Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home

 by: Damon Thomas

The idea of buying a new home for the first time can be overwhelming for most people. It is probably the largest investment they have ever made, and the process itself seems downright intimidating. Here are answers to a few questions about homeownership from www.casanuevahouston.com and www.casanuevasanantonio.com. Much more information is offered online at these websites.

How do I know how much I can afford?

Most people like to think of it in terms of their monthly payment. A good rule-of-thumb is that your total monthly payment will be about 1% of the purchase price. If a new home costs $100,000, the total monthly payment will be about $1,000.

What kind of down payment is needed? How much money is needed for closing costs?

With 100% financing, which is often available, you typically need about 3% out of your own pocket for various closing cost such as taxes and insurance. So, for a $100,000 loan that is 100% financed, you would need about $3,000 total cash. There are also home buyer assistance programs that can provide down payment grants to qualified applicants.

How much income do I need?
  (continued...)

Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
  Page 2

About The Author Damon Thomas is a contributor to www.casanuevahouston.com, a Houston-based company providing information for new home buyers.

Additional Resources

category - Home Buying Programs

Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program
The Department of Housing and Urban Development, otherwise known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the executive branch of the United States federal government.

---

First Time Homebuyer Programs in California
The programs of CalHFA are constantly guided by its overall agency mission which is to "finance below market rate loans to create safe, decent and affordable rental housing and to assist first-time homebuyers in achieving the dream of homeownership."

---

First Time Homebuyer Programs in Arkansas
The Arkansas Development Finance Authority was primarily created to develop safe, decent and affordable housing for low and moderate income Arkansans. The authority's primary goal is to administer funding in the form of tax exempt bonds and other debt instruments through several programs which are divided into three main categories: Economic Development, Homeownership, and Affordable Rental Housing.

---

Downpayment Assistance Program for First Time Homebuyers in Connecticut
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority has been running the Downpayment Assistance Program in order to financially assist first time home buyers in the process of covering the downpayment and closing costs of purchasing a home.

---