Down Payments

A new homebuyer who is looking to purchase property will need to have cash to offer as a down payment at the time of closing. The down payment is expressed as a percentage of the selling price of the house. Your down payment is paid to the seller, the rest of the money that the seller receives comes from your mortgage loan. The down payment is required as a guarantee, the idea is that when you make a large initial investment in the property, you are more motivated to avoid foreclosure on a home.

The idea of spending a large amount of money up front for a down payment can be one of the most intimidating parts of the home buying process, and often deters people from trying. For this reason, there are several assistance programs available for buyers who need help finding the funds for down payment. Home buyers sometimes assume that these programs are only for low-income or first-time homebuyers, but in reality, that isn’t always the case.

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Down Payment Assistance Programs

  • The most common option for down payment assistance is the federal housing administration (FHA) loan. With this type of loan, the buyer can put as little as 3.5% down on a new home.
  • The FHA Access Loan allows the homebuyer to borrower up to 103% of the purchase price on a new home. This essentially provides financing for the price of the home and the 3% down payment.
  • In some cities, a home buyer can apply for the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT or CityLIFT programs. These programs require the buyer to take homebuyer education classes in order to qualify for a down payment assistance grant.
  • There are State-funded programs available in many areas of the country as well. These programs provide funding in the form of grants and low interest second loans. To see what down payment assistance programs are available in the state of Texas call us at 877-948-2562.

Fees for Down Payments

Some down payment assistance programs will require that the borrower pays a monthly private mortgage insurance (PMI) on top of the cost of the loan. The PMI is paid to a private insurance company that gives the bank insurance on the loan in case the borrower defaults or is unable to continue payment. With some programs, the PMI will incur monthly for the life of the loan. With other programs, the PMI is removed from the mortgage once the borrower has 22% equity in the loan.

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