It is the opinion of many people that the government, despite what the President may say, will in fact bail out mortgage high players Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. For these companies to fold would be detrimental to the economy. But what exactly are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and what do they do? Simply put, a home buyer achieves a mortgage from a lending institute and Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac purchase the mortgage to then resell it again to investors. They receive money from the sale to the first lender to continue lending.

In the last decade Freddie Mac handled nearly $164 billion in New York mortgages alone; serving over 1,325,000 families. If Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have serious financial problems then credit will tighten and it will become increasingly difficult for any consumer to get a mortgage; but particularly for the first time home buyer. At this point it is speculated that these companies will not need to borrow money from federal reserves, the government or the treasury; however, the government has stated that if they do need it they can come for it. With the potential for government bailouts confidence is building.

When push comes to shove, impact from national news or news on a local level does not change the rules in applying for a first mortgage; make sure you have your finances in order before shopping for a home, make sure your credit is in line and be aware of your credit score. The first time home buyer needs to educate themselves more than ever as lenders begin to tighten their belts. Knowing what your credit score is, how to increase that score and look favorable to the lenders will increase your chances of obtaining a mortgage regardless of what is happening in the financial world; these are basic rules.

Before a lender will grant a loan for a home he will first run a credit report on the buyer to help them get a picture of the buyer’s ability to pay the loan. The last thing a lending institute wants is for a buyer to get in over their head and default on their mortgage. It is therefore recommended that before shopping for a home or showing up at the lending institute to apply for a first mortgage you run a credit report of your own. This will help you figure out any areas that need to be corrected and what areas could be improved. Once you are satisfied and your lender runs the report he will be able to help you understand what you can afford. If you have discovered your credit is in shambles or your credit score is low there are ways to bring up your credit score and you will have the time to do so.

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae having financial problems is just the reflection of what is happening in the economy today; we are all feeling the pinch. This is a time, more than any to tighten our own belts, avoid using credit excessively and manage your credit well; doing these things will allow you to be among the few buyers that the lenders extend a first time mortgage to.

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What fabulous news for first home buyers, a whopping $21,000 towards deposit, expenses or even new furniture if you buy a brand new home before June 2009. So if you’re ready to take the plunge and sign up for what is likely to be the biggest commitment you’ve ever made, now, more than ever, seems to be the perfect time to get into the property market as a first home buyer. Even though your friends and family will be full of advice, as with any major decision in our lives, it’s always good to take their experiences and opinions on board, however your own research will give you peace of mind and assurance, before you sign up for the big purchase and possibly sign your life away to the mortgage company. Generally, most first home buyers already have an idea on the location and the type of home they want, so now it’s just a matter of finding out whether you can afford what you want to buy. Almost all the major banks and other lenders offer special packages with reduced application fees and lower interest specifically for First Home Buyers. With the help of some comprehensive search engines, shopping around not only for a home loan, but a property is almost as easy as 1 – 2 – 3, so jump on the internet and let your fingers do all the work for you. It’s important to remember that the bank can’t lend you all the money to buy your first home. As a first home buyer, at least a small part of your deposit will have to come from your own savings or alternatively a gift from your relatives. Once you find the right home loan, apply for a pre-approval. This can be done either online or in person. A pre-approval is the bank’s preliminary approval subject to an acceptable property. You will need to provide a completed application form along with requirements such as your identification, income evidence and savings (gift) verification. Once the bank is satisfied that you’re an acceptable first home buyer, they will issue a pre-approval and you can start shopping around for your first home.

So when and how do I apply for a First Home Owner Grant? The First Home Owner Grant is only available to Australian residents and citizens, so before you apply you should contact your state revenue office, alternatively visit their respective website for more information. If you satisfy all the first home buyer criteria and conditions, there are two ways you can apply for your first home owner grant. If you apply for your first home owner grant via your bank, you’re likely to receive the grant at settlement, so on the day you officially become a home owner. If you apply for the grant directly with the state revenue office, the grant is not likely to come through until after the settlement. The best way is to keep in regular contact with the lending manager of your chosen bank. Remember, they help first home buyers every day and are the best source of information and guidance, so don’t be afraid to call them if you have a question, after all, they’re here to help you.

