First Time Buyer Loans – How to Buy a House With $0 Down

By Alvaro Moreira
14 min read
first time home buyer loans

First Time Home Buyer Loans – No Down Payment Mortgage

First time home buyer loans – This mortgage provides newbie home buyers and recurring home buyers with the opportunity to buy land without needing to pay at closing, apart from the normal closing costs. Other alternatives are the Conventional 97 loan, FHA loan, and the HomeReady mortgage, which allow you to make a down payment of as little as 3%. It’s a common occurrence for mortgage insurance premiums to be incorporated in low down-payment or no down payment options, but that’s not necessarily the case.

First Time Home Buyer Programs – Is a No Down-Payment Option Best Suited for You?

It is a great time to purchase a house.

Supply is plummeting, sales are surging, and house prices are rising in many cities and neighborhoods. The current market may offer good deals than the next year.

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To top it off, mortgage rates are down. In comparison to previous years, the rates for first time home buyer loans are low-priced for 5-year, 15-year, and 30-year loans. This suggests that the monthly charges incurred as a homeowner are diminished.

USDA loans no-down-payment (100% financing)

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides no security deposit mortgages. The plan is referred to as a ‘Rural Housing Loan’ or ‘USDA loan’, but the official name is Section 502 mortgage.

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The name may give you the impression that the first time home buyer loans are only disbursed to persons looking to purchase homes in rural settlements, but that’s incorrect. You qualify to apply for this loan even if you want to establish your roots in a suburban area. The objective of USDA loans is to assist low-to-medium income earners to buy a home regardless of where they are located.

The majority of individuals taking advantage of USDA loans are residing in areas that cannot be regarded as rural areas.

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College towns such as Christiansburg Virginia, State College Pennsylvania, and Columbus Ohio suburbs satisfy the qualification requirements for USDA loans. Sparsely populated suburbs in big cities satisfy the qualification requirements.

Advantages of USDA loans include:

Don’t have to put in a down payment

It can incorporate repairs and home improvements in the loan amount

It doesn’t have a limit when it comes to the house purchase cost

The upfront fee can be added to the final loan balance on closing; mortgage insurance premiums are paid out on a monthly basis

Note that there’s an income caveat required; your earnings need to be under or close to the median income in your region

Another advantage is that the rates are reduced than low down-payment or no-down-payment mortgages. USDA loans are outrightly the cheapest route to homeownership.

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FHA loans: Low down payment (3.5% down)


In the case of FHA mortgages, you should note that the Federal Housing Administration isn’t giving you cash, rather insuring the loan you’re taking out.

They issue a sequence of requirements for loans they will cover. When these specifications have been satisfied, they will proceed to provide coverage for the first time home buyer loans in case of a loss.

Their rules are great since they are a bit generous when it comes to their credit scores and down payments.

Mortgagers with low credit scores can qualify to receive loans, but they’ll have to provide a satisfactory reason why their credit score is low.

You can receive first time home buyer loans by putting in a security deposit of just 3.5% across the markets, with some FHA-ratified condominiums excluded.

Other Advantages of FHA loans are:

You are allowed to utilize gift funds or down payment aid as a security deposit for the loan

The lowest credit score for a 3.5% prepayment is 580, while a 10% prepayment is 500

They can include UFMI in the loan; which you can repay every month

FHA loans can also assist those who’ve recently faced foreclosures, bankruptcies, and short sales

They can insure first time home buyer loans in excess of $822,375 in upscale regions countrywide. Some of the places that are categorized as upscale areas include New York City’s S boroughs, Orange County California, and the Washington D.C. metro area.

To qualify for an FHA loan, the house being bought has to be your main house. This package is not intended to be utilized for vacation homes and investment properties.

The HomeReady Mortgage (3% down-payment)

The HomeReady Mortgage is among the various low prepayment or no prepayment mortgage options available.

These mortgages are accessible to nearly all lenders and are financed by Fannie Mae. The loans provide decreased mortgage insurance charges, the most groundbreaking bankrolling in more than a decade, and below-market market rates.

In the case of HomeReady mortgages, the earnings of everybody residing in the house are going to be utilized to judge eligibility and approve the loan.
If you stay with your parents and are the property owner, and if they are still getting paid, then their earnings can be used to qualify for the loan.

If you’ve got kids that are employed and are doing their part when it comes to chipping in on the household expenses, their salary can be utilized to apply for the mortgage.

This plan enables you to be eligible using expansive income, regardless of the remuneration is acquired from a non-zoned unit – even if the payment is in cash.

These types of first time home buyer loans were established to assist multi-generational homes to receive mortgage funding. The plan is still open to anybody located in eligible areas, or those that have satisfied household income caveats.

Conventional loan 97 (3% down)

This plan is accessible via Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The prepayment is 3%, and for those looking to buy, it’s cheaper than an FHA mortgage.

The qualification requirements include:

The loan cannot go beyond $548,250, even if it’s in an upscale market

The mortgage rate is fixed. When you apply for this type of loan, you aren’t granted an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)

No multi-unit houses are permitted; it has to be a single-unit residence

There’s no lowest credit score imposed in the conventional 97 plan. This plan can be used to refinance a house loan

The Conventional 97 plan enables you to finance the whole 3% advance payment using gifted funds, provided the person giving the gift is related to you by marriage or blood, legal guardianship, domestic partnership, or fiancé.

