It's no surprise that so many Americans are looking for ways to buy a home with a low down payment.
After all, with so many other costs associated with a home purchase -- like closing costs, furniture, moving expenses, etc. -- coming up with a large down payment isn't always an option. So the idea of buying a home with a low down payment can be very appealing to many buyers, especially first time home buyers.
Many people mistakenly believe that a down payment of at least 20 percent is required in all mortgage scenarios. This is the way things were for a long time. But these days, there are more flexible loan programs and terms available to home buyers. In fact, some mortgage lenders will extend loans to qualified buyers with a down payment as low as 5 percent of the purchase price.
Generally, a mortgage loan with a down payment of less than 20 percent is referred to as a low down payment mortgage loan.
But like all things in life (and in home buying), there are special conditions to buying a home with a low down payment. For instance, many mortgage lenders who grant loans with such a low down payment usually require that the loan be insured in some way. This insurance is aptly called mortgage insurance.
Mortgage Insurance for a Low Down Payment
Mortgage insurance is just what it sounds like -- insurance on a home mortgage loan. This type of insurance protects the lender financially in the event that a homeowner defaults (ceases to make payments) on the mortgage.
Mortgage lenders usually require mortgage insurance on loans with a down payment of 20 percent or less. In other words, some form of mortgage insurance is almost always required for a low down payment mortgage. The home buyer is usually required to pay the cost of this mortgage insurance.
Two Types of Mortgage Insurance - Government and Private
Let's recap what we have covered so far. We know that it's possible to buy a home with a low down payment, and that a 20 percent down payment is not always necessary. We also said that most lenders who offer mortgages with a low down payment (below 20 percent) will also require some form of mortgage insurance. Thus, buying a home with a low down payment almost always requires mortgage insurance.
With that straight, let's talk about the two types of mortgage insurance -- governmental and private.
Government Mortgage Insurance
Government-backed mortgages are usually insured by one of three federal organizations. These mortgages are either insured by (A) the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA; (B) the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA; or (C) the Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service, or RHS.
Each of these agencies has its own criteria for the types of loans they will ensure. For example, the VA Home Loan program only applies to military veterans or their spouses, and RHS loans are usually reserved for people in rural areas.
The FHA requires a minimum down payment of 3 percent. They also limit the loan amount that they're willing to ensure based on geographic area.
So this is governmental path to buying a home with a low down payment. When you obtain a mortgage loan backed by one of the federal organizations listed above, you can make a down payment less than the traditional 20 percent.
Private Mortgage Insurance
In addition to the three governmental options above, there are also private companies willing to insure mortgage loans. This too can be a path to home buying with a lower down payment. Private mortgage insurance is aptly referred to as PMI. Private mortgage insurance is available to a much wider audience than the governmental options listed above. For instance, there are no restrictions regarding military service or rural residence.
Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is available on a wide variety of low down payment home loans and there is no pre-determined limit on the loan amount (as there usually is with the government-backed mortgage loans).
Conclusion
These days, it is certainly possible to buy a home with a low down payment. In this context, "low" refers to a down payment of less than 20 percent. These types of home loans require some form of mortgage insurance, either government insurance or private mortgage insurance (PMI). Here are some resources to help you learn more about home buying with low money down.
* You may republish this article online if you retain the author's byline and the active hyperlinks below. Copyright 2007, Brandon Cornett.
About the Author
Brandon Cornett publishes a network of websites related to home buying and mortgages. For more tips on buying a home please visit the Home Buying Institute at http://www.homebuyinginstitute.com
