4 Quick Ways To Buy A Home With Little Down

4 Quick Ways To Buy A Home With Little Down

Are you wasting thousands of dollars on rent and dreaming of becoming a homeowner?

You can already make a monthly house payment (you’re already paying rent), but the problem is coming up with money for a downpayment. It’s not as difficult as you might think.

Here are ways to get a down payment with little out of your own pocket.

1. Look Into Local or Federal Government Programs.

You may qualify for special government programs, such as those for first-time homebuyers and members of the military. You also may have access to aid from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government-sponsored mortgage programs). Additional resources are nonprofit and community groups and state agencies. There are too many programs to list here and they expire or change frequently. Your best option is to ask a REALTOR® to point out a few programs that apply to your area and situation.

2. Have the Seller Finance You.

Some sellers may be willing to help you buy their homes. In a “seller take-back,” the seller holds a second mortgage for you and becomes your lender. You would make your monthly mortgage payments to the seller.

3. Use A Tax Refund.

There are options for you to borrow money for certain investments to a specific level and

use those investments to generate a significant tax refund. Obviously, the timing has to be right to so you can use it as a down payment on a home.

4. Ask A Relative or Friend.

Tax law allows gifts of up to $14,000 a year to be given without tax consequences to the giver or recipient. This gift-exclusion amount is adjusted annually to reflect inflation (see IRS publication 950 for the current amount). You can even get a gift from each of your parents or two friends without them having to pay a gift-tax, which bring it up to $28,000. This is a great way to get a down payment for a home. In fact, one out of four first time home buyers use a gift to make the down payment. Even if this isn’t your first home purchase you can still use a gift so you don’t drain your savings. Usually lenders require you to have some money still left in your bank account after closing so they know you’ll make the mortgage

payment each month. Also, using a gift for a down payment allows you to buy the home you want even if it’s not FHA-approved. Some buyers are able to get Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages that have down payments as low as 3.5% of the purchase price, but others will have to put more down. With a gift, you can put the typical 10% to 20% down that most lenders require. For example, if you had to put down 10% on a $150,000 home, that’s $15,000. Or, 20% would be $30,000. A gift from relatives and friends can get you there but some of the rules differ depending on the lender you choose. Your best bet is to contact a well-connected REALTOR® before you start looking at homes.

4 Important Tips To Avoid Costly Mistakes When Buying A Home:

OØ Talk with a professional REALTOR® about your down-payment options. Your REALTOR®

also will help you get connected to a lender before you start looking at homes. You’ll have

more power to negotiate if you get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified for a mortgage.

An experienced Home Buyer

Representative can save you time and

money with buying a home by:

• Helping you find the perfect home at the right price… so you don’t have to worry you bought the wrong home or paid too much. 
• Providing you with direction and contacts to get pre-approved for a home loan… so you’re never lost trying to find the most affordable financing for your situation.
• Negotiating the best deal with the sellers…so you avoid costly traps and pitfalls. You don't make money when you sell a home, you make money when you buy it!
• Coordinating all inspections, appraisals, escrow and title services, with the very best companies…so you feel confident and can focus on other tasks with your move.