VA Loans (100% financing)

VA loans don’t need a prepayment and are specifically meant for military personnel and surviving spouses.

The program is sponsored by the US Department of Veterans affairs. They function in the same manner as FHA loans on the grounds that VA guarantees the loans for persons who satisfy the conditions.

The requirements are clear-cut

Many veterans, those who received an honorable discharge from service, and active service members qualify to get VA loans. Homebuyers who have spent at least 6 years or more in the National Reserve or Guard qualify. Surviving spouses who lost their loved ones while they were fulfilling their duties qualify too.

Advantages of VA loans are;

Flexible credit score minimums
Below-market mortgage rates
No prepayment required

Bankruptcy and other disparaging information don’t immediately make you ineligible.

No mortgage insurance is required. You’ll only be required to do a one-time financing fee, which can be included in the loan you’ll get.

With VA loans, there’s no maximum figure on the loan amount you can apply for. You can receive a VA loan that supersedes the existing conventional loan caveats, given that you show you’ve got sufficient credit and have the ability to make payments.

The “Piggyback Loan” (100%)

This kind of loan is referred to as the “80/10/10” and is meant for homebuyers who’ve got an excellent credit score. The loans are two and are meant to decrease the overall payments and make them more accommodating.

The best part about this plan is the structure.

The buyer is expected to have a 10% prepayment when closing. This suggests that the outstanding 90% of the house sale cost is intended to cater to the mortgage.
Rather than having a single mortgage that’s 90%, it will be split into two sections.

The first is the ”80”

The ‘80’ is the foremost mortgage and is going to cater for 80% of the total buying price. It’s usually a conventional loan via Fannie Mac or Freddie Mac. These mortgages are given as per the existing market rates.

The second mortgage is the first ‘10’. This loan is 10% of the purchase amount. The loan can either be a home equity loan (HELOAN) or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

The rates of HELOC are adjustable while HELOAN is fixed. The buyer can select between the two choices. HELOC is more popular because of its elasticity in the long run.

The final ‘10’ is what the buyer will place as the prepayment, which is 10% of the house’s buying cost. The sum has to be paid out in terms of cash when closing.

80/10/10 first time home buyer loans are often called piggyback loans since the second mortgage ‘piggybacks’ on the foremost mortgage add to the total sum.

80/10/10 loans give buyers accessibility to incredible pricing in the market, which is why financiers can suggest another structure. If you are looking to purchase a condo, then you can consider 75/15/10 since condo mortgage rates improved when the Loan-to-value ratio is 75% or lower.

Another good example, when the loan amount is larger, going with HELOC interest rates can prove to be a better alternative. The creditor can recommend raising the amount of HELOC since it’s going to diminish the loan prices.

You have all the power to choose the loan structure that’s better suited for you. You can’t be compelled to take out a higher loan on the second mortgage than you want.

It’s not compulsory to have a 20% prepayment

One widespread misconception that most buyers believe is that you need to have a ‘20% advance’ before purchasing a house. At some point in the past, this may have been the scenario but things haven’t worked like that since the introduction of FHA loans in 1934.

In the current housing market, prospective home buyers don’t require a 20% prepayment. However, some individuals are still under the presumption things work like that.

This is mainly because if you don’t make a 20% prepayment, you’ll be obliged to pay mortgage insurance. When you really look at it, this isn’t bad.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)isn’t necessarily horrible

PMI is neither good nor bad, but the majority of home buyers strive to veer from it.
The only objective of the PMI is to safeguard the mortgagee in the event of foreclosure – that’s it. The reason PMI receives a bad reputation is it costs the buyer some cash.

However, this shouldn’t necessarily be the scenario.

In relation to private mortgage insurance, the buyer can get accepted even when they have lower than a 20% advance. As time lapses, it can be subtracted.

With the present property value increase rate, a 3% advance can see them pay for PMI for a period not exceeding four years.

This isn’t a prolonged period. Nevertheless, most people often put off buying a house with the hope of saving for the 20% advance.
House values are also rising.
If you are looking to purchase a house, you shouldn’t only be thinking about the size of the prepayment.

Home cheapness entails so much more than just its low price – it comes down to if you can make the required payments while still having enough remaining to cater for other things.

When you make a big advance payment, it means that you’ll be paying significantly less in terms of monthly mortgage payments. If you have used your entire life savings to place a prepayment, then you’re putting yourself in a very precarious position.

Using your savings isn’t a shrewd decision.

When you’ve used up a significant portion of your income on homeownership, you are described to be ‘house-poor’ by experts.

‘On paper’, you have money, but when it comes to everyday expenditures and emergencies, you have very little to your name.

And as every property owner will inform you, emergencies will never lack.
Roof damage, water heater repairs, or you can fall ill and stop work. Although insurance can assist with some of these problems, you’ll find yourself unable to support yourself fully.

That’s why it’s so risky to house rich cash poor.

