Page‹
How to Compare No and Low Down Payment Mortgage Programs
There are many no and low down payment mortgage programs available to borrowers and we have outlined numerous programs in the char below. Options include programs that are backed by the government such as the FHA, VA, USDA and HUD Section 184 programs and conventional programs such as HomeReady, Home Possible and HomeOne. Plus, some larger banks offer their own programs. With so many options to choose from, how do borrowers compare no and low down payment programs?
While all of these loan programs have the same goal of helping you buy a home with little or no down payment, they also have unique features that make them different. These differences are designed to make the programs more appealing or applicable to different borrower segments. For example, some programs may only be available to first-time home buyers while other programs are also available to repeat home buyers. Some programs are focused on borrowers with lower incomes while others are accessible to people of all income levels. And some programs are better suited for borrowers with no or non-traditional credit profiles while others require higher credit scores.
These are just several examples that demonstrate the potential differences in no and low down payment mortgage programs. Borrower should focus on the following factors to determine the program that is right for them:
- Required down payment. This is the part of the property purchase price you are required to make. Depending on the mortgage programs, you can pay for all or part the down payment with your own funds or with a gift or down payment assistance program. No and low down payment programs usually require you to put down zero to 3.5% of the purchase price.
- Required personal financial contribution. This is the part of the down payment that you are required to make using your own funds. Some no and low down payment programs enable you to buy a home with no personal financial contribution because you can use a gift or home buyer assistance program to pay for your down payment and closing costs. Be sure to understand how much of your own money you are required to contribute when you buy a home.
- Minimum credit score. Most no and low down payment programs apply a minimum borrower credit score that you must meet to qualify. The FHA mortgage program permits the lowest credit score while the NACA mortgage program requires no credit report. Some programs also allow borrowers with no credit history or non-traditional credit profiles.
- Maximum debt-to-income ratio. This is how much of your monthly gross income you are allowed to spend on your mortgage payment and other monthly debt expenses. The higher your debt-to-income ratio applied by the program, the higher the loan amount you qualify for. Debt-to-income ratio limits vary by lender and mortgage program.
- What types of property are eligible? Some no and low down payment programs only allow you to buy single family properties but other programs enable you to purchase multi-family properties up to four units, as long as you live in the property. Qualification requirements may also be different for condos and co-ops so understand the property eligibility requirements for your specific program.
- Borrower income limits. Some programs apply borrower income limits that cap how much money you can make to qualify. For example, the USDA home loan program limits an applicant;s household income. Income limits are usually based on the area median income for the county in which the property being financed is located. If you make too much money you may not be eligible for the program.
- Loan limits. Many no and low down payment mortgage programs apply limits that cap what size mortgage you can obtain. Loan limits can be restrictive for borrowers who live in more expensive housing markets. The loan limits usually vary by county and the number of units in the property. The FHA mortgage program uses its own limits while most other programs use the conforming loan limit.
- Is mortgage insurance required? Many no and low down payment programs require borrowers to pay an upfront or ongoing mortgage insurance fee, and in some cases borrowers are required to pay both. Mortgage insurance is an extra cost on top of your monthly mortgage payment and closing costs so you should understand if this additional cost applies to you.
- If required, is the mortgage insurance cancelable? If you are required to pay mortgage insurance you should determine if it is cancelable after a certain period of time. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) for conventional loan programs is usually removable after you have enough equity in your home (at least 20%) while you are required to pay FHA mortgage insurance premium (MIP) and USDA home loan guaranty fees for their entire mortgage, regardless of how much equity in you have in your home.
- Are you required to live in the property? Most of the mortgage programs below require that applicants occupy the property at the time your loan closes. This makes it challenging to use a no or low down payment program to buy a rental property.
- How does the mortgage rate compare to other programs? Government-backed no and low down payment mortgage programs including the FHA, VA and USDA programs charge a lower mortgage rates while other programs charge a higher rate, especially for borrowers with lower credit scores. Make sure to compare mortgage rates to find the most affordable program.
- First-time buyer or repeat buyer? If you are a repeat home buyer make sure that you qualify for the program. Please note that you usually qualify as a first-time home buyer as long as you have not owned a home within the past three years.
- Are you required to pay extra program costs? No and low down payment programs may require extra time and effort by lenders or program administers so borrowers are required to pay extra fees to apply. These extra fees are relatively uncommon and borrowers should try to avoid them if possible.
- Is the program available for both home purchase loans and refinances? Most no and low down payment mortgage programs apply to both home purchase loans and refinances but some only apply to buying a home. If you are looking to refinance your mortgage make sure this is permitted according to program guidelines.
- What lenders offer the program? Most of the programs below are offered through approved lenders while some are offered directly through government and non-profit housing organizations. The last column of the table indicates the lenders or organization that offer each program.
- Home buyer counseling class. Many of the programs below require borrowers to take a home buyer counseling class to prepare you for getting a mortgage and owning a home. You are usually required to pay a small fee to take the class.
With so much information to sort through, the chart below compares the key qualification requirements for no and low down payment mortgage programs. The chart provides a summary of each program and compares important loan features including borrower eligibility, credit score, debt-to-income ratio, mortgage rate and extra fees. The chart also shows you if the program applies loan limits and borrower income limits and lets you know if you are required to pay mortgage insurance. Comparing low and no down payment programs enables you to understand their positives and negatives and select the mortgage that is right for you. We also recommend that you click on the program title to review extensive information about each program.
Most low down payment programs are offered by traditional lenders such as banks, mortgage brokers and credit unions. We recommend that you contact multiple lenders in the table below to learn more about program availability. Shopping lenders is also the best way to save money on your mortgage.
You can also use the FREEandCLEAR Lender Directory to find lenders that offer wide range of low down payment mortgage programs.
Sources
"Bridging the Down Payment Gap: Preparing for the first-time homebuyer opportunity." Publication Number 855. Freddie Mac, October 2016. Web.
About the author