Finance and Credit Archives - Homes for Heroes®

What is a Good Credit Score to Buy a House in 2019

February 18, 2019 / in Buying a Home / by Luke Feldbrugge

Buying a house is a big financial investment and responsibility. Your credit score is one thing lenders will look at to determine your financial responsibility; how you use credit and how you manage debt. Unless you can pay cash for your new home, you will need to borrow money in the form of a mortgage loan. The type of loan and interest rate you receive for your mortgage loan depends largely on your credit score. Here is some information to help explain how your credit score plays a role in the home buying process, and what is a good credit score to buy a house in 2019.

How Much House can I Afford? – Home Affordability Calculator

February 13, 2019February 14, 2019 / in Buying a Home / by Luke Feldbrugge

Making the decision to become a first time home buyer is complex. Or, if you’re looking to purchase your next house, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. A good first step is answering the question: How much house can I afford?

Should I Buy a House in 2019?

February 8, 2019April 11, 2019 / in Buying a Home / by Luke Feldbrugge

Buying a house is an important decision and major investment. It’s also a step toward the American dream. Like many Americans, our heroes can be hesitant to make the leap. Many heroes often ask, “Should I buy a house in 2019?” It’s a great question. It’s an important question. There are many advantages to becoming a homeowner. But, if your circumstances are questionable, then it might be best to wait. Here are some historical trends and key housing market indicators for 2019 to consider before you decide to buy a home.

Will 2019 Be a Seller’s Market? What to Expect When Selling a Home in 2019

November 21, 2018January 10, 2019 / in Buying a Home / by Luke Feldbrugge

For many people, the new year brings big changes — and there are few changes bigger than selling a home. You may be ready for a fresh start, but deciding whether you should sell your house is no easy decision. There are a whole host of financial factors to consider, not to mention the emotions that come with leaving a place you’ve made your home. With so much to think about, making the final decision may come down to one simple question: Will 2019 be a seller’s market? The short answer is yes. But it’s not all good news. There are a million factors that affect the housing market, and here are the main points you should consider when deciding to sell your house in 2019.

Zero Down Mortgage: Can I Get One to Buy a House?

June 7, 2018August 20, 2018 / in Finance and Credit / by Homes for Heroes

Did you know that it’s possible to buy a house without putting any money into a down payment? That’s right; there are fantastic zero down payment home loans available to finance your new home. Read on to learn more about some terrific zero down payment home loans and how you can get one to buy a house.

Are The Current Mortgage Interest Rates Good and How Can You Tell?

June 1, 2018August 9, 2018 / in Finance and Credit / by Homes for Heroes

Are you ready to buy a home and you want to make sure that you get a terrific mortgage rate?

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial investments that you’ll make in life, and it’s essential that your home loan fits your budget and lifestyle. A fantastic mortgage interest rate is one that meets your budget requirements. Keep reading for advice on how to obtain the best mortgage interest rates on your new home loan.

How To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster

May 29, 2018August 9, 2018 / in Finance and Credit / by Homes for Heroes

Buying a home is one of the most significant decisions you can make in life, and it typically helps set you on a course for financial stability.

As you sit in the title office signing an enormous amount of forms, you will inevitably see a paper that lists every payment that will be due over the life of the loan. You will also see exactly how much interest you will pay over the life of the mortgage. These numbers can be very daunting and make you wonder if you’ll ever indeed “own” your home.

Save Time and Money with our Home Loans for Police Officers

May 16, 2018January 17, 2019 / in Buying a Home / by Homes for Heroes

Police officers, troopers and correctional officers have an extremely difficult job serving their communities. So, when it comes time to buy a house and become a permanent part of that community, you want financing to be easy. Thankfully, there are a number of great home financing options available specifically for police officers. Let’s explore some of the most common types of loan programs that help police officers buy a home.

HUD Good Neighbor Next Door

As a law enforcement professional, you have a fantastic opportunity to participate in the HUD Good Neighbor Next Door program that helps public servants purchase homes in revitalizing neighborhoods. Through this program, you can buy a HUD home for 50 percent of the appraised value when the house is in a designated area. You must agree to live at the property for at least three years to qualify for the Good Neighbor Next Door program. Programs like these are a great way for police officers to save money and start improving communities from the day you move in.

FHA Home Loans

FHA loans are a great option for police officers and first-time homebuyers because you don’t need a stellar credit rating and they only require the buyer to put 3.5 percent into a down payment. These government-backed loans come with very competitive interest rates, although you will need to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), potentially throughout the life of the loan.

Homes for Heroes partners with mortgage lenders across the country who know these loan programs inside and out. Sign up and we’ll match you with a Homes for Heroes mortgage specialist who can help you figure out what’s best for your unique situation.

Geographic-Specific Home Loans

Depending on where you’re looking to buy, you may be able to find a geographic-specific home loan program for police officers. You’ll find these most often in major metropolitan areas where real estate prices are high. The city of Chicago, for example, has an excellent home buying assistance program available to police officers who work in the city.

The Chicago Public Safety Officer Home Buyer Assistance Program is a pilot program that was developed to improve struggling neighborhoods by encouraging police officers to purchase homes in those communities. Eligible police officers who meet the maximum income requirements receive $30,000 to help with down payment and closing costs. Many geographic-specific programs, including Chicago’s, require buyers to live in the home for a certain number of years to receive full benefits. Your Homes for Heroes mortgage specialist will help you navigate all of the details and requirements as you go through the loan process.

Time to Buy

Once you have your home loan financing in place, a Homes for Heroes affiliate real estate specialist will help you find the home of your dreams. Our real estate specialists are experts at locating fantastic housing options that meet your needs. Whether your department requires you to live within the jurisdiction, you’re searching in a competitive market, or you just want to live close to your precinct, our specialists can find the right home for you.

Along with sharing their expertise and gratitude, they’ll also save you substantial money on real estate fees. After closing, Homes for Heroes will send you a check for 0.7 percent of the purchase price. That means if you buy a $300,000 house, you’ll receive a Hero Rewards check worth $2,100 in the mail from Homes for Heroes. From the best possible loan to a check at closing, it’s just our way of saying thank you for the service and sacrifice of police officers everywhere.

Are you a police officer looking for help financing your next home purchase? Sign up today and see how Homes for Heroes can help you save money.

Heroes- Here’s How to Avoid PMI so You Can Keep More of Your Hard Earned Money

May 9, 2018August 9, 2018 / in Finance and Credit / by Homes for Heroes

What Is PMI?

PMI is private mortgage insurance that you pay as part of your monthly mortgage payment. You only have to pay PMI if you have less than a 20 percent down payment when you purchase your house. If you don’t have a 20 percent down payment, paying the mortgage insurance is what allows a lender to give you a loan. You are paying the extra cost to show you are not at risk of stopping your monthly payments.

Is an Early Loan Payoff Possible With a Mortgage?

April 28, 2018August 9, 2018 / in Finance and Credit / by Homes for Heroes

If you have decided to buy a new home, congratulations. If you’re researching home loans, lenders, and mortgages, you’ve most likely come across information about both fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate loans. Once you decide which you want to go with, you can start searching for the houses that fit within your budget. However, what if you get a raise after you purchase the house and can afford to pay more than the monthly fee? Is it a good idea? Wouldn’t it be the best choice to pay off your home earlier than scheduled? Yes, and no. There are definite positives and negatives to paying off your mortgage ahead of time, and we can help you decide.