Are These Home Buying Myths Preventing You From Making a Move?

Today, I’d like to address two common misconceptions people tend to have about purchasing a home in our market.

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Today I’m joined once again by Frank Blakely of Bay Equity Home Loans to talk about a question that arose while talking to some of my clients: “How am I going to get into the Southern California market?”

According to Frank, this concern actually arises as a result of two common misconceptions people have regarding the home purchase process.

The first misconception is that you need to put 20% down to secure a home. The truth is that you can put down as little as 3% to qualify for a conventional loan under $450,300. In high-cost areas of California, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac allow people to secure conventional loans up to $679,650 for just 5% down. For that same price range, people in these same areas can obtain an FHA loan with as little as 3.5% down.

While it’s preferable to have a higher credit score when purchasing a home, it’s certainly possible to qualify with a lower one

People often think it’s better to wait and save up money, but by the time they have a higher down payment saved, home prices may have also risen.

The second misconception people often have is that you must have a perfect credit score to purchase a home. It’s true that a higher credit score will earn you a better rate, but there are absolutely options for people with lower scores. For example, you can still qualify for an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 580. For a conventional loan, your score can be as low as 620. So, while it’s preferable to have a higher score, it’s certainly possible to qualify with a lower one.

If you have any other lending questions for Frank, feel free to give him a call at (949) 433-0539. And, as always, if you have any other questions or would like more information about real estate, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.