Very Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans

Sunday, July 5, 2009

The following is a summary of information about an assistance program or grant available to individuals or families through an agency of the U.S. Government.
To assist very low, low-income, and moderate-income households to obtain modest, decent, safe, and sanitary housing for use as a permanent residence in rural areas.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Direct Loans; Guaranteed/Insured Loans.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
Direct and guaranteed loans may be used to buy, build, or improve the applicant's permanent residence. New manufactured homes may be financed when they are on a permanent site, purchased from an approved dealer or contractor, and meet certain other requirements. Under very limited circumstances, homes may be re-financed with direct loans. Dwellings financed must be modest, decent, safe, and sanitary. The value of a home financed with a direct loan may not exceed the area limit. The property must be located in an eligible rural area. Assistance is available in the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana's, and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. Direct loans are made at the interest rate specified in RD Instruction 440.1, Exhibit B (available in any Rural Development local office), and are repaid over 33 years or 38 years for applicants whose adjusted annual income does not exceed 60 percent of the area median income, if necessary to show repayment ability. Payment assistance is granted on direct loans to reduce the installment to an "effective interest rate" as low as one percent, depending on adjusted family income. Payment assistance is subject to recapture by the government when the customer no longer resides in the dwelling. There is no funding provided for deferred mortgage authority or loans for deferred mortgage assumptions. Guaranteed loans may be made to refinance either existing RHS Guaranteed Housing loans or RHS Section 502 Direct Housing loans. Guaranteed loans are amortized over 30 years. The interest rate is negotiated with the lender.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have very low-, low- or moderate incomes. Very low-income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), low-income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is below 115 percent of AMI. Families must be without adequate housing, but able to afford the housing payments, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI). Qualifying repayment ratios are 29 percent for PITI to 41 percent for total debt. In addition, applicants must be unable to obtain credit elsewhere, yet have an acceptable credit history.

INFORMATION CONTACTS
Regional or Local Office Consult your local telephone directory under United States Department of Agriculture for Rural Development field office number. If no listing, contact appropriate Rural Development State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog or on the internet at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.

Headquarters Office Director, Single Family Housing Direct Loan Division or Director Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Division, Rural Housing Service (RHS), Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 720-1474 (direct loans), (202) 720-1452 (guaranteed loans).

Web Site Address http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Also See:

More Grant ProfilesGovernment Grants: No Free LunchAre You Eligible for Govt. Aid?
Elsewhere on the Web

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Related Articles

* Very Low Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants
* Low Documentation Loans - How Low Documentation Loans Work
* Student Loan Interest Tax Deduction
* Student Loan Interest Rates Drop
* U.S. Gov Info/Resources - Articles
READ MORE - Very Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans

Types of Home Mortgage Loans

Basic Types of Mortgages

The articles below explain the most common types of mortgage loans you may encounter as a home buyer. I recommend reading a few articles from this section before you delve into the specific types of mortgages in the articles on down the page.

Types of Home Loans - A Home Buyer's Guide
If you only read one article on this page, make it this one. We cover the different types of home loans in detail, with links to additional resources for each type of loan. It's a "must read" to be sure!

Top 9 Mortgages Explained! Find the Right Mortgage for You
Mortgage terms have you confused? Read on to find the mortgage rate that is right for your financial situation.

Understanding the Different Types of Mortgages
Confused by all the different types of mortgage loans? Want to know which type of mortgage loan is right for you? Then this is the article for you.

Low-Income Home Buying Programs
This page will help you understand low-income home buying programs, and will also point you to helpful resources where you can learn more.

Home Mortgage Buyers: Study the Big 3 Loan Types
To find the best mortgage loan for you, you should study the pros and cons of the three major types of mortgage loans.

First-Time Mortgage Buyers
Buying a home may be the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream, but the entire process of buying can be confusing if you are not well informed.

Mortgages - Types Of Interest Rate
The type of interest you wish to pay will depend on your circumstances and how much you are willing to pay every month. You'll learn in this article that not all interest rates are the same.

