We may not be comparing real apples and oranges, but we’re coming pretty close in the home financing industry.
And if you’re at all interested in using your home’s equity to access cash, then this comparison is for you.
There are two common ways to get cash from your home—a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or a cash out refinance.In the current environment, many people want to keep the great interest rate they already have on their home loan, so they automatically choose a HELOC over a refinance. But wait—there’s a big difference that can make the benefits hard to compare at a glance. HELOCs have adjustable interest rates, whereas most home loans are fixed.
Try it out. And if you’re interested in exploring your options more, please let me know. I’ll be happy to help.
ZEROThe VA and the USDA both offer a zero down loan program for individuals and/or properties that meet their criteria. Sometimes, loans require little or no cash out of pocket. Some HUD properties are available with as little as $100 down.
3%Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac conventional loans are available with down payments as low as 3% on single-family homes, including eligible condos, co-ops, and some manufactured homes. Fixed-rate mortgages with up to 30-year terms and ARMs are available.
3.5%The Federal Housing Administration (or FHA) loan program can allow as little as 3.5% down, and it is more lenient than most other programs on minimum credit scores and other factors.
Are you surprised at how low you may be able to go? While many believe a 20% down payment is required, you can see now that it’s far from the only option.
Whether you’ve saved a little or a lot, reach out today, and we’ll work on finding a loan that works for you.
Here’s a new addition for your home buying toolbox: a quick way to estimate a total monthly housing payment and the income needed to qualify.
Just bookmark this payment and qualification calculator link and make a quick visit while you’re looking at homes. I hope you’ll feel more comfortable knowing what you’ll likely pay each month and whether the loan may work for your particular situation.
Give it a try now!
We may not be comparing real apples and oranges, but we’re coming pretty close in the home financing industry. And if you’re at all interested in using your home’s equity to access cash, then this comparison is for you.
As we discussed in our last email, there are two common ways to get cash from your home—a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance.
In the current environment, many people want to keep the great interest rate they already have on their home loan, so they automatically choose a HELOC over a refinance. But wait—there’s a big difference that can make the benefits hard to compare at a glance. HELOCs have adjustable interest rates, whereas most home loans are fixed.
Take a look.
If you’re interested in exploring your options more or you have questions about home financing, please reach out. I’ll be happy to help.
Good news! When it comes to documenting income, self-employed borrowers can get back to normal.
What does this mean?
Borrowers who rely on self-employment income may now submit their most recent tax returns, so long as they are no earlier than 2020, in typical scenarios.
How does this help?
Under previous Covid-era rules for certain government-backed loans, self-employed borrowers had to submit recent P&L statements, asset account statements and more. It’s much easier for most to supply tax returns instead.
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