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One of the biggest fears of first home buyers everywhere, is that they may never get on to the property ladder at all. This is a real social stigma in Australia where 70% of people own, or are buying their own homes.

The Federal Government’s ‘First Home Owner’ grant that was increased in October 2008 has encouraged a flood of calls to mortgage brokers. Young hopefuls are looking to take advantage of the grant to make that first big step toward a place of their own. Unfortunately the grant ends on June 30th 2009 although mortgage brokers are lobbying for a six-month extension of the grant. There was very little interest in first home buying through 2008 until the grant went up. So it was just the reassurance and encouragement that first home buyers needed to overcome their reticence.

A second equally large fear for first home buyers is the fear of failure. The fear of making a big financial mistake that could end up in bankruptcy and foreclosure. Clare McGrath a 28-year-old laboratory manager put it this way. “Dave and me have wanted a place of our own for years now and have been saving towards it. But how safe were our jobs and what could we afford? How far should we stretch our budget to get a home we would love? The mortgage market can be very confusing and frightening to first home buyers who will probably only buy 2 or perhaps 3 houses in their lives.

Clare again explains. “We did well in finding a mortgage broker who understood our situation and took us through a very complete and interesting financial health check. He helped us look at our incomes and expenses. He gave us good estimates of our mortgage repayments based on our ability to service a home loan. He took into account all of our assets and liabilities and our precious deposit. We had never realized before how much our mortgage depended on so many things”

35% is the magic figure that should reassure first home buyers and give them the best guide to what they can afford with minimal risk of getting into trouble of the foreclosure kind. No first time buyer should take on repayments that are more than 35% of their weekly pre tax income. All responsible mortgage brokers will advise their clients in this way and will use sophisticated mortgage calculator software to judge first home buyer affordability.

To get a first home mortgage loan you must own more than you owe. Lenders will look carefully at your existing assets and liabilities. Assets including things such as furniture, vehicles, savings and investments you may have accumulated over the years. Lenders will look at your credit record to determine whether you are likely to default on the repayments. Factors such as your occupation, work record, where you live and your record as a tenant, are used to build a credit profile. Your credit risk can influence how much you can borrow.

A third fear for first home buyers is getting the timing right for their entry into the market. Many first home buyers held back in the first three quarters of 2008 out of uncertainty and fear that house prices would continue to fall. The First Home Owner grant is definitely reversing that trend. In contrast to this many first home buyers are afraid not to jump in and buy as soon as they are in a position to do so because house price inflation is relentlessly moving affordable homes out of their financial reach. In reality there is some truth and a lot of rubbish talked about house prices generally. The only way for first home buyers to overcome their fears is to get expert advice in the way Clare and Dave did.

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Housing affordability in Australia is reaching a crisis point with many individuals and families now finding the ‘Australian dream’ of owning their own home soundly out of reach. This has never been truer than for the first home buyer.

The average median house price in Australia is now around $412,000 a whopping 108% increase over the 1997 – 2006 period with a corresponding 97% increase in the average home loan. It’s no wonder first home buyers are now contemplating a life time of renting.

The average first home buyer will now need to spend over 30% of their disposable income to service the minimum monthly repayments on a new home loan of around $2,332 a month. With rental prices for private housing rising sharply over the last couple of years the first home buyers capacity to save a deposit has been dramatically undermined and along with rising living costs the first home buyer is struggling.

The housing affordability crisis in Australia has come about because of a shortage of available housing and the excessive cost of raw land, long delays in planning approvals and the high cost of infrastructure to support community services. All of these factors are contributing to delays in residential construction.

A similar housing affordability crisis is occurring in the UK for first home buyers brought on by a prevalent housing shortage. The UK mortgage market has been pushing for longer fixed rate loan terms for periods up to 25 years as an immediate solution to ease the housing affordability crisis for first home buyers.

The impact on Australian First Home Buyers…

The emerging trend in Australia at the moment for first home buyers is a delay in home ownership with preference given to maintaining their lifestyle and being able to live in a suburb of their own choice rather than making sacrifices to purchase a home in a less desirable location. With rising debt, large deposit requirements and soaring house prices the first home buyer is opting to rent rather than face the uncertainty of being unable to meet the monthly loan repayments of a new mortgage.

