Dora makes a good point about needing money to buy a home.  There are loan programs available where you don't need much money or even any (VA, USDA, etc.) and you can buy a home for less cash out of pocket than renting. BUT when you buy a home, there will be typically be cosmetic items you want to do to it, things that break and need to be repaired, and things that you'll want to upgrade. Having some money socked away is always a good plan when you're taking on homeownership.

There are several good local lenders that you can talk to who can explain the different financial options that are available to you in this market. If you'd like a referral for a good one, let us know and we can guide you in the right direction!

 

Via Dora Griffin NMLS 6380 (D A Griffin Financial.LLC):

DO I NEED MONEY TO BUY A HOME?

money

I get this a lot, as a loan originator a potential home buyer calls, especially a first time buyer and we discuss what is needed to buy a home. We cover the credit history, the job and income history, record two years of residence history, talk about debt to income ratio, then we get to the savings.

DO I NEED MONEY TO BUY A HOME?

There are several loan programs that do not require a down payment, or one can use a grant program in some cases. So, having a down payment saved is not always necessary, but the question is "Don't you want a safety net?". When you own a home things break once in a while,  having no funds to make repairs can make home ownership not so appealing. Or if you have no savings trading a rent payment for the exact house payment may be less than ideal. 

 

You  may not NEED money to buy a home, but you are going to find it much more comfortable to have a little pad. The best thing to do is when you first think of buying a home, hook up with a loan originator and work through the basics. Then make a plan to save for a down payment or a rainy day. In some instances having some reserves may be the difference between an automated underwriting program accepting the file. 

Everyone wants home buyers to be successful home owners, having some savings is a big part of that. Having some skin in the game is a term we hear a lot these days. Back in the day buying a home was much harder, you had to save for a down payment,  have reserves and perfect credit. We've come a long way to make home ownership more widely available, which is a good thing, don't overlook the value of savings. 

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To list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Anne Arundel or Howard Counties as well as parts of Prince George’s, Calvert, and Montgomery Counties, call Lisa & David Webber, Licensed Realtors® at 410-320-0242.  For more information on our services, please visit our profile or our website.  Find us on google+, and twitter.

To view all the homes available for sale in Maryland, click here for your FREE ListingBook account and search like a Realtor does.

 

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