Ever been through the actual process of buying a home? It’s as hard as competing in the Olympics. There are people to deal with, paperwork full of jargon to read and fill, and fees to pay. Reading through the jargon may make you feel like you want to just skip over and sign the papers. That may sound as easy as skiing downhill, but it may ruin your financial future or just make it an uphill task. It will, therefore, be in your best interest to consider the homebuyer programs listed below. They could make your financial future be as you imagined it.

FHA

If you have a credit history that is not very firm or it is just your first time to buy a house, this is the program to choose. The Federal Housing Administration guarantee a portion of the mortgage for you. That makes it affordable to most Americans. The FHA backing gets you loans that go as low as 3.5%. Start at the HUD.gov website, they have a list of local FHA lenders.

VA

If you are a service member, a veteran, or surviving source of a military member, the US Department of Veterans can help you buy a home. This program is quite generous and depending on their evaluation, you may not even be required to pay a deposit or to have mortgage insurance. As you would expect, this military program is designed to work more on accuracy, than speed.

USDA

Do you live in rural America? Well, the US Department of Agriculture assists people in rural America to buy homes. It offers 100% financing through lenders by offering them mortgage guarantees. There are however minimum income qualifications that you need to meet.

Home Upgrade Programs

Do you have more money to spend? If you do, you can have a bigger home. The following programs offer you that option.

I. The Energy Efficient Mortgage program

This program awards you their support by offering you green energy mortgage benefits. All you need to do is improve your home by installing green energy sources. They will then allow your lender to change your loan limits based on energy efficiency improvement. You do not have to make any other financial obligations.

II. HUD 203(k) loans

These loans are for you if you want to improve your home to increase its overall value. They evaluate the improvement you want to make to determine the final value of your house. They then allow you to borrow more funds to make those improvements based on their evaluation of your property. You then make the payment as part of your main mortgage.

Good Neighbor Next Door

This program started as the Teacher Next Door Program. However, it later expanded to include firefighters, medical technicians, and law enforcement officers. That necessitated the change its first name. You will get a 50% discount on account that you commit to living in that house for 36 months. These homes are located in revitalized areas. They are also listed for only seven days in the Good Neighbor Next Door’s website.

Dollar Homes

HUD offers one dollar homes. These homes are acquired by FHA through foreclosures. There are so few of them, and they are listed on their website. We checked them out and found one listed for $17,900. That means you have to be very careful in your search.

Fannie and Freddie

These are government sanctioned companies that offer mortgage with as little as a 3% down payment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac work with local lenders to offer incredible rates.

Other Options

You will find more links to more affordable home loans in the Department of Housing and Urban Development website. There are many local and state governments that offer loan assistance to home buyers.

If you are looking for an affordable option to own a home, your solution lies in the above resources. They will give you low interest rates and you may get a bargain if you buy a house closer to where you live. They could even help you have an opening ceremony for your new home.

Perhaps you are looking for ways to invest in foreclosed homes to make more money? Foreclosure homes are very good way to invest and can often be bought at greatly reduced prices. As a seasoned investor you wold know that you need to be cautious how and where you invest your hard earned dollars.

It would be unwise to go ahead and purchase the first foreclosed home you come across. It would be wiser of you to take time to research the market and find the right foreclosure, the one that’s guaranteed to give you a good return for your time, effort, and money.

When it comes to finding the ideal investment foreclosure, there are a number of things that you will want to consider. First, you’ll want to look specifically for low-cost foreclosures. Many real estate foreclosures are sold at auctions, but there are many lenders who prefer to resell their holdings on the “traditional” real estate market, at a discounted price well below the current market value.

To maximize your chances of finding that perfect foreclosed home, you need to consider major risk factors to reduce your exposure. There are numerous sources of information available to the astute investor, including online listing services, real estate agents in your area, county clerk offices, local and national newspaper classified advertisements, and good old word of mouth advertising.

After you have researched the real estate market and compiled the list of potential foreclosed properties, the next step would be to get a good idea of the condition of each property. That would enable you to get an estimate for total repair costs. If you can, organize an internal inspection with your real estate agent but an external inspection will suffice if something prevents you from being there.

Bear in mind the fact that the lowest priced foreclosure homes generally require a considerable amount of work. It’s not as easy as many of the HGTV shows would like you to believe. But it is possible to purchase those properties at greatly reduced prices but you will definitely have to take into consideration the cost of repairs when bidding for those properties at an auction or when negotiating with the real estate agent.

Regardless of whether you have decided to keep the property and rent it out, or flip it for a quick profit, you will no doubt need to find interested buyers or long term tenants. So, before buying the foreclosed property, you will have to look at the home from the buyer’s or renter’s perspective.

Does it have good curb appeal? Does it have a separate outbuilding on the property for wood workers or those into DIY auto repair? Is the garage floor covered in permanent stains from an oil or transmission fluid leak? Is it in the right location, close to shops, restaurants, or even a Great Clips? Is there noise from a nearby freeway? These considerations are important and it can make a difference between profit and loss in the long term.

When buying foreclosure homes, one of the most important considerations is your instinct… your gut feeling. Use your best judgment in this situation and if the figures stack up, the property looks good, but your gut tells you to run, then do so. After you have a couple deals under your belt, this will get easier.