Traditional Mortgages are Back in Style
If you purchased your home using a risky adjustable rate mortgage, you might want to consider refinancing.

House Bullet
Fixed-Rate Mortgages

These articles explain the different pros and cons of a fixed-rate mortgage, which (as the name implies) is a mortgage loan that has a fixed / unchanging interest rate over the entire life of the loan.

Choosing Between Fixed Rate and Variable Rate Mortgage Loans
An important decision to make when shopping for a home loan is whether or not you want to have your interest at a fixed rate or at a variable rate.

Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans - Pros And Cons
There are many benefits and drawbacks to consider when deciding if a fixed rate mortgage is right for you. It is important to understand them.

House Bullet
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

Perhaps you have heard about the ARM loan but aren't really sure how it works. These articles will educate you on all aspects of the adjustable-rate mortgage, also known as an ARM.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans - The Basics
Adjustable rate mortgages (or ARMs) can help you finance the purchase of a home with lower interest rates. But you need to know the whole story.

Understanding the ARM Loan
The adjustable rate mortgage often confuses home buyers. But once you understand the basics of an ARM, it will all make more sense.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages - A Guide to the ARM
Many home buyers choose the ARM loan in order to save money during the first few years of homeownership. But later, these same homeowners run into trouble when the interest rate adjusts.

House Bullet
Balloon Loans

The balloon mortgage is a truly unique approach to home financing. But it can be financially dangerous for the first-time home buyer who does not fully understand it. These articles will give you a thorough understanding of the balloon mortgage loan.

Balloon Home Loans - Be Careful
These days, lenders provide loans tailored to many situations. Balloon loans are one such loan, but carry a serious downside if you’re not careful.

Balloon Or Reset Mortgage Loans - Understanding The Basics
A balloon mortgage, also called a reset mortgage, offers lower interest rates with the option in 5 or 7 years to pay off the balance or resent the loan.

House Bullet
Government-Backed Loans

Mortgage loans that are insured by the U.S. government can help pave the way to home ownership for many home buyers. One of the primary advantages of such a loan is that it allows you to buy a home with a low down payment.

FHA Mortgage Loans - The Benefits of an FHA Mortgage
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures mortgages to help low- to moderate-income families purchase their own home.

A Borrower's Guide to FHA Home Loans
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a government program created in 1934 to make home financing available to more American families. Today, it's part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Basically, they insure home loans made by private lenders.

Why the FHA Loan is Good for First-Time Buyers
Every type of loan has certain advantages and disadvantages to it. After all, there is no such thing as a perfect financing tool. But with that being said, the FHA program is almost perfectly suited for first-time buyers. This article explains the reasons for this, and it also tells you how to apply for this program.

The VA Home Loan Program For Military Veterans
The federal government offers many benefits to men and women who serve their country. One of those benefits is the VA home loan program.

House Bullet
Interest-Only Loans

Interest-Only Home Loans
As the name implies, interest-only home loans are loans that include an option of only paying the interest every month. Read on to learn about them.

Interest-Only Mortgage Basics
Financing your home with an interest only mortgage can save you as much as 25% off your monthly mortgage payments. What is the downside of this type of mortgage and are the risks worth the savings?

Traditional Versus Interest-Only Home Loans
Now that homes sales have slowed and prices have leveled out, will the number of interest-only mortgages also decrease?

House Bullet
Other Types of Loans

Home Equity Loans
This is a popular financing tool for homeowners who want quick access to cash (often for educational costs, home improvement or debt consolidation. But there are some things you need to know before applying for an equity loan, and this article is a great place to start.

Consider a 15-year Mortgage
If you are dedicated to managing your money wisely, you should consider taking a 15-year mortgage. This article explains why.

Reverse Mortgage Loans for Senior Citizens
This type of loan is made against the value of your home, hence the "reverse" terminology. It's similar to a home equity loan but it has unique aspects. This lending tool has become increasingly popular among senior citizens in recent years.

