down payment

Smart Strategies to Save for a Down Payment on Your Dream Home

Dreaming of buying a home? One of the biggest challenges of the process is coming up with a down payment, a percentage of the home’s purchase price that you must pay at closing.

But don’t worry; with the right strategies, accumulating a cash down payment can become more achievable than you might think.

Let’s explore several simple and practical strategies to help you reach your goal of homeownership.

Set a savings goal

Start by determining how much you need for a down payment. Despite what many Americans assume, 20% down payments are not mandatory. In fact, the average down payment is 6%, according to the experts at Reliance State Bank. Several government-backed mortgage products require much less, depending on your circumstances.

Then, there are down payment assistance programs. Talk to a mortgage professional to understand the specific amount you should aim for.

Then, determine a realistic savings goal based on this amount and break it down into monthly or weekly savings targets. This way, you’ll have a clear roadmap to follow and stay motivated.

Then, make saving that money a no-brainer

Make saving easier by automating your savings process. One of the easiest ways is to dedicate a certain amount of each paycheck and automatically transfer it to your savings account.

This way, a portion of your income is saved before you even have a chance to spend it. Over time, your savings will grow without requiring constant effort or discipline.

Put together a budget

Developing a budget is key to managing your finances effectively. Track your income and expenses to determine what you’re spending on and which categories you can eliminate or reduce your spending.

Trim unnecessary expenses like eating out or subscription services. Consider cooking at home, packing lunches, or exploring free entertainment options. Redirect the money you save towards your down payment fund.

Check out these free budget templates:

Research down payment assistance

Look into down payment assistance programs. These programs, offered by government agencies or non-profit organizations, provide financial assistance to eligible homebuyers.

Depending on the program, they offer low- to no-interest loans, grants, or other assistance to help bridge the gap for your down payment. Consult with your lender for local sources and research, and contact local housing authorities or community organizations to explore these opportunities.

Check out BankRate.com for an informative breakdown of a number of down payment assistance programs.

Boost your income

Consider ways that you can make more money. Look for opportunities to earn extra money, such as freelancing, gig work, or a part-time job. Use the additional income solely for your down payment savings.

Every little bit counts and can bring you closer to reaching your goal faster. Here are some additional ways to pump up your savings account:

Downsize or rent cheaper accommodations

If you’re currently renting a larger or more expensive place, downsizing to a smaller or more affordable accommodation can free up extra funds for your down payment. Look for other ways to reduce your housing costs, whether by finding a roommate, negotiating a lower rent, or exploring more affordable neighborhoods. Temporary sacrifices can lead to long-term gains.

Tap into gift funds

Sometimes, family members may be willing to gift you funds toward your down payment. If you’re fortunate enough to have supportive relatives, discuss the possibility of receiving financial assistance as a gift. Remember that lenders may have specific requirements regarding gift funds, so understand and comply with any regulations.

Save windfalls and bonuses

Whenever you receive unexpected windfalls like tax refunds, bonuses, or inheritances, resist the temptation to splurge and instead direct those funds toward your down payment savings. These unexpected financial boosts can provide a significant jumpstart to your savings goal.

Saving for a down payment requires discipline, but homeownership can become an attainable goal with these strategies. You may be surprised how quickly you’ve accumulated the money needed to purchase your dream home.

Remember, patience and perseverance are key.

3 things you can do this week to get closer to buying a home

Many Americans are putting their home purchases on hold over the uncertainty about the housing market. While we don’t recommend trying to time the market, it’s certainly understandable that some folks are a bit trepid right now.

Even though you may not be actively looking at homes to purchase right now, there are things you can be doing so that if the opportunity arises you can jump right into the market. Let’s take a look at three of those.

1. Talk to a lender

Sure, we hear a lot about cash buyers but most need a mortgage to buy a home. Get the process started by calling or visiting a lender. Family and friends, colleagues and real estate agents are good go-to sources for names of trusted lenders.

Although the initial consultation is typically quick and involves some number crunching and a list of paperwork you may need to submit, you’ll hopefully find a lender who will take some time to walk you through the process. Check out “The Smart Way to Shop for a Mortgage Lender.”

Some lenders can also counsel you on improving (or maintaining) your credit score over the next couple of months until you’re ready to buy. If not, read up on the process at MyFico.com.

Requesting loan preapproval offers real benefits, including saving time by not wasting it looking at homes you can’t afford.

In addition, “Sellers are looking for pre-approved buyers. Many prefer to entertain offers only from pre-approved buyers,” according to the pros at Capital Bank Home Loans, and we agree.

Finding out where your finances stack up in home loans is always a good idea, so this is an important step.

