Buying a home is exciting, but coughing up the down payment can be a downer. That’s where down payment assistance enters the picture. Government and nonprofit programs help unlock the door to homeownership for qualified buyers.
Of those who financed their home purchase, the median down payment was 12%, according to the National Association of Realtors® report for the 12-month period ending in July 2019. So a home that sells for $300,000 would require a $36,000 down payment if the buyer were putting just 12% down.
It makes sense to put down as much as you can comfortably afford on a down payment. The more you put down, the less you’ll be borrowing, of course, which translates to lower monthly payments and less interest paid over the life of the loan.
Generally, 20% down is ideal, but many borrowers make a lower down payment.
Down Payment Defined
Depending on their financial situation, homebuyers may qualify for down payment assistance from the government or a private entity.
Down payment assistance programs come in several forms. Some offer homebuyers loans and grants that can be applied directly to down payments and, in some cases, help with closing costs, too.
The down payment—which covers the upfront “out of pocket” cost of getting a mortgage—is usually made at the mortgage closing, and can be paid with a check, cashier’s check, or electronic payment.
The down payment covers a reasonable percentage of the total home purchase price, with the mortgage covering the remainder. Lenders typically won’t approve a mortgage loan unless the borrower pays upfront cash—anywhere from 3.5% to 20% in most cases—against the total price of the property.
First-time homebuyers can
prequalify for a SoFi mortgage loan,
with as little as 3% down.
Homebuyer Assistance Programs and Qualifications
If a first-time homebuyer can’t afford a down payment, that opens the possibility of financial assistance.
The programs that tend to provide the most financial assistance to homebuyers—state and federal governments and local, regional, and national nonprofits—will likely need an applicant to clear hurdles in order to qualify for down payment help.
These criteria usually lead that list:
• The three-year rule. The buyer must not have owned a home in the past three years. In most scenarios, government agencies and private charities deem anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the previous three years, even a repeat buyer, a “first-time homebuyer.”
• Must be for a primary home. Homebuyers should be clear if the money is going to the purchase of a primary residence. If the home is an investment property design to draw rent, financial assistance providers usually won’t issue a green light on funding.
• Income limits. First-time homebuyers may have to meet income limits. The buyer may also have to keep the home price below a specified limit.
• Funding caveats. Depending on the funder, the first-time homebuyer may have to take a homebuyer education course and may be asked to contribute some money to the down payment.
New homebuyers looking for financial help—and who qualify for that help—can get financial aid from a variety of sources, both public and private.
The help can be substantial.
According to a report from the Urban Institute, up to 51% of potential homebuyers residing in the report’s U.S. metropolitan areas studied would qualify for some form of home down payment assistance. Upon applying, those homebuyers would be in line to receive between $2,000 and $39,000.
That’s one reason actively looking for down payment assistance may be so important. When that search begins, the following funding sources may be a good place for homebuyers to start.
💡 Recommended: First Time Homebuyer Guide for 2023
HUD, the Gatekeeper
A good source for state and nonprofit home down payment assistance is the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD .
HUD is a federal gatekeeper, steering homebuyers to various state and nonprofit programs and offering home buying and down payment advice from HUD home assistance counselors.
Each state may have different rules and requirements, so it’s a good idea to talk to either the state agency directly or to a qualified advisor through the HUD housing counselor portal.
Federal, State, and Local Government Grants
Government grants might be the optimal form of down payment assistance, as it’s free money. Grants usually come from federal, state, or local governments and nonprofit groups.
Each government agency or charitable group has its own rules for down payment assistance grants, but in general, you have to pass an eligibility test (the common criteria are listed above) to qualify.
Again, HUD does not offer direct grants to individuals but works through local governments and nonprofit organizations to make financial assistance and counseling available.
Federal Government Loans
While technically not deemed direct down payment assistance, U.S. government-insured housing loans consist of low-interest loans to new homebuyers that enable them to make lower down payments, thus making it easier to afford both a home loan and a down payment.
Federal home loans usually come from three agencies:
The Federal Housing Administration. The FHA provides direct loans to qualified homebuyers. The primary qualifier is a FICO® credit score of 580 or above. A borrower with a credit score of 500 to 579 who brings a 10% down payment to the table may also qualify for an FHA loan.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA offers direct home buying assistance to rural-home buyers. Loans enable qualified homebuyers to purchase a home with no down payment. The home must be in a qualified rural area, and borrowers’ adjusted annual income cannot exceed 115% of the median income in the area, among other criteria.
There is no minimum credit requirement for a USDA loan, but applicants with a credit score below 640 are subject to more stringent guidelines to qualify.
Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA provides home purchasing assistance to current members of the armed forces, military veterans, and spouses of deceased U.S. military members. Similar to a USDA home loan, a VA loan requires no down payment.
Applicants must meet the VA’s—and the lender’s—standards for credit and income, and be purchasing a primary home.
Forgivable Loans
These loans come from lenders, usually in two forms: deferred payments and forgivable loans.
Forgivable loans are basically second mortgages that borrowers don’t have to repay if they remain in the primary home for a specific time period (for example, 10 years).
Forgivable loans usually have a 0% interest rate, making it easier to afford a home down payment.
State Down Payment Assistance
Assistance programs vary by state. Still, some commonalities exist—especially the urgency to help economically struggling homebuyers afford a home down payment.
These states are examples of that:
Arizona. By and large, homebuyers in most Arizona counties can apply for home down payment assistance through the state’s Department of Housing Home Plus Program.
Homebuyers will need a FICO® credit score of 640 or higher and an annual income of $92,984 or less. Additionally, the purchase price of the home can’t be higher than $371,936.
Florida. The Sunshine State offers home down payment assistance programs via Florida Housing Finance Corp.
• HFA Preferred and HFA Advantage PLUS Second Mortgage. These down payment and closing cost programs offer 3%, 4%, or 5% of the total loan amount in a forgivable five-year second mortgage.
• Florida Assist. Eligible homebuyers receive up to $7,500 through an interest-free second mortgage. The money doesn’t have to be paid back unless the homeowner sells or refinances the property.
Maryland. Financial help is offered three ways to qualified homebuyers through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Down Payment Assistance and Partner Match Programs.
• 0% interest loans. These loans offer zero monthly payments to eligible homebuyers unless the buyer sells or refinances.
• Forgivable loans. This loan gradually declines over several years and is payment free as long as the homeowner does not sell or refinance the home.
• Cash grants. The grants are issued through the state department’s financing partners.
Recommended: Guide to Buying, Selling, and Updating Your Home
The Takeaway
Government and nonprofit funding are the primary vehicles for down payment assistance, but homebuyers may also seek down payment help from family and friends, retirement and investment funds, or even microlenders.
However a buyer approaches home down payment assistance, the keys are planning, research on available programs, and a disciplined approach to budgeting.
When you’re ready to unlock the door to a home purchase, SoFi can help.
SoFi Mortgage Loans require as little as 10% down and come with competitive rates. SoFi offers different types of mortgages, so new homeowners can choose the terms that suit them best.
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