Subprime Mortgage Loans - A Borrower's Guide
Subprime mortgage lending is a relatively new but fast-growing component of the mortgage industry. But buyer beware — subprime lending has been linked to the current rise in home foreclosures. Here's what you need to know.

Subprime Lending Crisis in the U.S.
This crisis of subprime lending has had far-reaching effects. It has also made it harder for poorly qualified home buyers to obtain mortgage loans. So let's take a closer look at the history, development and impact of the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States.

Are 40-Year Mortgages A Good Idea?
A recent analysis of the lending policy of the top 125 mortgage lenders found that approximately 30% were now offering mortgage terms of 40 years of more.

50-Year Mortgage Now Available
Mortgage lenders are offering a new product to assist home buyers in purchasing a home at an affordable monthly payment.

Understanding Jumbo Mortgages
If you are buying a home in a state with high prices, you know financing can be an issue. This brings up the issue of the jumbo loan.

Zero Down Mortgage Loans - First-Time Buyer Programs
A zero down mortgage is a great idea for a first time home buyer. Here is some information on obtaining a zero down mortgage loan.

First Time Home Buyer Loans
Due to the current state of the economy, the so-called first time home buyer loans are becoming a thing of the past. But don't be discouraged by this. While it may be hard to find a specific program that offers loans for first-time buyers, you can certainly qualify for a regular mortgage loan. Just don't expect special treatment from lenders in the current housing market.

Mortgage Modification Programs
There's a lot of talk about loan modification programs right now. There's also a lot of confusion and misinformation. So we created this page to help homeowners understand (A) what home loan modification is all about, (B) which lenders are offering these programs, and (C) where you can go to learn more about each program.

Getting a Home Loan in the 2009 Economy
Are there new rules for getting a mortgage loan in the 2009 economy? Yes and no. The guidelines that have applied to loan qualification in the past will apply in 2009 as well -- but they'll be more strictly enforced. Here's what you need to know about the so-called "new economy."
READ MORE - Types of Home Mortgage Loans

Buying a Home

The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home!
Nine steps to buying a home

1. Figure out how much you can afford
2. Know your rights
3. Shop for a loan
4. Learn about homebuying programs
5. Shop for a home
6. Make an offer
7. Get a home inspection
8. Shop for homeowners insurance
9. Sign papers

Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford

What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, downpayment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure.
- How much home can you afford?
- Buying vs. Renting
- Home Economics

Need help with your downpayment and/or closing costs?
- Homebuying programs in your state

A housing counselor can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that downpayment!
- Find a housing counselor near you
Step 2: Know your rights
- Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All - brochure
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
- Borrower's rights
- Predatory lending
Follow this link to go Back to Top
Step 3: Shop for a loan

Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan.
- Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate - brochure
- Let FHA help you
- Why Ask for an FHA Loan?
- Learn about interest only loans
- Avoid Predatory Lenders
Step 4: Learn about homebuying programs
- Homebuying programs in your state

FHA loan programs offer lower downpayments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers.
- Let FHA help you
- HUD's special homebuying programs
- Good Neighbor Next Door (formerly known as Teacher/Officer/Firefighter Next Door)
- Hurricane Evacuees discounted sales
- Homeownership for public housing residents
- Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184)
Step 5: Shop for a home
- Choose a real estate agent
- Wish list - what features do you want?
- Home-shopping checklist – take this list with you when comparing homes
- Homes for sale (including HUD homes)
- "Fixer-uppers" - home purchase and repair programs
- Manufactured (mobile) homes
- Build a home

If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association (HOA), be sure to request a copy of the HOA packet, so you can review before closing.
Follow this link to go Back to Top
Step 6: Make an offer

Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale.
- Making an offer
Step 7: Get a home inspection

Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs.
- For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection
- 10 Questions to ask a home inspector
Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance

Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around.
- Homeowners insurance
- 12 ways to lower your homeowners insurance costs
Step 9: Sign papers

You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign!
READ MORE - Buying a Home

Home Loan Calculators

How much can I borrow?