Preapproval from a lender is imperative, especially if you are close to being ready to buy.

When you call or visit a lender, ask all your questions, regardless of how basic you may consider them. This includes:

Current interest rates
Is a government-backed loan or a traditional loan the best choice for you?
Should you go with a fixed or adjustable-rate mortgage? If you don’t understand the difference between the two, ask.
Which down payment assistance programs are available to you?

2. Talk to a real estate agent

Retaining a real estate agent to help you buy a home is never too early. We are happy to offer you counsel on what to do right now to make you market-ready should the occasion arise sooner than you’d thought.

Sitting down with us briefly may give you insight into the current market, expectations for the future market, and other real estate-related topics you may not have considered.

Then, be sure to regularly visit our social media platforms and blog. We post a lot of educational content that you may not find elsewhere.

Some questions you may need the answer to when we get together:

Which banks or lenders are best for the homebuyer
Can you set up your home search criteria on the website so that you can regularly search for homes for sale?

3. Internet search

Speaking of searching, the sooner you start, the more familiar you’ll become with the process.

Internet searches can help you narrow down your choice of neighborhoods, the prices there, and the types of homes.

Doing drive-throughs of neighborhoods will also help you narrow down the choices. Then, when the time is right, you will have several neighborhoods on which to focus and won’t waste your precious time on those you don’t like.

Three small steps with huge rewards when the time comes to buy your home.

Reach out if you’d like to set up a meeting. We love to talk about houses!

What is PMI (or MIP) and how do I get rid of it?

PMI (short for ‘private mortgage insurance’) is one of those things in life that is both a curse and a blessing. If you put down less than 20 percent of the loan amount when you take out a conventional loan, you will be required to pay a monthly mortgage insurance premium (typically tacked on to your mortgage payment) to cover the lender in the event you mess up and default on the loan.

Without it, cash-poor homebuyers can’t get a mortgage.

With it, your house payments are higher, it takes a long time to get rid of (with some loans it never goes away) and it only protects the lender.

If you have an FHA-backed loan it’s called MIP for mortgage insurance premium. “MIP is required on all FHA loans, regardless of the size of your down payment,” according to Molly Grace at rocketmortgage.com.

“FHA loans require both an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) as well as an annual premium payment, or annual MIP,” she concludes.

Mortgage Insurance and the FHA-Backed Loan

Borrowers who were granted an FHA-backed loan prior to June 3, 2013 can get rid of this monthly headache when the loan reaches a 78 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for a 15-year loan.

If you have a 30-year loan you’ll need to wait until your LTV reaches 78 percent AND you’ve been paying the premium for a minimum of 60 months, which is government-speak for five years.

Calculate your LTV by dividing your current loan balance by the current appraised value of the home. Here’s an example of how this works from the experts at bankofamerica.com:

“You currently have a loan balance of $140,000 … Your home currently appraises for $200,000. So, your loan-to-value equation would look like this:

$140,000 ÷ $200,000 = .70

Convert .70 to a percentage and that gives you a loan-to-value ratio of 70%.”

FHA borrowers who put down 10 percent on a home after June 3, 2013 must wait 11 years to have the MIP requirement terminated. If you pay less than 10 percent down – which is the beauty of the FHA loan, after all – you must continue to pay MIP for the life of the loan.

Conventional Loans and PMI

The Homeowner’s Protection Act of 1998 states that homeowners who have a conventional loan on their primary residence, purchased after July 29, 1999 can request a cancellation of PMI once they have 20 percent equity in the home.

The same law says that the lender must automatically terminate PMI on the date that the loan is scheduled to reach a 78 percent loan-to-value ratio – not based on payments made – but according to the date the loan should reach this milestone, as listed on the initial amortization schedule.

The law gives borrowers another way to realize relief from PMI by stating that the lender has to release you from the requirement when you are at the midpoint of your loan’s amortization schedule, regardless of your LTV.

Stop saving for the down payment and get help with it

Despite having decent credit, a good job and the ability to pay for a home every month, the dream of buying a home is somewhat elusive for those with little to no cash to put down.

This is why our younger generation isn’t buying homes at the rate that previous generations did.

With student loan debt weighing them down, there is little money left at the end of the month to set aside for the down payment on a home.

And, sadly, most lenders require you to have some skin in the game before they’ll lend you money for that home.

Thankfully, there is help – both state and municipal agencies offer down payment and closing cost assistance to homebuyers across the country.

While it will take some work on your part, you can get around saving that huge chunk of cash known as the down payment.

Down payment assistance programs

Down payment assistance comes in the forms of grants (that don’t have to be repaid) and loans — some at no interest or very low interest and some don’t have to be repaid until you sell the home.