But if something about a home just doesn’t feel right, let it go and look for another foreclosed property that meets your criteria. You will eventually find the right one if you’re patient. Foreclosed homes that are purchased at the right price will realize some great future profits for the diligent investor.

Owning your own home is a wonderful, if sometimes intimidating, experience. It you’re buying your first home, the experience can be even more exciting but intimidating all at the same time. Owning a home is normally the most expensive asset a person may have and it helps any person feel much more a stalwart member of the community.

Real estate agents sometimes mention that it’s easy for them, as they drive down a street, to point out rentals as opposed to owner-occupied homes. The former simply don’t show the care. The lawns are frequently improperly cared for, the overall appearance just doesn’t show the care a homeowner lavishes on the residence that fills a person with the pride of ownership.

Unfortunately, unless we’re having a home constructed to order, most homes are built following a pretty standard set of rules. The width of corridors, doorways, the height of counters and cabinets, all these are normally of a standard measure.

But for those of us who are physically disabled, many of the standard features of every home can be more than a challenge; some can make it impossible for the new owner to enjoy the full benefits of home ownership. Even those who are not wheelchair bound still would appreciate some of the tips below. After a severe car accident that left my neck in severe pain, I was forced to use a cervical traction device multiple times a day. Needless to say, I understood for a short period of time how difficult common tasks could be.

If you’re confined to a wheelchair, stairs are of course, out of the question, although it is quite possible to have a stairwell elevator installed. In the kitchen the counters may be uncomfortably high, and the kitchen sink is for adults who can stand on two feet and look down into them. Here below are listed some installations to consider for a disabled person who intends to buy a home.

The Kitchen and Bathroom

We should consider the height of kitchen cabinets. Those below the counters may be easily accessible, but those above are often even too high for average homeowners to reach in comfort. Now is the time to consider whether this would be a serious problem.

It’s important too, to consider the placement of appliances in the kitchen. Normally, in more modern kitchens, appliances are placed in a way that makes working in the kitchen convenient, but in many older homes, these designs had not been so well thought out. Some homes predate the arrival of modern refrigerators, so we find them in an odd location, sometimes not even in the same room as the range and kitchen sink. When we’re confined to a wheelchair, convenience is a major concern.

The bathroom too may have cabinets for storage of towels, etc. Some cabinets could make difficult if not impossible for a disabled person to reach in and remove towels or tissues, etc. It’s important too, that the knobs or pulls on cabinets and drawers be easily within reach and that these doors operate easily and smoothly. There is nothing more frustrating than a cabinet door that sticks.

Is it easy to get in and out of the bath or shower easily? In some homes, a walk-in or sometimes a roll-in shower may be available where a bath chair may allow the disabled person to shower in comfort. While there are tubs with doors making entry and exit easy, they would appear to present problems of their own and the homeowner should give the matter serious thought before going to the extra expense. Sturdy handrails around baths, toilets and perhaps other areas in the home can be an extremely helpful safety aid, even for those who are not wheelchair bound but nevertheless use a cane or walker and have difficulty with balance.

Hallways and Stairs

Many homes have hallways that do not consider wheelchairs. In some older homes, a wider hallway may be found, but in today’s homes, most hallways are barely three feet wide. While this may allow the passage of a wheelchair, the hallways must be kept clear of furniture and other objects at all times. It is important of course, for the disabled person to get from room to room without constant difficulties.

As to stairways, these can be impossible for some. But even for those who are mobile, a staircase can present a formidable challenge. Sturdy railings are of course vital. A fall on stairs can be life-threatening. As mentioned above, stair lifts are available, but these too, like the walk-in baths, can be costly extra expenses for the new homeowner.

Exterior Concerns

A disabled homeowner doesn’t want to negotiate a long arduous trip, especially one encumbered by steps, to get from the garage to the entrance of the home. Just getting from the vehicle to the door of the home shouldn’t try the owner’s patience and wear a person out.

Therefore, it’s important to consider any steps between the garage and the entrance to the home. If the entry is from within the garage, there still may be at least one step to hurdle before gaining entry.

Lighting and Switches

Another consideration that may easily be overlooked is the height and location of lights and light switches as well as electrical outlets. It’s important that the disabled owner be able to reach all of these without too much trouble. It’s hard enough for those with debilitating back pain to figure out the best way to sleep with lower back pain, and not having a light switch within easy reach after getting in bed is one of the worst feelings. Even smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide detectors should be located within easy reach of the homeowner.

The home should have adequate indoor lighting. Rooms that lack sufficient lighting can be dangerous for a disabled person who may not clearly see obstacles in the way.

It the homeowner relies on a land line, it’s important to have plenty of phone jacks installed so that any room can be used to make a telephone call, especially in an emergency. Fortunately, these days most of us have a cell phone that is handy to keep on our person at all times.

It’s a good idea to know the distance to the homes of neighbors and the distance medical personnel would have to travel to the home, and it’s also import to consider making it as easy as possible for medical help to get to the owner when necessary. Another extra but perhaps worthwhile expense would be to have an alarm that one wears at all times, alerting a company of an emergency. This can be especially important if the homeowner lives alone. The more access a disabled person has to assistance the better.