Find out how much you can potentially borrow for your home loan or home loans.
How much will my home loan repayments be?

Check what your repayments on your home loan would be.
How much stamp duty will I pay?

Check stamp duty fees and charges depending on which state you are in.
Budget Planner

The budget planner will help you better understand your finances.
How will extra payments reduce my home loan?

See how extra repayments can reduce your interest payment and loan term.
How will a lump sum payment reduce my home loan?

Find out how a lump sum payment can reduce your interest and loan term.
Savings Calculator

This simple calculator lets you work out how to achieve your savings goal.
What will my repayments be using a split home loan?

This calculator will let you determine your repayments.
Home loan comparison calculators

Compare two different home loans to see which will save you more.
READ MORE - Home Loan Calculators

SBI improves its home loan offer

With real estate prices dropping, action is hotting up in the home loan market. State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, today said that it had improved upon its home loan scheme and would offer home loans starting at 8 per cent in the first year before rising 100-150 basis points in the second and third years. Earlier, SBI had only fixed interest rates during the first year of the tenure of the loan.

In addition, the bank has offered to levy interest on a reducing balance basis and has waived the processing fee for home loans taken up to September.

Within a few hours of SBI’s announcement, LIC Housing Finance, the country’s second-largest mortgage company, said it was reducing the interest rate on floating rate loans for existing customers by 50 basis points.

The largest mortgage player HDFC has not announced a counter-strategy yet, and said it would lower lending rates if the cost of funds went down. For the moment, the home finance company said its effective rate was lower than what SBI was offering.

SBI, which became the largest home loan originator in 2008-09, said it had floated two schemes — Easy Home Loan and Advantage Home Loan.

Under Easy Home Loan, for those borrowing under Rs 30 lakh, the rate has been fixed at 8 per cent during the first year and would be increased 100 basis points to 9 per cent and fixed at that level during the second and third years.

From the fourth year onwards, the customer could choose between the floating rate option, for which the rate is 200 basis points below the State Bank Advance Rate (SBAR), and fixed rate which is 100 basis points below SBAR, with a five-year reset. At present, SBAR is at 11.75 per cent.

For a 20-year loan, the Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) during the first year would be Rs 836 per lakh and would rise to Rs 898 per lakh over the next two years.

Under SBI Advantage, targeted at upper-end home buyers, during the first year, the rate has been fixed at 8 per cent. It would then be fixed at 9.5 per cent during the second and third years. From the fourth year onwards, the customer can choose between a floating rate at 100 basis points below the SBAR and a fixed rate of 50 basis points below SBAR, with a five-year reset.

For a 20-year mortgage, the indicative EMI for the first year would be Rs 836 per lakh in the first year and would rise to Rs 929 per lakh over the next two years.

SBI said that the reduction in SBAR, announced last week and effective from tomorrow, would lower the effective floating rates for existing borrowers 50 basis points.

According to HDFC’s calculations, for those borrowing up to Rs 30 lakh from SBI, the effective rate worked out to 9.35 per cent a year, while for the mortgage player, the rate was 9.25 per cent.

Similarly, for those borrowing over Rs 30 lakh, the effective rate for SBI worked out to 10.09 per cent a year, while it was 9.75 per cent for HDFC.
READ MORE - SBI improves its home loan offer

Obama’s Stimulus for Mortgage Refinance and Loan Modification

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Obama’s government has appeared up with home refinance stimulus package and loan modification programs to help all the needy owners in avoiding foreclosure. This program is designed accurately for all the borrowers who are adverse financially hardships as they are not in an action to accord the loan. The home refinance stimulus package and loan modification would cover as much as 9 million mortgages same way the government would spend $75 billion for helping the homeowners.

