Frequently Asked Question(s)

The class covers all aspects of the home process: 

• Budgeting to buy a home 
  
• Credit score and credit report 
  
• Shopping for a mortgage loan 
  
• Finding the right home 
  
• Inspect before you buy
  
• Home mortgage loan process
  
• Loan closing process and the expenses involved
  
• The roles of professionals in the home buying field such as Real Estate Agents, Lenders, Home Insurance Agents, Home Inspectors and Title Companies

 The cost of the class is $55.00 for an individual or $80.00 for a couple, & $100.00 for all clients referred for CHIP program. The fees includes all informational materials. Due to COVID-19 we are administering these workshops virtually on ZOOM. We ask that you pre-register on-line or call the office and register prior to the class date.  All fees must be paid prior to class. 
 

 Nothing, except your questions and a notebook (you'll want to take lots of notes, because we have so much to share). All informational packets will be emailed to you during the time of the class.
 

YES, Everyone that completes our class will receive a Certificate of Completion.  The Certificate is good for 1 year.  

Many homebuyers do not realize how much help their state has to offer them when buying their first home. The following are examples of the first-time homebuyer programs that most states offer such as home loan, tax credit, education, and grant programs.

 One of the best programs available throughout the United States is a Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) program, also known as a "State Bond" loan. Through these state-sponsored home loan programs, eligible homebuyers can obtain a below-market interest rate from their local Housing Finance Agency (HFA).  They can be paired with an FHA, USDA, or Conventional loan.

In general, to qualify for a state bond loan you must:

not have owned a home in the past three years (unless in a target area)
meet the applicable income limits which vary by county 
purchase a home that is below the county's purchase price limit
continue to occupy the home for as long as they keep the loan

While other restrictions apply and vary by state, these are the main requirements to qualify for the state bond loans in any of the 50 states. To continue benefiting from the below-market rate loan, you must occupy the property as your primary residence and if you sell it in the first nine years and your income has gone up substantially (more than 5% a year over the maximum limits) you may be required to pay a federal recapture tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

This home loan program is available in every state and it can be paired with FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional home loans products.
 

 One of the biggest challenges for most first-time homebuyers is coming up with enough cash to cover the required down payment and closing costs.

The required cash to close can really add up. For example, with an FHA loan you may need to come up with 3.5% of the purchase price for a down payment and a few more thousand dollars for closing costs.

Fortunately, to help lower the amount of cash you need to buy a home, your state, city, county or non-profit housing agencies may offer a Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP). DAPs can significantly lower the amount of cash you need to have saved in order to purchase a home, as well as, lower your ongoing house payment to make homeownership affordable.

To qualify for these program typically the households must:

meet specific income limits
must not have owned and occupied a home in the past three years
must meet all other applicable program requirements
 

 As an alternative to the State Bond Loan program, a few, but not all, of the state housing finance agencies also offer a federal tax credit from the IRS known as the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program. 

The MCC program offers income-eligible first-time homebuyers an ongoing federal tax credit. While the precise amount of the tax credit varies by program administrator, the program provides eligible homebuyers a dollar for dollar reduction in their federal tax liability for as long as 30 years.

In general to qualify for the MCC program, a borrower must also meet the following requirements:

must not have owned and occupied a home in the past three years (unless buying in a target area)
must meet the applicable income limits which vary by county
must purchase a home that is below the county's purchase price limit
must continue to occupy the home and keep the loan to claim the credit

Other restrictions apply and vary by the state, city and county who administer the program.

To claim the MCC tax credit you must occupy the property as your home (primary residence). Also if you sell the home it in the first nine years and your income has gone up substantially (more than 5% a year over the maximum limits) you may be required to pay a federal recapture tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Check with your state and your lender for details.