The 3% Down Loan Most Buyers Miss (Beats FHA & Conventional)

The 3% Down Loan Most Buyers Miss

It beats normal Conventional rates and costs less every month
πŸ’° 3% down with better pricing than standard conventional
πŸ“‰ Lower rates than standard Conventional loans in most cases
🏠 Cheaper PMI than FHA (and no upfront fee)
βœ… Income limits unlock the savings You might be thinking income limits sound like a bad thing - but they're actually your ticket to better pricing.

What Are HomeReady & HomePossible?

They're conventional loans with better pricing
βœ… Conventional loan - Backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Not FHA or VA. These are conventional loans.
🎯 Income-qualified - Must be at or below 80% AMI
πŸ’° Reward for qualifying - Lower rates and PMI than standard conventional Maybe you've been told you can't afford to buy, or that you're stuck with expensive FHA. This changes that.

HomeReady vs HomePossible vs Standard Conventional

Down Payment
Rate vs Standard
PMI Cost
Income Limit
HomeReady (Fannie Mae)
3%
~0.50% lower
Cheaper
80% AMI
HomePossible (Freddie Mac)
3%
~0.50% lower
Cheaper
80% AMI
Standard Conventional
3%
Standard pricing
Standard PMI
None
Example comparison only | Not an offer to lend HomeReady and HomePossible are basically the same loan - one's Fannie Mae, one's Freddie Mac.

Why HomeReady/HomePossible Beats FHA

πŸ’΅ No upfront mortgage insurance - FHA charges 1.75% upfront ($5,250 on a $300k loan)
πŸ“Š Lower monthly PMI
πŸ”“ PMI drops off - Cancellable at 80% LTV FHA is permanent on 3.5% down, so you're stuck with it.
πŸ’° Better interest rates - Typically 0.25%-0.50% lower than FHA You might be worried that qualifying is harder - but if you meet the income limits, this is actually easier to afford long-term.
πŸ† More attractive to sellers - Conventional offers are often preferred over FHA Sellers see FHA as more hassle with stricter appraisal requirements. Conventional can give you an edge in competitive markets.

🏑 Ready To Get Pre-Approved?

We help buyers in 49 states β€’ Soft credit pull β€’ Fast turnaround
πŸ‘‰ Start at winthehouseyoulove.com

The Income Limit Game (And How To Win It)

Understanding AMI

AMI = Area Median Income for your county
  • You must make ≀ 80% of your county's median income
  • This is qualifying income, only the income on the loan This is where most people think they're disqualified - but there are strategies.
  • Varies by location Higher in expensive areas, lower in rural.

Strategies To Qualify

🏠 Only one spouse on the loan
  • Both on title = both own the home
  • Only one on the loan = only their income counts toward the limit You might be thinking this sounds like cheating the system - it's not. It's completely legitimate.
  • Great for dual-income couples where one person's income alone qualifies
πŸ’Ό Selective income inclusion
  • Bonus and commission - We don't have to use it if it hurts your AMI
  • Overtime - Can be excluded if not required for qualification
  • Part-time income - Optional to include You're probably worried you'll be stuck just over the limit - we have ways to work with that.
πŸ” Digital asset verification
  • Uses read-only bank account access instead of statements
  • Faster verification process These aren't loopholes you're exploiting - they're program features designed specifically to help buyers like you.

One More Thing: Credit Score Floor Removed

Big Change

🎯 620 minimum used to be the hard floor for HomeReady/HomePossible
βœ… Now available below 620 with approved automated underwriting Maybe you thought your credit score ruled you out - this opens the door.
πŸ’‘ Makes these loans even more accessible than before

⏰ But What About All The Other Requirements?

You know income limits and down payment - but what about debt-to-income, credit score specifics, and documentation? My conventional loan requirements video breaks down everything you need to qualify.
πŸ‘‰ Watch next: Conventional Loan Requirements