Down Payment Assistance - St Louis Real Estate News

St. Louis Ranks 9th Lowest for Average Down Payments among Top 50 U.S. Metros

By Dennis Norman, on November 14th, 2023

In the world of real estate, down payments have emerged as a significant financial factor for homebuyers across the United States, and St. Louis is no exception. A recent report from LendingTree sheds light on the dynamics of down payments, and it’s essential for prospective buyers and sellers in St. Louis to understand how the local market fares in this regard.

St. Louis Down Payment Statistics:

St. Louis ranks 42nd out of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas in terms of average down payments. This ranking places it 9th in terms of the lowest down payment amount in the 50 Continue Reading →

Down payment Assistance Programs Cover All of Buyers Downpayment In Most St Louis Areas

By Dennis Norman, on June 9th, 2016

There are a variety of down payment assistance providers in the St Louis area where a qualifying home buyer can obtain assistance with their downpayment to buy a home. According to a report just released today by RealtyTrac, the average amount of down payment assistance covers the typical down payment on a median priced home in 4 out of five of the St Louis Counties that make up the core market, with St Charles County being the only exception. As the table below shows, in St Charles County the average down payment assistance of $5,000 falls short of the typical downpayment on a median priced home of $6,150 but still covers most of it. In the other 4 counties the down payment is more than covered. Continue Reading →

St Louis Area Homes Are Affordable-Down payment Assistance Can Make Even More So

By Dennis Norman, on June 26th, 2015

St Louis area homes are already affordable based upon the relationship between the median home price and median income for the area, but can become even more affordable when home buyers take advantage of down payment assistance programs that are available throughout the area. Continue Reading →

Down Payment Help Available For Most Homes

By Dennis Norman, on February 4th, 2015

Down payment help is available for 87 percent of the homes in the U.S., according to an analysis completed recently by RealtyTrac and Down Payment Resource. This analysis looked at the geographic location of homes to see if they were within areas where down payment assistance are available to purchasers meeting the qualifications of the program. Continue Reading →

St Louis Mortgage Rate Update; Cash-To-Close must be Seasoned and come from the Proper Source

By Robert Fishel, on May 2nd, 2012

Whatever funds the borrower intends to use to close a transaction has to be sourced and seasoned. Providing proper asset documentation and the actual source of the funds is a critical element of the approval and closing process. There’s nothing worse in a real estate purchase than making it all the way through the hoops and hurdles of the approval process just to have a loan fall apart due to the borrower not using an acceptable source of funds in order to close. In other words, “Mattress Money” is no longer a legitimate source. Continue Reading →

St. Louis Mortgage Rate Update; Forgivable down-payment assistance loan available for first-time homebuyers

By Dennis Norman, on January 11th, 2012

First-time home buyers receive a forgivable 3% cash assistance loan for down payment and closing costs. The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) provides a competitive interest rate on a safe 30-year fixed rate 1st mortgage. Your 3% advance loan is treated as a 2nd mortgage and is completely forgivable after five years of continuous occupancy. MHDC will have the monies available for the borrowers regardless of bond issuance through Constant Funding. Continue Reading →

FHA Expected to Announce Further Policy Changes to Address Risk and Strengthen Finances; St. Louis Mortgage Watch

By Robert Fishel, on August 11th, 2010

In the next few days, look for FHA to implement further changes to strengthen its financial situation. An audit in late 2009 showed that the capital ratio of its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF) had fallen below its statutorily mandated threshold. Over the past few months, FHA has raised premiums on its FHA insurance, prohibited seller-financed down payment assistance, stepped up enforcement of its regulations, tightened appraisal rules, banned several lenders from writing FHA guaranteed loans and brought suit against others.

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