Tag Archives: First Time Buyer

6 Things First Time-Home Buyers Need To Know

6 Things First-Time Home Buyers Should Know in 2014

Assistance for first time home buyers in Minnesota is readily available. Here is some important first time home buyer advice and information you should know before you make your purchase.

  1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a zero down mortgage option for “rural development.” You may be thinking, “But I don’t want to live on a farm!”  but keep in mind that certain areas you wouldn’t think of as “rural” may actually qualify for USDA rural development financing.
  2. Military veterans may use the VA mortgage loan to finance their first home.
  3. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has a 203(b) loan which typically has a lower down payment requirement, lower monthly insurance premiums, and lower closing costs than other mortgage loan programs. First time home buyers should look into the FHA loan.
  4. If you’re thinking of buying a foreclosed home, a HomePath Mortgage may be of interest. With a low down payment, no mortgage insurance required, and no appraisal needed, a HomePath mortgage can help you buy a fixer-upper for your first home. Also look into what’s called HomePath Renovation, a loan to help finance the purchase and remodeling of an investment home, lending up to 35% of the as completed value—no more than $35,000.
  5. Got your eye on a home that needs major rehab that will cost more than $35,000? Apply for the full FHA 203k loan, which will help you make necessary structural repairs so you can have a nice first home. A variation on this is the 203k Streamline loan for homes that need minor repairs, up to $35,000.
  6. First time home buyers should talk with a mortgage consultant. They’ll check your credit score and help you see where you’re at financially, and whether or not you’d qualify for a mortgage.

In Minnesota, contact Lake Area Mortgage, a division of Lake Area Bank at 651-209-2900 for help with finding financial assistance, down payment assistance and more. The experienced team at Lake Area Mortgage can answer your first time home buyer questions, and guide you in the right direction to make getting that first home go from dream to reality.

MN Housing Market Hit The Bottom?

Rick Sharga, executive vice president with Carrington Mortgage Holdings, says the housing market is in a “catfish recovery,” with the market hitting bottom this year but prices mostly remaining flat until 2014.

The looming shadow inventories of distressed properties are continuing to prevent prices from rebounding, he explains. Sharga, former senior vice president at RealtyTrac, says more than a million foreclosure actions failed to move forward this year due to delays, which will cause a delay in prices rebounding. Sharga made his comments during a talk at the Asian Real Estate Association of America conference last week in San Francisco.

About 800,000 REOs remain on banks’ books, with three-quarters of those not yet listed for sale, Sharga says. What’s more, an additional 800,000 homes are in foreclosure, and 1.5 million loans are delinquent, HousingWire reports.

Sharga says he expects monthly foreclosures to remain high through 2012, and REO inventories to stay elevated through 2013.

Source: Housing Market Hit Bottom: Former RealtyTrac Exec, HousingWire (Sept. 30, 2011)

First Time Home Buyer’s Downpayment Still An Obstacle In MN

Trulia’s Fall 2011 American Dream survey reports more than 1/2 of all renters who would like to buy a home say they are unable to because of down payment requirements.

62% of young adults (18-34 year olds), state that as a first time home buyer, lack of down payment has prohibited them from buying a home. Home buyers aged 35-54 are more concerned with qualifying for a loan because of having poor credit.

From saving enough for a down payment to qualifying for a mortgage and having a poor credit history, today’s aspiring home owners face many financial obstacles in order achieve their American Dream of home ownership,” says Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist. “These obstacles keep some would-be home owners from taking advantage of low mortgage rates. On the other hand, they prevent some people from buying homes they can’t really afford. Government home ownership policies can target some of these obstacles to home ownership, but only stronger economic recovery will help households facing multiple obstacles become better able to buy homes.

MN First Time Home Buyer Loan Programs

#1 Top Producing Team for 2011 and 2012 in the entire State of Minnesota

First Time Home Buyers Entire MN 11 county metro Up to $10,000 down payment assistance.
Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne, Wright, Chisago, Scott, Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington First Time Home Buyer Programs

Click to view and print Our Privacy Policy:  Privacy Notice 2011

My team was awarded the 2011 and 2012 housing partnership award for our lending committment and top production for 1st time home buyers using Minnesota Housing products in support of affordable housing. Minnesota Housing Website.

Minnesota Housing 2010 and 2011 Award Recipient