How to Find a First-Time Buyer's Program for a Home Loan

If you're looking to buy your first home, lots of first-time buyer's programs are available to help you. You'll be better off if you determine what program you are eligible for before you choose a home and make an offer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Real Estate Brokers
• Online Mortgage/finance Services

1. Contact a local real estate mortgage broker and ask about programs it offers for the first-time home buyer.
2. Look under your phone directory's county listings for the housing department. If there are any publicly funded programs, this would be the place to find them.
3. Check with your employer. If you are a teacher, police officer or member of a large labor organization, you may have access to special programs. Ask your personnel or employee relations department.
4. Look into the online mortgage companies. Some have programs for first-time buyers.
5. Determine which programs you qualify for based on your income and other prerequisites.
6. Decide which program best fits your financial needs.
7. Provide the required documentation to complete the loan process.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes certain geographical areas are targeted for special publicly funded financing. Find out from your county's housing department where such areas are and decide if you are interested in living in one of them.
• Some programs allow first-time buyers to make smaller down payments to purchase a property; some provide a monthly payment (subsidy) directly to the buyer to assist with the mortgage payment; and others relax the terms of prequalification to allow more borrowers to qualify.
• Most first-time buyer's programs will allow you to take advantage of their programs if you have not owned a property within the past 3 years.
• Each first-time home buyer's program is different. Most have income limits that you must fall within to qualify.