Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
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Lenders look at the overall debt-to-income ratio. They like to see that your monthly housing payment, plus everything on your credit report (including car payment, credit cards, etc.), is not more than 50% of your total gross monthly income (before taxes).

If you want to buy a $100,000 home, the monthly payment will be $1,000. Suppose you also pay another $500 each month in other bills that are on your credit report. That’s a monthly debt of $1,500. You would need to earn about twice that, or $3,000 a month, to qualify for the home loan, typically.

What type of credit do I need to have?

For an FHA loan, which is very popular, buyers generally need to have clean credit for the past 12 months, meaning that payments have been made on time. Many lenders don’t worry about credit problems that took place in the past, as long as the past year is good and clean.

What if I don’t have other loans or credit cards?

The FHA and other lenders are very willing to consider what they call “alternate lines of credit.” That is, any type of payment history that shows that the buyer is able to make regular payments on time. These can include items such as rent, utilities, telephone, car insurance and child-care payments. If a buyer can show clean, 12-month payment histories for at least 3 of these types of alternate lines of credit, that is generally good enough.

About The Author Damon Thomas is a contributor to www.casanuevahouston.com, a Houston-based company providing information for new home buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Your First Home
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Additional Resources

category - Home Buying Programs

Connecticut Housing Finance Agency Mortgage Programs for Military, Police and Teachers
The Connecticut Housing Finance Agency has established the Mortgage Programs for Military, Police and Teachers so as to provide reasonable housing opportunities to veterans and active duty service members of the United States Military, the National Guard, along with teachers and police officers who are assigned in under-served areas.

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Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program
The Department of Housing and Urban Development, otherwise known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the executive branch of the United States federal government.

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Construction Incentive Program for First Time Home Buyers in New York
The State of New York cares so much about its people. It looks out for them and constantly ascertains that their best interest is always protected. One of the ways in which the state has manifested this concern is through the establishment of the State of New York Mortgage Agency, more commonly referred to as SONYMA, which is a public authority established in 1970 designed to provide reasonable and affordable home-ownership opportunities to low and moderate income New Yorkers, especially to first time home buyers.

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Affordable Housing Partnership Program for the First Time Home Buyers in California
The Affordable Housing Partnership Program is a housing opportunity that enables first time home buyers in the State of California to seek financial assistance from lending institutions that have formed a partnership with CalHFA for the purposes of this endeavor.

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