Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
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Lenders look at the overall debt-to-income ratio. They like to see that your monthly housing payment, plus everything on your credit report (including car payment, credit cards, etc.), is not more than 50% of your total gross monthly income (before taxes).

If you want to buy a $100,000 home, the monthly payment will be $1,000. Suppose you also pay another $500 each month in other bills that are on your credit report. That’s a monthly debt of $1,500. You would need to earn about twice that, or $3,000 a month, to qualify for the home loan, typically.

What type of credit do I need to have?

For an FHA loan, which is very popular, buyers generally need to have clean credit for the past 12 months, meaning that payments have been made on time. Many lenders don’t worry about credit problems that took place in the past, as long as the past year is good and clean.

What if I don’t have other loans or credit cards?

The FHA and other lenders are very willing to consider what they call “alternate lines of credit.” That is, any type of payment history that shows that the buyer is able to make regular payments on time. These can include items such as rent, utilities, telephone, car insurance and child-care payments. If a buyer can show clean, 12-month payment histories for at least 3 of these types of alternate lines of credit, that is generally good enough.

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
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Additional Resources

category - Home Buying Programs

Ohio Heroes Program for First Time Home Buyers in the State of Ohio
One of the most popular programs of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency is the Ohio Heroes Program which is exclusively intended for active military men, active reservists, veterans, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and several other individuals with noble professions.

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California Homebuyer's Downpayment Assistance Program for First Time Home Buyers
The California Homebuyer's Downpayment Assistance Program is a deferred payment junior loan that can be used in conjunction with other CalHFA housing programs. It provides borrowers with funds amounting to 3% of the actual value of the property that they wish to inquire in order to cover the downpayment costs.

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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.

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First Time Homebuyer Programs in Virginia
In 1972, the Commonwealth of Virginia has constituted the establishment of the Virginia Housing Development Authority in an effort to respond to the needs of Virginians who seek quality, affordable housing.

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