Get Your Loan Modification Now

2key components of Obama’s Stimulus Package that are:

1. Home Mortgage Refinance

2. Loan Modification

Let us converse about these components:

1. Home Refinance Stimulus Package

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is the powerful government mortgage refinance lending agencies would refinance the home loans of all the owners who owe much more amount to the bank than the actual value of the house. The only condition for this package is that the mortgage has to be an affirmed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and again even if you are able to pay the additional amount, you can get advantage of the program.

Get Your Loan Modification Now

But this offer is only valid for the residential properties. And this is the major condition to join the stimulus package. Those who are not living in that property will not qualify for Obama’s home refinance stimulus package.

2. Loan Modification Stimulus Package

Obama’s government is providing special incentives to all the lenders for doing loan modification on the present home loans of the borrowers. The home owners can get free of foreclosure, lower interest rate by getting loan modification stimulus package. The key features of this program would be interest rate reduced and it can go down to 2% only, tenure of the loan would be increased to reduce monthly payment amount and borrowers will get waiver of late fees. With loan modification, Lender will also take care of borrower’s total monthly payments and it would not increase than more of the total monthly gross income.
READ MORE - Obama’s Stimulus for Mortgage Refinance and Loan Modification

Mortgage Choice

The simple way to get the home loan that suits you

Mortgage Choice has helped over 250,000 people make their great Australian dream come true. We want to help you too.
What can we do for you?

For a start, we don’t sell our own home loans. We have a panel of top mortgage lenders who have almost 400 home loan products. Our job is to help you find a home loan that best suits you, and take care of all the running around.

Whether you’re a first home buyer, upgrading or downsizing to your next home, buying an investment property or looking to refinance, your local Mortgage Choice broker will compare home loan and lender options, help you choose a home loan that suits you, and get the paperwork done with the minimum of fuss for you. Want to work out how much you can borrow, or how quickly you can repay your loan? Our range of home loan calculators can give you instant answers.

And the service doesn’t stop with your home loan. We’ll be there with you through every step of the process, right up until you move into your property and beyond.

That’s why we’ve received a whole lot of awards, including the coveted Best in the Mortgage and Finance Industry from our industry association, the MFAA (Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia).
READ MORE - Mortgage Choice

Rams

Compare our home loans and find a RAMS home loan that's right for you. RAMS is Australia's specialist home loan lender.

  • No deposit home loan

    Looking for a home loan where you can borrow the full purchase price? Ask RAMS.
  • Looking for a low rate on your home loan?

    RAMS Rate Relief home loan offers a 1% p.a. discount off the RAMS Standard Variable Rate (SVR) for the first two years - plus the on-going rate is guaranteed to stay below the RAMS SVR for the life of your loan.
  • Lower Standard Variable Rate than the big banks

    The RAMS Home Loans Standard Variable Rate is lower than the big banks. If you're on a standard variable rate with one of the big banks, see how much you could save on your home loan.
  • Can't pay the rent and save money for a deposit?

    No worries! A RAMS Fast Track Home Loan could be the perfect solution!
  • Why pay more just because you’re self-employed?

    Not only could RAMS Home Loans range of Low Doc home loans save you money, you’ll also save time with less paperwork and no need to supply full financials. Check out our RAMS SE Pro Pack Home Loan today!
  • Do you want to get back in control of your home loan?

    Check out our range of home loan refinancing solutions: RAMS Easy Start, RAMS SmartWay Pro Pack and RAMS Basic home loans. Or request an appointment with a RAMS Home Loans specialist today!
RAMS Home Loans News and Articles
  • 18/6/09 - First home buyers expect to pay home loan off sooner

    RAMS found that first owners expect to pay off their home loan in the next 15 years. Like to be free of your home loan?.
  • 18/6/09 - RAMS are doing well in the home loan market

    Although the home loan market has been challenging, RAMS’ home loan settlements have reached the highest amount in its 14-year home loan lending history. Find out more about the home loans records achieved by RAMS, click here.
  • 3/6/09 - RAMS Wins Money magazine’s Non-Bank
    Lender of the Year Award!

READ MORE - Rams

 
 
 

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