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?
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Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
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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

Department of Housing and Urban Development's Dollar Homes Program
The Dollar Homes Program revolves around the process of selling single family homes for a superbly reasonable price of $1 (plus closing cost) to low-to-moderate income families, granted that these houses have been acquired through foreclosure by the Federal Housing Administration, and have already been actively marketed for at least six months and still remained unsold after that certain period of time.

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Down Payment Assistance Loan for First Time Home Buyers in New York
In line with this, The State of New York Mortgage Agency has been running the Down Payment Assistance Loan Program (DPAL) wherein it intends to help first time home buyers overcome the setbacks brought about by down payments and closing costs.

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Keystone Home Loan PLUS Program
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency has constituted the estbalishment of the Keystone Home Loan PLUS Program wherein it aims to offer the lowest PHFA interest rate to first time home buyers in the State of Pennsylvania.

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First Time Homebuyer Programs in Georgia
The state of Georgia offers a variety of programs to assist first time home buyers. The programs are offered primarily through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

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