Downpayment Options
There are a variety of sources that home buyers may draw on for their down
payment:
- Personal Savings (including IRA's & 401(K)'s)
- Proceeds from the sale of an asset (i.e stocks, bonds, real estate)
- Gift funds from a relative -the lender may require a 20%
down payment if the source of the down payment is exclusively gift funds and
the borrower does not have at least 5% from their personal funds to
contribute.
- Zero down payment or 100%
financing - either a 1st mortgage exclusively or a combination of a 1st
and 2nd mortgage (sometimes referred to as a piggyback mortgage). Many
lenders are shying away from these types of loans, but you have
a solid work & credit history, you may find a loan program(s).
- Low down payment loans without mortgage insurance - what
the industry refers to as an 80-10-10 (an 80% 1st mortgage, 10% 2nd mortgage
& a 10% borrower down payment). Also available is an 80-15-5 (requiring an
80% 1st mortgage, 15% 2nd mortgage & a 5% borrower down payment).
- Borrow your down payment utilizing assets that you
already own. For example borrow against your 401(K) - if your company plan
allows it or borrow against your fully invested stock portfolio (avoiding a
taxable sale and keeping your portfolio fully invested). You may also obtain
a bridge loan against your yet unsold primary residence in order to purchase
a new one.