Mortgage relief for the First Home Buyer…

Mortgage brokers like Altrust Finance, financial institutions and the Australian government are all working towards finding lending solutions to alleviate the current housing affordability crisis for first home buyers. Low doc loans and non conforming home loans are making it easier for families and individuals to own their own home. New shared equity schemes aimed at reducing the upfront costs of home ownership for the first home buyer as well as reducing loan repayments are emerging in the Australian mortgage market place. Non conforming loans, no deposit loans and family guarantee mortgages are all available to the first home buyer and are aimed at addressing the needs of the borrower. Australian mortgage brokers like Altrust Finance Group now have the flexibility to offer first home buyers a range of home loan options to beat the housing affordability crisis and purchase their first home.

© Rob Donald, Altrust Finance Group 30th August, 2007
www.altrust.com.au

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The subprime mortgage real estate fiasco has created a glut of residential real estate in the real estate market. Foreclosures are on the rise and it doesn’t look like the end is in sight for at least another year. Thousands of home owners are losing their homes because adjustable mortgage rates have adjusted upward and caused increases of monthly mortgage payments so high that the affected home owners just can’t make the payments. It is inevitable, under these circumstances that many homes go into foreclosure and banks have to take them back.

While it is unfortunate that many home owners are losing their homes, the opposite and upside effect is that the real estate market is now a boom for the first time home buyer.

Mortgage interest rates are still low and banks and real estate lending institutions have 30-40 year fixed loans for home buyers. With home values in many areas around the country, such as California, plummeting anywhere from 30-50 percent of what they were a year ago, the market is wide open for buyers who have never owed a home and would like to do so now.

Lending institutions and sellers are very motivated now and are readily lending their ears to home buyers saying “lets make a deal” and deal they will. Here are some of the innovative and sensible ways home buyers can now acquire a home of their own when they are armed with some real estate homebuyer education.

1. Use government grants and loans for down payment assistance.

The federal government in 2003 established the American Dream Down Payment Act. This federal law has allocated $200 Million a year since 2003 to assist with arranging down payments for first time home buyers. This is a good indication of just how serious the government is about helping Americans make the American dream of home ownership come true.

Fannie Mae, one of the many federally supported programs for home buyers has programs such as the MyCommunity Fixed Rate Mortgage. This unique program is ideally suited for the first time home buyer. It provides for low down payment, high loan to value with broad flexibility, including nontraditional credit considerations allowing for the buyer to qualify for the loan. It also has special financial options to serve public servant professions such as teachers, police officers, firefighters and health care workers, and people with disabilities.100% financing is available with 30-40 year fixed rates. Check out the details at http://www.efannie.com.

These funds, in addition to other government funding sources, are made available through federal, state and local government agencies that provide down payment assistance to their citizens on a case by case basis.

Every major city and county has one of these programs. One need only exercise a little initiative and these funds can be acquired. Contact your local housing authority, city managers office or county administration department to find out about them and how to apply.

2. Use non-profit agency down payment assistance

Another little known, but long existing opportunity for first time home buyers to acquire help with down payment assistance is the numerous numbers of non-profit agencies around the country that provide free down payment assistance to home buyers. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, enacted by Congress in 1977 and revised in 1995, requires banks located within identified communities to make loans and reinvest the depositors’ deposits within that community.

For decades now and continuing into the future banks have been making huge amounts of funds available to invest in targeted communities. However, the availability of the funds was not publicized in a significant way and many people did not and still do not know about these funds. Many non-profit agencies became aware that they could help in the community revitalization effort by creating a means whereby the banks could channel the funds through various home assistance programs that non-profits created. The non-profits that specialize in this type of program have grown over the years. Some are very large and are nation wide such as the Nehemiah Corporation – www.nehemiahcorp.org.

They get funding from the banks via the Community Reinvestment Act and other funding sources and then provide for down payment assistance and other housing assistance to persons desiring to own a home.

One of the high points of these programs is that the funding is often times not limited to first time home buyers and certainly is not limited to only low income home buyers. This creates yet another source of down payment assistance for the prospective home buyer. Given the numerous avenues of funding to assist in buying a home and the present market swing in favor of home buyers, buyers are now firmly in the driver’s seat.

