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Answering Your Top Questions About Home Affordability Calculators

HomeLight

You may be wondering how affordability calculators work if you’re ready to get some numbers down on paper before showing up for a pre-qualification meeting with a lender. Debts: How much of your income is going toward monthly minimum debt payments? How much are closing costs?

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Am I A First-Time Homebuyer? Who’s Qualified … And Who Isn’t

HomeLight

VA loans also offer even more benefits, like better interest rates and less strident qualifications — but as the name indicates, they are only available to current military members or veterans (or their spouses). For example, pre-pandemic, an FHA loan could be secured with 3.5% down and a minimum credit score of 580.

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Mastering Mortgage Basics: 10 Key Concepts Every Homebuyer Should Know

Redfin

Government-backed loans, such as FHA or VA loans, provide more flexible qualification criteria and specific benefits. How does the mortgage pre-approval process work? Mortgage pre-approval is a crucial step in the homebuying process. What are closing costs?

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The Credit Score Needed to Buy a House With No Money Down

Marco Santarelli

Some lenders may require higher scores, especially for borrowers with other risk factors, such as a high debt-to-income ratio or a short credit history. Easier Qualification: No-money-down mortgages often come with less stringent qualifying requirements compared to traditional mortgages.

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7 Things Sellers Need to Know About FHA Loans When Fielding Offers

HomeLight

As a seller, you’re usually not taking on additional risk by accepting an offer from a buyer pre-approved for an FHA loan than you would with a buyer pre-approved for a conventional loan. Dill shares that it’s only a myth that FHA-backed offers are by default weak offers: “They are strong and well-qualified buyers with steady income.

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Thinking About a Rent-to-Own House? Here’s What You Need to Know

HomeLight

Additionally, a certain amount of the monthly rent is also typically stipulated to help cover the buyer’s closing costs or down payment. For example, monthly rent on the house is $2,000, and the buyer agrees to pay an additional $300 a month, which will go toward closing costs on the purchase.”.

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Buying a House in San Diego? Local Real Estate Agents Share 15 Tips First-Time Buyers Need to Know

Redfin

Get pre-approved for a mortgage My advice to first-time homebuyers is to find a good loan officer and get pre-approved, fully underwritten approval is best. – Robert Cenzer | Redfin Agent Don’t jump in and start house hunting until you have been pre-approved by your local bank or lender.