First-Time Homebuyer

A conventional mortgage is a mortgage that is not insured by a government agency. However, conventional mortgages typically do adhere to rules set forth by the government in the wake of the 2008 housing crisis.

A conventional mortgage is granted through a private firm. Usually, down payments on conventional mortgages are around 5% - 20% of the sale price. Committing more to a down payment lowers the risk of a default on the mortgage loan, which protects both the lender and the lendee, and often lowers the interest rate on the loan. For conventional mortgages with down payments of less than 20%, the lendee is required to purchase private mortgage insurance.

Mortgage insurance comes in two forms. Sometimes, it’s a one-time upfront payment on top of the down payment, and sometimes it’s a smaller additional payment on top of each on-going mortgage payment. It can also be a combination of both.

Because conventional mortgages are insured by private companies which, for the benefit of the economy, must protect their own interests, they typically require higher financial standards from their borrowers. Higher credit scores, incomes, and down payments are typically factored into not only the mortgage rate, but whether the borrower gets the mortgage at all.

If you’re looking for a conventional mortgage, UFirst Credit Union offers competitive first-time home buyer rates, and a streamlined mortgage application process. We can help you get a great loan at a low rate, and we will never sell your loan to another institution.

A conventional mortgage, however, is not the only option for first-time home buyers in Utah. The government offers special insurance on loans that are less stringent in terms of financial requirements. These mortgages can be a great option for anyone in a financial tight spot.

An FHA loan is a mortgage that has been insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The point of an FHA loan is to give lower income consumers the ability to purchase a house.

In 2008, the housing system collapsed as a result of reckless borrowing and lending. Banks would issue loans at promotional rates, with tiny down payments, to people with low income. After the promotional rates ended, and as rates across the board increased, these borrowers all defaulted on their loans in, essentially, one fell swoop.

The result was mass homelessness, unemployment, and trillions of dollars lost in the stock market.

It could have been a lot worse, too. Thankfully, however, in order to cushion the blow from housing crises like that one, the government has been insuring subprime loans since 1934.

The financial requirements for FHA borrowers are looser than conventional mortgages. For example, one’s credit score can be as low as 640. For conventional mortgages, it’s 620. Similarly, the down payment for an FHA mortgage can be as low as 3.5%.

In order to insure the loan, the borrower is charged an upfront fee of 1.75% of the sale price. Then, on the on-going loan payments, an additional monthly premium must be paid. If the down payment on the FHA loan was more than 10%, these premiums can be cancelled after 11 years.

UFirst Credit Union specializes in all kinds of mortgages. We can even help you pre-qualify for an FHA loan!  

A VA loan is similar to a conventional and FHA mortgage in that they’re all issued by private lenders like UFirst Credit Union. However, there are also a number of key differences between VA loans and other types of mortgages.

VA loans are only available to U.S. military veterans or active duty personnel. As such, they offer a number of benefits that are not available to conventional or FHA mortgage holders. First, VA loans are guaranteed by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. Because they’re backed by a government agency, there’s no need for additional mortgage insurance.

There’s a minimum credit score of 620 and, often, no required down payment making VA loans some of the most affordable and easiest loans for which to qualify.

Some of the drawbacks include the VA funding fee. The amount of the fee paid will depend on how big the down payment was: 2.15% if the down payment was 0%; 1.5% if the down payment was 5% to 9%; and 1.25% if the down payment was 10% or higher. These fees help to keep the system stable by protecting lenders who expose themselves to additional risk.

If you’re a veteran without the income, credit score, or savings needed for a conventional mortgage, your country has your back! We can help you secure the VA loan that can help you achieve homeownership. 

UFirst Credit Union would like to thank all veterans and active duty personnel for their service. If you’re a veteran looking to buy a house, UFCU is here to offer you all of the resources and guidance you need. Apply for a VA loan today with UFCU!

The general rule is that your credit score should be above 620 in order to buy a house. However, this rule is flexible for those applying for FHA or VA loans.

A person with a credit score in the upper 500s will have a higher rate than someone that has a credit score in the lower 700s, which means a higher monthly payment. And it could be the difference of hundreds of dollars a month. On top of the rate, you also have mortgage insurance to consider. Mortgage insurance is the payment given to lenders for taking on the risk of a mortgage with a low down payment. Your mortgage insurance is also determined by credit score and will be less for those with a better score. 

If you’re looking to buy a home soon, it’s important to get familiar with your credit score as soon as possible. Do you have a good credit score (typically around 680 or better) or does it need some work? If you want to get it higher, here are a few tips for improving your score.

Credit score plays a big role in buying a house. To maintain a good credit score to buy a house, make your payments on time. Late payments can have a very negative effect on your score.

Pay off your debts as well. You don’t need to remove all your debt but the better debt-to-income ratio you have, the better your credit score will be so that you can buy a house.

Establish a credit history. Having no credit history can be almost as bad as no credit. If you need some credit history, it might be time to think about getting a small loan or credit card that you can make payments on. This allows lenders to see a history of on-time payments and makes you less of a risk.

UFirst Credit Union offers competitive rates for all types of mortgages! If you’re unsure of where to begin, get in touch with one of our experienced mortgage consultants and we’ll get your journey to home ownership started!

When you speak with one of our mortgage consultants, we’ll go over your budget and find a monthly mortgage payment that is comfortable for you. We will also review your current credit standing to determine where we can improve it in order to help you get the best rates and the lowest costs. With a pre-approval letter in hand, you can begin shopping with your realtor.

Once you have found your dream home, we will guide you through every step of the appraisal, inspection, and closing processes. This includes breaking down all of the costs associated with your purchase, including down payments, closing costs and escrow setup.

We want to make sure that your first-time home buying experience is a positive experience. We do this by staying in constant communication with you throughout the process and by actively ensuring you are well-prepared for every step.