Some buyers are under the impression that making a 20% prepayment on a house is being fiscally conservative. But if you’re spending all your entire savings to make the prepayment, then it’s the complete reverse of being fiscally conservative.

The prudent way to approach such a scenario is putting in a small advance and leaving some amount in the bank. Don’t let yourself be house-poor.

Mortgage down payment FAQs

Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions we get concerning down payments.

Is it possible to purchase a household with no money down?

If you want to purchase a house with no advance payment required, then you’ll want to locate a no-money-down mortgage and make an application. If you are not aware of the right mortgage loan to choose, it’s totally okay. Consult with a mortgage lender to give you the proper information and guide you through the various options available. There are numerous 100% mortgages being provided to home buyers.

Can I use Cash Gifts as a down payment?

Yes, you can. Just ensure that you adhere to the proper guidelines if you’ll be receiving a cash gift.

Ensure that the down payment is made using a personal check, cashier’s check, or a wire: ensure that you have documentation of the gift, including a copy of the check. Also, make sure that the deposit corresponds to the gift amount.

The lender will want to authenticate that it’s not a loan with a mask, but a cash gift. Gifts generally don’t need to be repaid.

What are down-payment assistance programs?

Assistance programs are accessible countrywide with 87% of American single-family households being eligible for them. The programs differ from state to state, and you’ll need to consult with a mortgage lender so they can present you with choices you may be eligible for. The ordinary home buyer gets $11,565 as prepayment aid.

Are there grants for buyers?

All stated provide home buyer grants, and all home buyers are free to make an application. They are called down payment assistance programs (DPA). These programs are broadly available but most buyers don’t make use of them. Even though 87% of single-family households are eligible, 10% of buyers make an application. A mortgage lender can assist you to narrow down to the right DPAs that fit your profile.

What are the requirements for an FHA loan?

The prerequisites for an FHA loan are: 1) A credit score of not less than 500; 2) Earnings can be authenticated using federal tax returns or pay stubs and W-2 statements; 3) Not negligent on federal taxes, federal student loans, and other federal debt; 4) No history of bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale in the preceding 12 months; 5) The household you’re looking to purchase has to be the main dwelling and doesn’t go above the FHA loan limits.

Are there advantages of putting more down payment?

As with no or low-down-payment mortgages, there are advantages you stand to gain by placing more. When you increase your advance payment, it means the amount you’ll need to borrow will be reduced, which decreases the monthly payments. In case the mortgage needs insurance, it’s going to be subtracted quickly compared to a small prepayment.

Do I pay mortgage insurance when I make a low down payment?

When you decide to go with a no or low-down-mortgage payment choice, you’ll likely pay for insurance, but that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. The VA Home Loan Guaranty program doesn’t need mortgage insurance. If you select this choice, even if you put in a low advance payment, it really won’t matter. You can expect FHA and USDA loans to impose mortgage insurance so even if you put in a considerable advance payment, you’ll still pay mortgage insurance every month.

The only instance when your prepayment may impact your insurance is in the case of a conventional mortgage. The mortgage insurance will increase when the advance payment made is low. When the equity for your household is 20%, then mortgage insurance will be taken out.

What are my lender fees with a low down payment?

The prepayment you make won’t influence your lender fees. Regardless of how large or small the advance payment is, you can expect the lender fees to remain the same. Mortgage lenders are generally not permitted to charge fees depending on the advance payment made. Bear in mind that various loans have various specifications. Some may need additional services (e.g. home appraisal, home inspection, roof inspection), which will subsequently raise the closing costs.

What is the minimum down payment?

The least down payments by program are: HomeReady mortgage: 3% down payment; FHA loan: 3.5% down payment; VA loan: 0% down payment; Conventional 97 mortgage: 3% down payment; and USDA loan: 0%. In addition to these loan programs, you have access to prepayment assistance programs. Assistance programs can give up to $11,000 to buyers.

Are there no-down mortgage loans?

No-down mortgage loans are 100% funded and are provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Veteran Affairs. There are also low prepayment alternatives like HomeReady mortgage (3%), FHA loans (3.5%), and conventional 97 (3%).

How can a down payment be funded?

There are various methods you can use to finance a down payment. Some common methods include saving or checking account, or for a recurrent buyer, earnings from selling a house.

A buyer can opt to take away money from their 401K or IR (not a wise decision) or get a cash gift for their advance
payment.

You can also use an assistance program to finance your prepayment.

Regardless of how you opt to finance it, make sure you leave a paper trail. A mortgage lender will need authentication of where the money came from and may not permit you to use the loan.

How much home can I afford?

This is more or less a personal decision and solely depends on what you want. Don’t leave the final decision to the lender; consider some variables on your end.

Look at it this way; can you afford to buy the house you want? Review your monthly wage and check the amount you can disburse comfortably per month without any strain to you (without being house poor).

When you have your figures right and are aware of the amount you can dish out every month in terms of payments, take a mortgage calculator and work your way backward to compute the greatest house purchase price you’re well-off with.

Remember that current mortgage rates will influence the overall calculation, thus the need to incorporate today’s mortgage rates when computing. When the rates adjust, so will home affordability.