Supporter Town Hall Recap: Advancing Racial Equity
The second section of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity's Supporter Town Hall covered our plans regarding advancing racial equity. Director of Lending...
3 min read
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
:
11:00 AM on March 2, 2021
If you’ve owned a home before, you might not consider yourself a first-time homebuyer. But don’t pass by those first-time homebuyer programs without taking a closer look! Depending on how recently you owned a home, you might actually qualify for incentives and assistance programs designed for first-time homebuyers.
"Most people don't know they qualify for these programs," says Betsy Mills, Director of Lending at TCHFH Lending, Inc., because they don't know the most commonly accepted first-time homebuyer definition. In fact, depending on which program you choose, you might be eligible for a first-time homebuyer loan even if you've previously owned a home.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s definition of a first-time homebuyer, even people who've owned a home in the past may be eligible for first-time homebuying assistance. They define a first-time homebuyer as any of the following:
If that all seems a bit tough to understand, don't worry – Betsy says the official definition "isn't written in a way that's incredibly easy to understand," so many homebuyers assume they don't qualify based only on the fact that they've owned a home in the past.
In simpler terms, Betsy says HUD's first-time homebuyer definition is designed to make loans, incentives, and financial assistance available to "those who have experienced foreclosure, single parents or stay-at-home partners who only owned a home with a previous spouse, those who only owned a manufactured home, and those who have only owned property that is not a livable principal residence."
Before you count yourself ineligible for first-time homebuyer loans, you should know that not every lender offers the same assistance to everyone who meets HUD's definition.
"Every individual resource has to decide whether they follow the HUD definition or their own definition," Betsy says. Some banks and lenders might not be familiar with it, while others may purposely design their loan programs differently. Whatever the reason, Betsy says, "When looking at a first-time homebuyer resource, it's always good to inquire about how they define a 'first-time homebuyer' to see if you meet the requirements."
Betsy says that TCHFH Lending, Inc., applies the HUD definition of a first-time homebuyer "to the letter" when assessing loan applications, making it a point to understand each buyer's unique situation and determine their loan eligibility from there.
"We want to understand your story," Betsy adds. "What in your background makes you question whether you’re a first-time homeowner?" For example: Did you own a home with your spouse, but now you're divorced? Did you inherit land that wasn't used for a home? Did you own a home within the last three years? All of these questions can help determine your eligibility for a first-time home loan.
TruePath Mortgage, TCHFH Lending, Inc.'s home loan offering, includes many benefits that can make buying a home within reach. When you access a TruePath mortgage, you have no down payment, more flexibility with credit score requirements, homebuyer education, financial assistance, financial coaching, closing cost grants, and more. If you’re questioning whether or not you’re eligible, here’s a quick look at our process.
For information on more homebuying resources in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Homeownership Center's website.
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