As a First Time Home Buyer it is like opening up a new IPad you just received from Santa.  You are excited to open the box, fire it up, but once it is out of the box you don’t even know what you don’t know about your new IPad.  The same generally apply’s to First Time Home Buyers, the decision is out of the box to start the home buying process, but there are so many things you don’t even know that you don’t know.  First suggestion, find a Mortgage Professional & Realtor that Specializes in First Time Home Buyer Programs and Down Payment Assistance.  Not everyone qualifies for First Time Home Buyer Programs & Down Payment Assistance, but you owe it to yourself to first check it out.  If you encounter a Mortgage person that attempts to convince you that First Time Home Buyer Programs are bad, they fall into one of two categories, move on  and find someone else.

1. Lazy, because First Time Home Buyer Loan Programs require more work for mortgage lenders, but if you’re eligible take advantage of it.

2.  They haven’t taken the time to educate themselves about a great loan opportunity.  Instead, this person chooses to denigrate First Time Home Buyer programs through scare tactics and misinformation.

As a Mortgage Advisor,  I am fortunate to be able to offer First Time Home Buyers & Down Payment Assistance Programs offered through MN Housing Finance Agency.   If you are eligible, these are awesome, safe 30 Year Fixed Rate Programs Loan Programs and depending on Household Income level you may be eligible for one of three Down Payment Assistance Programs offered through MHFA.   Below is some very general information from the www.mnhousing.gov  website.

Minnesota Housing Mortgage Loan Programs

• Mortgage loans to purchase a home through local lenders for qualified low and moderate income first-time homebuyers in Minnesota
• 30-year loans with affordable, low, fixed interest rates for the life of the loan
• Interest-free loans to help with downpayment and closing costs for eligible borrowers

• Are a first-time homebuyer, meaning you have not owned a home in the past three years,
• Have federal income tax return copies for the last three years,
• Have acceptable credit,
• Have an income at or below prescribed Minnesota Housing Income Limits
  • For basic first-time homebuyer program for a family of one to four, 2011 income limits are as follows:

• Buy a qualifying home within prescribed purchase price limits as follows:

• Buying While Selling
• Buying beats renting in less than 2 years
• What Does Renewing Your Tabs in MN Have to Do With Buying a Home
• Why a Fed Rate Hike Won’t Affect Mortgage Rates in the Short Term
• Length of Self-Employment Mortgage Guidelines
• Think You’re Buying a Townhome/Rowhouse?….Think Again.
• How Underwriters View Owner Occupied Vs. Non-Owner Occupied Transactions
• A Deeper Examination of Schools Near Your Next Minnesota Home
• How to Refinance Your LLC Properties’ Mortgages into Your Own Name
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Near Deal to Bring Back 3% Down Financing