June is National Homeownership Month

Published on: May 19, 2022

Minneapolis, MN:  We all need a place to live. While renting works for many people, especially short-term, homeownership has a well documented history of major benefits, proving why throughout history so many people are eager to buy a home.

From a place to call home, lay down roots to raise a family, being able to have a dog, and crank up the stereo without being yelled at, to building wealth, nothing beats homeownership.

We all know that real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth. A recent Federal Reserve survey found that the medium net worth of a homeowner is $255,000, compared to the medium net worth of a renter, at just $6,000.

While savings, 401k, and other investments help contribute to net worth, for most, your home is your biggest asset. Not only do you build equity from just making payments (the difference between what you owe and what the home is worth), you also gain equity through value appreciation.

Large Down Payment Myth

The biggest roadblock for most first time home buyers is a lack of down payment. This is compounded by the myth that you need a 20% down payment or more.  That simply has never been the case for the bulk of homebuyers, and really only applies to very expensive homes, which typical first time home buyers are not buying anyway.

Your standard cookie cutter 30-yr fixed loan can start as low as 3% down, and can be even less when you consider down payment assistance programs, or specialty loans, like a VA loan for our military personal, or a USDA rural housing loan for rural properties.  Both of those program allow for a no down payment option.

Numbers for 2021 show:

• 6-7% is the average down payment
• 57% of buyers have a dog
• 40% of buyers have at least one child
• Medium home price for buyers aged 22-30 is $229,000

Are You Ready For A Mortgage?

There are many factors in determining what type of mortgage, if any, you can qualify for. But if you meet these basics, you should probably reach out to your local mortgage broker, complete a full loan application, and let them zero in on all your options.

• Credit: A 620 credit score or higher. The higher the score the better. Can you maybe get a loan with a lower credit score? Maybe, but it gets really hard. Strive for that better score first.
• Job: A stable recent job history. Note that again, against the myth, you only need to be on the current job for two-years if you have variable income, self-employed, commission, etc.
• Assets:  Clearly the more you have saved for down payment the better, but realistically for most people, if you don’t have at least $3,000 saved up, you are probably not ready just yet.

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If you’re ready to learn more about home financing options, … Our team at Cambria Mortgage is here to help! Connect with one of our trusted Mortgage Loan Officers today by calling (651) 552-3681 or visit JoeMetzler.com. We’re here for you!

Cambria Mortgage, the Joe Metzler team lends in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota only.