Down payment and closing cost assistance
One of the most challenging parts of buying a home today is coming up with the money for the down payment and closing costs. A great way to make that more affordable is by using a down payment assistance program (DPA). These programs provide eligible homebuyers assistance to purchase a new home. The funds can be in the form of a grant, low-interest mortgage loan, or other incentives to help a buyer purchase a home.
Mortgage Equity Partners has partnered with many different states to help homebuyers. We also offer our own DPA program for all homebuyers. These programs are sometimes limited in funds or time periods so its important to contact one of our experienced loan officers that can tell you what is available in your area.
MEP Advantage Down Payment Assistance Program
Mortgage Equity Partners offers a down payment assistance (DPA) program to help homebuyers who may not be a great fit for state and local DPA and bond programs. We have partnered with a well-established lender to be able to provide down payment assistance through The National Homebuyer’s Fund, a DPA non-profit benefit corporation.
The MEP Advantage DPA Program is designed to increase homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate-income homebuyers. The funds provided through this program can help subsidize the additional money needed for down payment and closing costs and may help turn homeownership dreams into reality, even for those facing financial constraints.
Our program has 2 options that provides 100% financing of a home’s sales price as per FHA guidelines. With an FHA loan requiring a down payment of 3.5% of the home’s sales price, the MEP Advantage DPA program can be used to cover the rest.
MEP DPA Option 1
Option 1 is a second lien with an interest rate equal to the first note rate plus 2%. It has a 10-year loan term but can be payable upon sale, refinance, or payoff. The total loan amount is 3.5% of the lesser of the sale price or appraised value.
MEP DPA Option 2
Option 2 is a second lien forgivable loan with an interest rate of 0%. The payments are deferred, and no interest accrues. This loan is forgivable after 10 years. The total loan amount is 3.5% of the lesser of the sale price or appraised value.
As you can see, this program is a great tool for homeowners in today’s market who want to buy a home but are being impacted by rising home prices and lack of disposable income for down payment and closing costs.
Additional features of the MEP Advantage DPA:
- The minimum FICO score for this product is 600.
- MEP does not require that the homebuyer be a first-time homebuyer, but homebuyer education is required by at least one occupying home buyer.
- The property types that can be purchased using this program include single-family residences (1-unit), duplexes, some manufactured homes (check with your loan officer on this), PUDS, Townhouses, and some condos (check with your loan officer on this). Note: MEP’s Advantage DPA program is not used on 3–4 unit properties.
Chenoa Fund®
The Chenoa Fund® is a national down payment assistance program provided by CBC Mortgage Agency and administered through authorized lenders like Mortgage Equity Partners. The program is designed to increase creditworthy borrowers’ access to homeownership. Based on their core belief that everyone deserves access to affordable housing, they offer Down Payment Assistance programs paired with FHA Loans to provide a 100% financing option.
Under the program, borrowers who meet eligibility requirements may receive a second mortgage to cover the minimum down payment of 3.5% when purchasing a home with an FHA loan.
Here is an overview of the Chenoa Fund®
Chenoa Fund® DPA For FHA loans offers one product with a repayable and forgivable option. For all products, the borrower will need to have a credit score of 600 or higher.
Repayable: This loan has a 10-year term with an interest rate matching the interest rate on the FHA first mortgage. This loan does require a monthly payment on the second mortgage.
Forgivable: This loan has a 30-year term with an interest rate of 0% (0% APR). This loan does not require a monthly payment on the second mortgage. Forgiveness is determined by the DPA amount:
- 5%: Forgivable after 36 consecutive, on-time payments on the FHA first mortgage. This forgiveness period resets if the borrower makes a late payment, but the borrower has the full 30-year term to meet the forgiveness conditions. This loan may also be forgiven at the end of the 30-year term if the previous forgiveness condition has not been met.
- 5%: Forgivable after the initial 120 consecutive, on-time payments on the FHA first mortgage. This forgiveness period is terminated if the borrower has a payment that is 60+ days late, but the loan will remain with a 30-year term, 0% interest rate (0% APR), and no monthly payment.
Both forgivable loan options may be forgiven at the end of the 30-year term if the previous forgiveness conditions have not been met, even if the borrower made late payments on the FHA’s first mortgage. If it is not already forgiven, the loan must be repaid upon transfer of ownership or refinance.
Florida Housing
Florida Housing’s First Time Homebuyer (FTHB) Program offers 30-year fixed rate FIRST mortgage loans to first-time homebuyers and qualified veterans in Florida.
This program uses income and purchase price limits to determine eligibility.
Potential borrowers must:
- Complete a Homebuyers Education Class
- Qualify for a Mortgage loan and a qualifying FICO Score
Florida Housing also offers down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a second mortgage loan to assist eligible homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs. Down payment assistance is only available when used in conjunction with Florida Housing’s first mortgage loan. Down payment assistance is NOT available as “stand-alone” down payment assistance. It is only available when used in conjunction with one of Florida Housing’s Homebuyer Programs.
The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program offers eligible first-time homebuyers a nonrefundable Federal income tax credit which can be utilized with a lender’s first mortgage. The MCC reduces an eligible borrower’s Federal income taxes and, in effect, creating additional income for the borrower to use in making mortgage payments or other household expenses. Florida Housing’s Program offers a tax credit amount of up to 50%, based on the loan amount.
Contact one of our Florida Housing approved loan officers to get started today!
Maryland Housing
The Maryland Mortgage Program is designed to make it easier for first-time and repeat homebuyers to purchase new homes. MMP’s mortgage programs are tailored to address Maryland residents’ different financial needs and support homeownership in specific geographic locations. They include low-interest first mortgage options, down payment assistance loans, and grants.
The programs include:
The 1st Time Advantage 5% DPA – First time homebuyers may be eligible for a Down Payment Assistance (DPA) loan equal to 5% of the first mortgage in a zero percent deferred second lien. In addition, 1st time advantage loan offers competitive interest rates for FTHB.
Flex – Similar to the 1st Time Advantage loan, Flex Includes down payment assistance in the form of a non-interest loan that must be repaid or a grant. This program is open to repeat buyers and has competitive 30-year fixed rates.
Home Ability – Down Payment Assistance for the disabled. A conventional loan product provides up to 95% LTV in a first lien and up to 25% (max $45,000) in a second lien to assist with down payment and closing costs.
HomeStart – 6% Down Payment Assistance Loan for borrowers at or below 50% of Area Media Income. The HomeStart loan comes with 0% interest and a 30-year deferred down payment loan equal to 6% of the Maryland Mortgage total loan amount (first lien).
Maryland SmartBuy 3.0 – This loan is for borrowers with at least $1,000 in student loan debt. The SmartBuy 3.0 program can help you get a mortgage and pay off that debt in one transaction. The amount you can apply to student loan debt payoff is up to 15 percent of the home’s purchase price with a cap of $50,000. This is a zero-interest forgivable loan after five years.
In addition to the requirements by program, all Maryland Mortgage Programs generally require that borrowers purchase a primary residence and not own another residence. The home is required to be within the Maryland purchase price limits, which vary depending on location. Income limits also require that the combined household income of all adults living on the property does not exceed Maryland Limits.
Credit Score minimums are as follows:
Maryland Mortgage Down Payment assistance loans offer credit-worthy borrowers an affordable home financing option. Additional eligibility requirements may exist, and a consultation with one of our Maryland licensed loan officers to discuss your eligibility is required.
