The amount you have available for a down payment will affect what types of loans for which you can qualify. Down payments typically range from 3 to 20 percent of the sales price for the property.
Tips for Accumulating a Down Payment
Save Look for ways to reduce your monthly expenditures to save toward a down-payment. You could enroll for an automatic savings plan at your bank to have a portion of your payroll automatically transferred into savings. Most people save a couple of years for their down payment.
Borrow the down payment from your retirement plan Check the provisions of your retirement plan. You can borrow funds from a 401(k) plan for a down payment or make a withdrawal from an Individual Retirement Account. Be sure you understand the tax consequences, repayment terms and/or possible early withdrawal penalties.
Move You may be able to save additional funds if you can move into less expensive housing.
Reduce other higher interest rate debt Paying off credit cards will initially reduce your savings, but the money you will save from higher interest rates will pay-off in the long run.
Make a deal with the seller In some circumstances, it is appropriate to ask the seller to carry a second-mortgage to cover your down payment. Typically, you will pay a slightly higher rate for this second mortgage.
Sell some investments
Get a second job and save your earnings
Skip a year's vacation
Gift from Family Parents and other family members are often anxious to help children buy their first home and may have the means to give you a gift of money for a portion or all of your down payment.
Alternative Sources
No-down and low-down Mortgages
100% Loans 1st time home buyers programs are very affordable this days. There are 3 ways to get 100% financing: 1. Properties that are located in census track (not necessarily low income neighborhoods). 2. If the borrowers income doesn't exceed the median income in the county where the property is located. 3. We have been providing 80/20 loans for the past 10 years. With his method we eliminate the PMI.
Piggy-back Loans A second mortgage that closes with the first. Often the first mortgage is for 80% of the purchase price and the "piggyback" is for 10%. The home buyer covers the remaining 10% with their down payment. (Some lenders will write a second mortgage of 15% or even 20% of the purchase price.)
"Carry Back" Mortgage In the case of the seller "carrying back a second mortgage", the seller loans you part of his or her equity. In this scenario, you would finance the majority of the loan with a traditional mortgage lender and finance the remaining amount with the seller. Typically you will pay a slightly higher interest rate on the loan financed by the seller.
Housing Finance Agencies These agencies offer special loan programs to low- and moderate-income buyers, buyers interested in rehabilitating a home in a targeted area, and other groups as defined by the agency. Working through a housing finance agency, you can receive a below market interest rate, down payment assistance and other incentives.
The primary mission of Housing Finance Agencies is to boost home ownership in targeted areas, among first-time buyers and those with little money for down payments. Most of these non-profit agencies were funded with state government seed money and now operate independently.
Click here for a list of Housing Finance Agencies.
Documenting Your Down Payment
Documenting that the down payment comes from your savings and that you will have savings and/or assets over and above the down payment gives the lender confidence in your strength as a borrower and your ability to repay the loan.
Take extra care to document the sources for any monies to be used for the down payment or closing costs.
Acceptable Down Payment & Closing Costs Sources
Cash in a bank account
Mutual funds / stocks / IRA / 401K
Proceeds from the sale of another property
Gift from an immediate relative
Click here to learn more about verifying your down payment, closing costs, income and debt.