State Housing Finance Agencies (HFA) offer many opportunities so check into yours first. You can find a list online at ncsha.org.

Counties and cities also offer down payment assistance programs as do certain non-profit agencies and employers. In fact, some of the larger labor unions, such as the Culinary Workers Union, offer assistance.

Then, there are special programs for teachers and first responders. See HUD’s Good Neighbor Next Door program for information on these programs.

Find state and local government programs on HUD’s website, here.

No down payment loans

1. If you are a current member of the military, a veteran or a surviving spouse, look into the VA Loan.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t actually grant loans; they guarantee the repayment of a portion of the loan should the borrower default.

The loan is granted by a private lender but not all lenders participate in the program so you may have to shop around for one. We are happy to refer you to a lender that participates

The VA-backed mortgage requires no down payment and there is no requirement to purchase private mortgage insurance, which will make your monthly payment lower than with a conventional loan.

There is, however, a funding fee but it can be wrapped into the loan amount, so you won’t have to come out-of-pocket for it.

2. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers the Rural Development home loan program which also requires no down payment.

They offer two different loan programs. The first is very much like the VA loan in that it offers the lender a government-backed guarantee.

The second program is a direct loan from the USDA and it’s for low-income borrowers.

These loans are for homes in rural areas and you can learn if a home you are interested in qualifies by using the USDA website’s eligibility tool.

Low down payment loans

FHA

Yes, FHA is popular for its low down-payment requirement, but when they changed the mortgage insurance requirement, the loan program became a lot less popular.

Today, the Mortgage Insurance Premium for the FHA loan sticks with it for the life of the loan.

If you need a low-down payment loan, however, this may be your program of choice. You’ll pay either 3.5 or 10 percent of the loan amount, depending on your credit score and lender requirements.

Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac

The HomeReady® loan from Fannie Mae actually offers a lower down payment requirement than the FHA program – 3 percent. You will also have the option of cancelling the PMI when your equity in the home reaches 20 percent.

This loan is best for low-to-moderate income borrowers with credit scores of 680 or more. You do not need to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify.

Home Possible®, Freddie Mac’s low-down payment program, offers down payment options as low as 3 percent. Learn more about this program online at freddiemac.com.

We are happy to share with you our information on no-to-low down payment loans. Give us a call.

Get Help With Your Down Payment

It’s frustrating to have a decent-paying job, a bright earnings future and acceptable credit and still not be able to buy a home because you lack the thousands of dollars in cash needed for a down payment and closing costs.

The dreaded down payment stops more potential homeowners cold than any other aspect of the loan process.

To read articles about down payment headaches one would think it’s only millennials who have trouble coming up with the funds.

In reality, most would-be first-time homebuyers, regardless of age, find saving up 20 percent of hundreds of thousands of dollars challenging.

Sure, you may qualify for a loan with a lower down payment, but do you really want to add to your monthly house payment by purchasing the mandated private mortgage insurance policy? That’s what’s required if you don’t have 20 percent equity in a home you purchase.

Today, we’ll explore ways you can get help with the down payment on your new home.

Crowdfund your down payment

Enter, HomeFundMe CMG Financial, which offers a brilliant way for you to come up with that down payment: Crowdfunding – with the approval of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Before the crowdfunding concept came into being, lenders stipulated that your down payment and closing cost funds must come from your savings (mutual funds, stocks, IRA and 401(K) included), proceeds from the sale of another property, assistance from government programs or non-profits, union, employers or gift money from an immediate relative.

HomeFundMe allows anyone to donate funds to help you buy a home and CMG Financial provides the online platform.

While many crowdfunding endeavors offer a return on investment, the HomeFundMe program returns nothing to those who give. Money given is considered a gift, although they can make the gift conditional on the money eventually going to fund a home purchase.

The program offers incentives to savers, however. Attend credit counselling and education classes and you may receive a grant of up to $2,500. Then, the crowdfunding platform will match donations “$2 for every $1 raised, up to $2,500,” according to CNBC’s Diana Olick.

Get help from the government

The government, from local to county, state and federal, offers programs to help Americans get into home ownership. Some of these programs are geared toward the low-income applicant while others are open to all.

Federal Home Loan Bank

The Federal Home Loan Bank offers three programs to help homebuyers with their down payments and closing costs:

Home$tart® — Assistance up to $7,500 for borrowers who take the homebuyer education program and earn up to 80 percent of their area’s median income (find yours on HUD’s website). Unlike the aforementioned programs, these funds come in the form of a grant.
Home$tart Plus — $15,000 to borrowers who are currently receiving public housing assistance. Borrowers must complete a financial literacy program and be income qualified.
Native American Homeownership Initiative (NAHI) — $15,000 to eligible Native American households to help with a down payment and closing costs.

