If you’re buying a home, one of the more challenging aspects can be saving for a down payment. When you’ve found your dream property, you want to do everything you can to expedite the process and become a homeowner, and once you calculate the down payment, it may not end up being a feasible option. Saving for a down payment is definitely important, but there are alternative options if you have little to no down payment available to purchase a home. Let’s look at your options to buy a house with no money down.
No down payment mortgage loan options
There are a few different paths available to purchase a house with no money down, although the income requirements, total debt obligations, and credit score requirements will vary. Let’s look at each one in more detail.
VA Loans
VA loans are offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are zero percent down loans for home purchases. VA loans are available to eligible Veterans and their spouses and do not have a maximum loan amount. Therefore, if you have a credit score of 620 or higher, a suitable debt-to-income ratio, and can afford the payment, VA loans are available above and beyond the conforming loan limits. Added bonus, VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can save you money over the life of the loan.
Down payment assistance programs
If you don’t qualify for zero down home loans, there are options available to purchase a home with no money using a down payment assistance program. These programs can help close the gap you need for a suitable down payment and bring you closer to purchasing a home. These programs come with differing qualifying and repayment requirements. Repayment options available may be monthly payments added to your mortgage payment, due and payable at maturity, refinance or sale of the property, or forgiven after a pre-determined time has elapsed.
State Housing Finance Agencies
Each state and some municipalities have their own down payment assistance program and payment assistance from state housing finance agencies can come in the form of grants, loans, forgivable loans, and/or tax credits. While each state will have different criteria for approval, there are some commonalities for qualifying such as the requirement to purchase a primary residence in the specific state or municipality; you must be using approved mortgage programs as well as an approved mortgage lender to qualify.
Down Payment Grants
Down payment grants are a lump sum that is given for the down payment and/or closing costs and is not subject to repayment. Qualifying for a grant is specific to the program.
Specialized Down Payment Programs
Down payment assistance can also come from other sources, such as specialized down payment programs. For example, CrossCountry Mortgage offers down payment assistance programs for borrowers that must be residing in an eligible census tract in neighborhoods including Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia. If a borrower currently resides in an eligible area, they can purchase anywhere in the country. In addition, the CCM Community Promise provides up to $6,500 in down payment assistance to qualifying borrowers. At least one of the borrowers should be a first-time homebuyer purchasing their primary residence, and a minimum of 3% down payment will be needed. The program is open for eligible census tracts, and there are no income limits to qualify for the CCM Community Promise.
