Most buyers are too preoccupied with finding the perfect property to grasp the ins and outs of obtaining adequate financing. by entrusting those information to their lender’s representative. Let’s take a look at some different sorts of loans so you can figure out how much money you’ll need to put down on a house in Chicago.

Conventional Loan

Starting with the most basic as implied by its name, the conventional loan is what most people think of when discussing mortgages.

They often have higher credit score requirements, starting at 620, as well as a bare minimum of a 3% down payment, however these requirements vary per lender.

If your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s closing price, your lender will require Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, as with most home loans. The goal of this insurance is to protect the lender from financial damages if you default on your loan.

As the property’s mortgagor, PMI serves no purpose other than to increase your monthly payments until you reach the crucial 20% loan-to-value ratio.

FHA Loan

At first glance, the FHA loan may seem very similar to a conventional loan, but there are a few key differences.

The Federal Housing Administration, primarily the Federal Housing Administration, insures FHA loans. Due to the improved loan security, FHA loan requirements for purchasing a home in Chicago are less stringent, requiring only a 500 credit score and a 10% down payment.

The minimum down payment scales alongside your credit score, which distinguishes the FHA loan from others. Simply said, the lesser your minimal down payment, the better your credit score.

A credit score of 580 would be required to move up to the next tier, allowing a buyer to make a 3.5 percent down payment. The disadvantage of an FHA loan is that the FHA mortgage insurance premiums, as well as a 1.75 percent startup cost, are passed on to you as the owner.

VA Loan

A VA loan is a loan provided through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for qualifying former and active-duty military personnel.

This may appear to be an easy task on the surface, but it is critical that you call your local VA office to confirm your eligibility for a VA loan before committing to a lender. The reason for this caution is because unscrupulous lenders have been targeting military personnel for years, and you don’t want to be the next victim.

VA loans, on the other hand, are a dream because they offer 100 percent financing (no money down), no PMI, and lower interest rates. On the negative side, there is a one-time setup cost that can be postponed and applied to your monthly payments.

We strongly encourage those that qualify to take full advantage of their VA loan when buying a house in Chicago with We Buy Houses.

USDA Loan

Created as part of the New Deal legislation in 1937, the USDA loan originated to assist rural communities and farm owners.

USDA loans are now mostly used to maintain and, in some cases, foster growth in rural areas. Given this focus on a specific type of American life, it’s no wonder that USDA loans are geographically restricted.

The first important step is to buy a property in a qualified location, despite the fact that there is no down payment and credit score requirements of roughly 640. There are costs both upfront and annually, similar to the FHA loan, however the annual fee cannot exceed 0.5 percent of the borrower’s outstanding unpaid balance.

Help Exploring Lending Options When Buying a House in Chicago

If you’re looking for help examining your lending options and down payment requirements when buying a house in Chicago, contact us today at Sell My House Fast!