Good Neighbor Next Door

This program falls under the auspices of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and offers a discount (typically 50 percent) off the asking price of a home. The program is open to applicants in the following professions:

Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers
Law enforcement officers
Emergency medical technicians
Firefighters

Be aware that this program only covers homes in HUD’s revitalization areas that are listed for sale through this program.

Learn more about the program and how to apply on HUD’s website.

State and local programs

FHA offers state-wide down payment grants through a variety of programs. Search for them here.

Search for local programs at Freddie Mac’s website.

The National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies (NALHFA) suggests using downpaymentresource.com to find information on local assistance programs.

provides local-level program information.

Finally, several labor unions, such as the Culinary Union, offer homebuying assistance programs for members.

The down payment isn’t the whole enchilada – here’s how much cash you’ll need to buy a house

The real estate industry has done a bang-up job on letting consumers know they’ll need some cash when they purchase a home. Typically, it’s the down payment that’s mentioned. Seldom are closing costs brought up so they end up a major surprise for homebuyers.

Between the two of those huge chunks of money are other cash outlays you’ll need to consider.

Earnest Money Deposit

You found the home you want to buy and you and your agent structured the perfect purchase agreement. In it, you’ll find a section dealing with your earnest money deposit (EMD). Your agent will list the amount you are paying and where it will be held.

So, what is this? There are several functions of an earnest money deposit. First, it shows the seller that you are serious about pursuing the purchase. After all, he or she will be taking the home off the market. This “skin in the game” evens the playing field. The seller takes a gamble by removing the home from the market and you put your cash on the line with the possibility of losing it, under certain circumstances.

The amount of money used for your EMD varies according to several factors, including what type of market you’re in (in fast-moving markets, a larger-than-normal EMD may entice the seller to choose your offer).

Typically, it’s 1 to 2 percent of the offering price. In May of this year the median home price in the U.S. was $345,800, which would mean an earnest money deposit of between $3,458 and $6,916.

When the seller accepts your offer, your lender will request that you wire them your down payment funds.

Down payments are expressed as a percentage of the purchase price of the home. For example, using our national average home price, you will need $69,160 for a 20 percent down payment, $34,580 for a 10 percent down payment, $17,290 if you are required to come up with a 5 percent down payment and $12,103 for a 3.5 percent down payment.

Down payment percentages depend upon the loan you’ll be obtaining. Conventional loans generally require 20 percent down and the best choice if you hope to avoid paying a monthly private insurance premium.

Other loans, such as those through FHA or Fannie Mae, require significantly less for the down payment, while the VA and USDA require no money down.

Closing costs

This is the part of the process that catches far too many homebuyers by surprise. Closing costs are all the fees required of everyone who helps you purchase the home. From your real estate agent’s commission and appraiser’s fee to the title company’s research and issuance of a policy and, of course, the lender’s fees. These fees add up – fast – so it’s important to compare closing cost estimates from several lenders. It’s also important to understand which costs are negotiable.

It’s not unusual for closing costs to amount to 2 to 5 percent of the loan amount. Using our average home price mentioned above, with a 3.5 percent down payment, the loan amount will be about $333,697. Closing costs would be anywhere from $6,674 to $16,685. As you can see, closing costs, if not prepared to pay, can come as quite a shock to homebuyers.

3 Ways to reduce closing costs

1. You can reduce a portion of your closing costs by closing as late in the month as possible. Lenders charge interest in arrears, meaning that when you make a house payment, you are actually paying for last month’s interest (and the coming month’s principal). When you close escrow, the lender will have calculated how much interest you owe from the date your loan was funded to the end of the current month.

For example, if you close on your new home on August 15, you’ll pre-pay the interest due from August 15 until August 31. September’s interest isn’t due until October 1, when you will make your first house payment.

Reduce the pre-paid interest charge by closing at the end of the month.

2. You can eliminate the need to pay all or part of your closing costs by requesting that the seller contribute. The seller gets to write that amount off as a tax deduction and you get to skip the closing costs, so it’s beneficial to all parties.

3. Ask your lender if you can include the closing costs in your loan. Yes, there will be a charge for this but it won’t be nearly as large as the immediate outlay of cash necessary to pay closing costs.

Despite what many first-time homebuyers think, the down payment isn’t the whole ball of wax when it comes to cash outlays when you purchase a home. It’s important to determine exactly how much cash you’ll need to purchase a home so that you can budget for these expenses.