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All the signals are right if you are a first home buyer living in Australia. At no previous time has a first home buyer had access to a number of cash subsidies and savings that have resulted firstly from individual state government initiatives and secondly from initiative by the Federal Government to encourage first home buyers back into the market. By providing generous subsidies and grants it is hoped that more first home buyers will be out and about looking for a new home and this will provide the stimulus for increased construction activity in the home sector.

In NSW the state government introduced a New Home Buyers supplement Effective from 11 November 2008. Under this arrangement a NSW First Home Buyer who is purchasing a newly constructed home will receive a Supplement of $3,000.

This will be will be added to the existing $7,000 grant for eligible First Home Owner Grant applicants building a new home or buying a newly constructed home. For the time being, the $3,000 Supplement will only be available for 12 months (11 November 2008 to 10 November 2009 inclusive), at which time it will be reviewed in the context of the property market. One can probably assume that if the global crisis continues beyond November 09 then the first home buyer supplement will be extended for a further period.

This first home buyer supplement is on top of the $14,000 provided under the Commonwealth’s First Home Owner Boost scheme. This will give eligible First Home Owner Grant applicants i.e. first home buyers building a new home or buying a newly constructed home a total of $24,000 towards the cost of their new acquisition.

Effective from 1 July 2009 (still subject to Federal Government approval) the First Home Owner Grant and NSW New Home Buyers Supplement will be capped and only be available for properties valued up to $750,000. This is likely to include the majority of first home buyer purchases and is a terrific incentive for first home buyers to enter the market. Other Australian states also provide incentives at State level to first home buyers – the Commonwealth ‘boost” scheme obviously applies to all states and territories.

To date the most funding under the first home buyer schemes in NSW has gone to Liverpool ($98 million +), followed by Campbelltown ($70m +) Wentorthville (69m+) and Blacktown ($63m+). In NSW as at 8th January a total of $5 billion has been paid in subsidies and grants to first home buyers. These subsidies for first home buyers include:

· $7000 additional grant for new homes where contracts were signed between 9 March 2001 and 31December 2001

· $3000 additional grant for new homes where contracts were signed between 1 January 2002 and 30June 2002

· $7000 Boost Payment for established homes where contracts were signed from 14 October 2008

· $14 000 Boost Payment for new homes where contracts were signed from 14 October 2008

· $3000 NSW New Home Buyers Supplement for new homes where contracts were signed from 11November 2008.

In addition to the above mentioned subsidies and grants first home buyers in NSW also have access to concessions relating to stamp duty costs.

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“In order to promote the production of more affordable new housing units for very low, low and moderate income individuals and families in the state, to promote the preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing units for such persons, and to bring greater stability to the residential construction industry and related industries so as to assure a steady flow of production of new housing units…”

Many times, people have heard of THDA and are confused, thinking that THDA is a certain loan type. In fact, it’s lending agency. All THDA mortgages must be insured by private mortgage insurance, FHA, VA or RECD And as these loans are intended for low to moderate income families or individuals, there is a income limit and acquisition cost limit. Also, you must be a first time homebuyer unless your home is in a targeted area.

Why is THDA so fantastic for a first time homebuyer? Well, it comes down to money. THDA offers a below market rate and will allow up to 100% financing. Have you been reading the papers lately? It’s not so easy to find 100% financing these days. Unless, that is, you’re a first time homebuyer. It also has programs that allow for down payment assistance via grants from certain approved agencies (if your loan type requires a down payment). If you have satisfactory credit and the home you wish to buy meets THDA’s standards, then you’re in business.

All THDA mortgages are 30 year fixed rate loans, so you needn’t worry about finding yourself with an ARM loan (adjustable rate mortgage) and a new payment you can’t afford in 3 years. And THDA allows lenders to only charge customers a standard 1% origination and .25% discount fee. It also closely monitors fees associated with the loan. THDA really looks out for the best interest of the first time homebuyer. If you are eligible for a THDA loan, you can feel pretty certain that an unscrupulous lender can’t take advantage of you because THDA won’t let them. For so many people, buying a home is pretty intimidating. THDA takes away the uncertainties a buyer faces with its guidelines and lending practices.

If you do apply for a THDA loan, be prepared to document your credit worthiness. THDA loans require slightly more documentation than your average loans because of the uniqueness of its product. In order to offer more, THDA asks for more – ensuring you qualify for its pretty awesome program. Sounds like a fair trade, if you ask me.

