Analyzing down payment assistance programs for military and veterans

There are a little less down payment assistance programs out there, according to Down Payment Resource. On Monday, Down Payment Resource released its Q1 2017 Homeownership Program Index (HPI). According to the HPI, the number of down payment assistance programs fell by nine to 2,454 from the previous quarter. Around 87 percent of these programs have funds available for eligible homebuyers, unchanged from the previous quarter.

According to the Zillow Housing Aspiration Report, saving for a down payment was the biggest barrier to homeownership, as 70 percent of renters cite not affording a down payment as the top hurdle.

“There are many mortgage-ready renters today, but they don’t…

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By Trulia | Jun 01, 2017 1:16PM  

Choosing the right mortgage is daunting, so we’ve demystified common scenarios to help you find the right loan.

Tired of paying rent and ready to become a homeowner? Good news! According to Trulia’s recent rent vs buy report, buying a home remains a cheaper option than renting, thanks to relatively low interest mortgage rates and fast-rising rents. And, even better news, you’ve taken a step in the right direction when it comes to saving money — buying can be nearly 40% cheaper than renting.

But before you start picking out curtains and furniture for that new home, there are some financing decisions that need to be made. Determining what type of mortgage is best for you and your family may…

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I bought my house without ever seeing it in person

When Billy Conry’s job transferred him to Colorado in 2014, he and his wife, Liz, were excited to move to a new state and find the perfect new home. Avid outdoor athletes who ski, run, hike, and bike year-round, the couple hoped to find a mountain home that was accessible to the outdoors and nearby trails — bonus if it was a log cabin.

It didn’t take them long to realize they’d be in for a challenge: The real estate market in the Centennial State was extremely competitive. Most of the homes the Conrys found online sold within days. They decided to beat the rush by staying put in their Utah home and pairing their online research with a local real estate agent to find their new home without seeing it…

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A new report from the New York State Association of Realtors, or NYSAR, shows that housing trends in the Empire State are a microcosm of the U.S. market. NYSAR’s April housing market numbers show strong buyer demand and an ongoing decline in the number of homes for sale.

This dynamic was fueled a 7.8 percent increase in the April statewide median sales price (to $235,000) and an 11.2 percent drop in new listings compared to a year ago, according to the report. In real numbers, that’s a drop from just over 22,000 new listings to just above 19,600.

There were 18 percent fewer homes for sale in New York compared to last April (about 65,000 compared to about 80,000 in 2016). Inventory constraints also led to a 5 percent decline in home sales for the…

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Nation takes aim at veteran homelessness

Just last week, the city of San Francisco opened up a new veterans housing complex, giving 722 local veterans homes. According to Mayor Ed Lee, the city will open another 128 be the end of this year.

On a larger scale, Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) recently introduced the Homeless Veterans Prevention Act, a bill that would allow veterans to take their children along when using assistance housing. In the past, most housing programs only allowed veterans themselves in housing units, a shortcoming that made it hard for parents—particularly women—to participate.

In September, the Five Star Institute will do its part toward ending veteran homelessness by hosting its…

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First-time Buyers Account for 60 Percent of Home Purchases

The share of first-time homebuyers continues to rise, now accounting for almost half of all GSE purchase loans and more than 80 percent of FHA loans, according to the May 2017 Chartbook, released by the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center on Wednesday.

According to the Chartbook, 47.1 percent of all GSE purchases loans were first-time homebuyers in February 2017, while a whopping 82 percent of FHA loans came from first-timers. When combined, about 60 percent of all purchase loans for the month of February were from first-time buyers—just below the 2009 peak of 63 percent.

For the first time in 10 years, the creation of new-owner households outpaced new-renter households. The…

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Home Prices Hit New Peak

After the 59th straight month of appreciation, home prices have hit another peak, according to the latest Home Price Index (HPI) report released by Black Knight Financial Services on Tuesday. The national HPI now sits at $272,000.

Home prices also hit new peaks in eight states, including Indiana ($151,000), Massachusetts ($381,000), New York ($371,000), North Carolina ($207,000), Pennsylvania ($222,000), Tennessee ($194,000), Texas ($234,000), and Washington ($360,000). Prices hit new peaks in 15 major metro markets, too, including Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and more.

Since the start of 2017, home prices have jumped 2.3 percent. Between February and March, they rose 1.3 percent, and over…

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Important credit lessons your parents didn’t teach you

By Claire Murdough | May 17, 2017 2:22PM  

Listen up, kids: Paying interest is painful. Really, really painful.

Parental wisdom is easy to ignore until you’re left scratching your head over simple adult responsibilities like paying taxes and budgeting. (We all have to make our own mistakes, right?). But even if you were listening to your parents, there are some important credit tips they likely didn’t mention. When it comes to improving your score, heed these six credit lessons that we wish our parents had taught us.

6 Valuable Lessons To Improve Your Credit

  1. Paying interest is one tough chore

    Let’s be real: Making monthly credit card…

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8 ways to test out a home before making an offer

When in the bathroom of a prospective home, check the water pressure and how fast the water heats up.

By Meaghan Agnew | May 10, 2017 12:00PM  

From testing the shower to scoping out storage space, here’s how to investigate important features that you can’t judge from a listing.

While that newly renovated condo looks great in photos, what’s really behind that Chicago, IL, real estate listing could be too good to be true. When it comes to assessing a potential new home, the savvy buyer knows to relentlessly sleuth for any hidden problems. Like you would at a car dealership, test drive your potential future home for important features that easily go unnoticed. 
That…

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Immigration’s affect on the housing market

Every year, the United State’s real estate market is becoming more culturally diverse. According to Alex Nowrasteh, immigration policy analyst from the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, stemming from immigration, the interest from foreigners alone will strengthen home sales activity and price. The National Association of Realtor’s (NAR) Danielle Hale, managing Director of housing research, was joined by Nowrasteh at the 2017 Realtors Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo to discuss the current and future impact foreign buyers have on the U.S. Housing Market.

According to Nowrasteh and the 2015 American Community Survey, of the roughly 321.4 million residents in the U.S., 278.1 million are native, and…

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