelphia mortgage offers reduced down payment options of 3.5%. Of course, not all borrowers can qualify.
FHA Loans are provided by Federal Housing Administration-approved lenders. The FHA provides mortgage insurance on these loans, which allows borrowers to enjoy reduced down payments.
What are the criteria to apply for an FHA loan?
Firstly, the home must be the borrower’s primary residence. FHA loans are not provided for secondary houses. Borrowers must have a minimum FICO score of 580 to receive FHA loans with a minimum 3.5% down payment. If your FICO credit score is lower than 579, you will be required to make a 10% down-payment.
Additionally, your debt- to- Income ratio (DTI) should not be lower than 43%. Your credit card debt will be considered when assessing your DTI. After all, the lender needs to assess your repaying capacity before financing the loan.
It is critical that you maintain a good repayment history.
The borrower should also be able to provide proof of continuous employment or another source of steady income.
You may also need to pay mortgage insurance premium (MIP) on the loan amount. If your down payment is less than 10%, your MIP will last for the entire lifetime of the loan. If your down payment is 10% or above, you will have to make MIP payments for 11 years.
However, once you reach 20% equity in your property, you will be able to refinance. Once you refinance the mortgage into a conventional loan, you are no longer obligated to pay MPI.
Of course, this can all become very confusing. Unforeseen events occur. There may be unexpected issues or concerns. When managing finances, nothing is a certainty. That’s why Latitude Financial offers experts to help with the entire process. It doesn’t matter what loan you are pursuing. We help with USDA Mortgage Philadelphia loans, Jumbo Loans, refinance needs, and other loan options.
Call us at 215-600-1810 and let’s start your financial consultation today.