What are the disadvantages of a THDA loan? Not many. They do have a federal recapture tax if you sell your home within the first nine years of owning it. But it sounds scarier than it really is. I’ve heard that only about 1% of THDA customers actually pay this tax. That’s because a bunch of really great things have to happen to you in order for it to actually apply to you. And if those great things happen to you, paying the recapture tax won’t matter much to you anyway. I’ve been in the business for 16 years and have only heard of one person actually having to pay one. He graduated from medical school and his income when through the roof. His property was sold above market value than for the area because it was adjacent to some property that a huge retailer wanted to purchase. Again, good things have to happen to pay the recapture tax. So, you shouldn’t be afraid of it.

More people need to hear about and take advantage of the THDA loan programs. It’s such a great product and really helps the community and the housing industry. If you’re a first time homebuyer or think you’re in a targeted area, make sure you ask about THDA to see if you would qualify for a loan. You won’t regret it!

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Florida First Time Home Buyer Loans

Every Florida home buyers should know the many advantages that come with an FHA mortgage loan. FHA loans were created during the great depression to help increase home ownership. For the Florida mortgage applicant the FHA program can simplify the purchase of a Florida home, making financing easier and less expensive than a conventional or subprime mortgage loan. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include:

Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs.

Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:  

No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. FHA will allow a home purchase 2 year after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure.

To take advantage of the FHA program in Florida, give us a call 1-800-570-0448 or visit http://www.fhamortgageprograms.com/florida/ to find out more about the FHA mortgage program in Florida

FHA mortgage Loans insured by the Federal Housing Authority  and are designed to help Florida homebuyers realize the dream of owning a Florida home. And they’re ideal for Florida first-time home buyers! Because the FHA insures these Florida home loan mortgages, Florida FHA mortgage lenders can offer Florida mortgage applicants a better deal and work with Florida applicants to qualify regardless of past credit problems, collections, past bankruptcy filings, or higher than average debt-to-income ratios

Applying for an Florida FHA loan

Applying for a Florida  FHA home loan through www.FHAmortgagePrograms.com is easy. As a Florida mortgage lender we have combined the speed and ease of the Internet with a hands on approach help Florida mortgage applicants qualify for FHA financing.. Once you apply online, we enter your information into our FHA mortgage database and quickly approve your Florida home loan request. And, Within  hours we will contact you for your Florida FHA home loan approval.

Apply now at http://www.fhamortgageprograms.com/mortgage/fha-loan-program.shtml

The FHA Interview

During the FHA loan consolation and phone interview, your Florida FHA mortgage consultant  will go through your application to determine your eligibility. If you don’t pre today for an FHA home loan we will make recommendations, and provide you with a road map to FHA loan approval. So as some point you will be approved for a home loan. The FHA loan interview is also a great chance to get acquainted with your Florida FHA  loan officer, who plays an important role guiding your towards approval. . Good communication with your Florida FHA  loan officer will increase your chances of get pre-approved for an FHA home loan in Florida.

FHA Loan Processing

We provide in-house processing for Florida FHA loan applicants so we know where you loan is throughout the entire approval process. with one phone call all Florida applicants will know how close they are towards obtaining the home of their dream. Processing an FHA home loan involves gathering documents to verify the information in your application. Documents may include (but are not limited to) W-2 forms, pay stubs, credit reports, and bank statements. After your phone interview, you’ll receive an FHA pre-qualification letter that includes a checklist of FHA documentation needed to submit your home loan request. This checklist will itemize all of the necessary items the Florida FHA mortgage lender will need to finalize and close your FHA loan request.

Closing your FHA mortgage loan

The closing is the “end of the line” in obtaining an FHA mortgage. At the FHA mortgage closing, you will sign all of the required FHA mortgage documents. If it’s a new FHA mortgage loan, you’ll then take possession of your new home. If it’s an FHA refinance, you’ll start to enjoy the benefits of a low FHA mortgage rate, cash out, or both..

FHA frequently asked questions  http://www.fhamortgageprograms.com/faq/fha.shtml

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My wife and I live in California and have to do a stated income loan because we both work for tips for a living. We both have credit scores above 750. Our loan officer said that first time home buyer programs are only for buyers that go full doc. Does anybody know of any local or federal government grants or buyer programs for stated income first time home buyers?

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