Home Loan Options When You Have a Small Down Payment

Sometimes coming up with the cash for a down payment is the hardest part of any real estate purchase, especially for young couples entering the market for the first time. However, there are mortgages that let you put up a minimal down payment and get into housing. In this article, we'll cover PMI mortgages, VA mortgages, FHA mortgages and FmHA home loans. Keep reading to learn how you can break down the down payment barrier. 1. PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) Mortgages If you can't ...

Temporary Conforming Loan Limits Released

The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) today released the maximum conforming loan limits that will be in effect through year-end as a result of The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. That legislation permits Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to raise their conforming loan limits in certain high-cost areas. The new limits are a function of median home prices as estimated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The maximum for temporary conforming loan limits, ...

The Right Time to Buy your First Home

There are many economic and market forecasts and predictions, however the bottom line is if you want to buy your first home—there is no wrong time. There is because the motivation to buy is not determined by regional market conditions or by location. Industry opinions, economic reports and investor speculation do not sway or predict when a particular individual will be ready to buy. For the great majority of folks, the most compelling reasons to buy a home are based on individual circumstances ...