How to Buy a House With Low Income

By Bill Lyons | Published on August 31, 2023

Are you wondering how to buy a house with low income? Buying a house with a low income can be a significant challenge, particularly with existing mortgage requirements and the competitive nature of the housing market. On the other hand, low income houses are available, and income-based loans can make it easier for people with fewer assets to purchase real estate.

In this post, we’ll tell you what you need to know about low income home loans and what resources are available to make the process of buying a home just a bit easier. Read on to learn about your options when it comes to buying a house with low income.

Low Income Home Loans

While many people are used to going through a conventional lender, you must be familiar with all of your loan options. Depending on your background, you may qualify for one or more of the loans below, which can make it easier for people to save up enough money to purchase a house.

VA Loans

If you are a member of the military or a qualifying veteran, you may qualify for a VA loan. This is a loan that is guaranteed by the US Department of Veteran Affairs, and it offers a number of advantages for people with low incomes.

For example, you don’t have to worry about putting any money down. While you are still welcome to do so, you may not have to save up as much money for a down payment, which makes it easier for you to make your dreams of homeownership come true.

While there is a VA funding fee, you do not have to worry about paying private mortgage insurance, as the loan is backed by the VA. A VA loan generally has lower credit score requirements as well, so if your credit is suboptimal, you may still qualify for a VA loan.

FHA Loans

Another option you may want to explore is called an FHA loan, which is insured by the Federal Housing Administration. If you are a qualifying first-time home buyer, you may want to explore the possibility of an FHA loan.

One of the top benefits of FHA loans is that they allow borrowers to secure financing with as little as 3.5% down. FHA loans also have more lenient credit score and credit history requirements, which means you may qualify for financing even if your credit is not perfect.

Closing costs are another significant hurdle that many buyers have to face, and an FHA loan generally has lower closing costs, which can reduce the upfront expense tied to purchasing a home.

USDA Loans

A USDA loan is a type of home financing that is backed by the US Department of Agriculture, and it has been designed to promote the development of rural areas. If you have a low income and you qualify for a USDA loan, you may not have to put any money down. Without having to worry about saving tens of thousands of dollars for a down payment, it may be easier for you to afford a house.

USDA loans generally have lower interest rates than other loan types. When compared to conventional loans, this could save you money on your mortgage payment and lead to less interest paid throughout the life of the loan. The credit requirements are also more flexible with a USDA loan, so if your credit score is not high enough to qualify for a conventional mortgage, you may want to consider this option.

Asset-Based Loans

Getting a loan with no job or source of traditional income can be a challenge, but an asset-based loan can be a solution if you have qualifying assets. With an asset-based loan, you can avoid going through the traditional income verification process and instead qualify for a loan using your money market accounts, investment accounts, bank accounts, or certificates of deposit (CDs).

Many people who don’t earn a regular or traditional income—whether they’re a retiree or freelancer or business owner—can struggle to qualify for a conventional loan. An asset-based loan makes it possible to qualify for a mortgage despite your income by enabling your existing assets to work for you.

Conventional Loans

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer programs to help with homeownership affordability. FNMA offers HomeReady and FHLMC offers Home Possible.

With the HomeReady mortgage program, home buyers can take advantage of lower down payment and mortgage insurance requirements, thus lowering the upfront and ongoing costs associated with homeownership. To qualify for the HomeReady mortgage program, borrowers must have a credit score of at least 620 and earn no more than 80% of the area median income (AMI) where the property is located. Borrowers may also have to attend homeownership education courses and prove that they don’t own additional residences in order to qualify.

The Home Possible mortgage program, offered by Freddie Mac, boasts benefits that are similar to the HomeReady program. Those who qualify for the Home Possible program can put down as little as three percent on a home, enjoy more flexible underwriting guidelines, and get certain home buying fees lowered.

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How to Buy a House With a Low Income: 5 Tips

Clearly, there are plenty of loan options available for those interested in buying a house, from traditional mortgages to Non-QM loans. Now, you need to make sure you maximize the benefits of these options, and that means following a few of the tips below that can help you make your homeownership dreams come true.

Build up your credit score

Even if you can qualify for a home loan with a lower credit score, it is always better to maximize your credit score before applying for a loan. The higher your credit score is, the more favorable your loan terms will be. For example, you may qualify for a lower interest rate, which could save you a significant amount of money over the life of your loan.

You can increase your credit score by correcting any inaccuracies on your credit report before qualifying for a home loan. You should also pay your bills on time, pay off debts, and lower your credit utilization rate to improve your credit score over time.

Pay off debt

To buy a house with low income, you will also need to work hard to pay off any existing debt that you have. Before qualifying you for a home loan, a lender will ask what other sources of debt you have. Common examples include credit card debt, student loan debt, and car loans.

If you are already carrying a lot of debt, it will make it harder for a lender to qualify you for a mortgage. Therefore, make every effort to pay off your existing loans, which will give you more room to take on a mortgage. This will lower your debt-to-income ratio, which could help you qualify for a lower interest rate as well.

Save money for a down payment

Even if the loan does not require you to put any money down, you may still want to save money for a down payment. Housing prices during inflation have been going up, and you need to make every effort to keep your monthly payment as low as possible. One of the easiest ways to do so is to put more money down.

If you put more money down upfront, you don’t need to take out as big of a loan, which means there is less money to pay back. This could also reduce the risk you pose to the lender, which could help you qualify for a lower interest rate.

Get pre-approved

The housing market is particularly competitive right now, but if you secure mortgage pre-approval, sellers will often take your offer more seriously. Getting pre-approved means that a lender has preemptively agreed to finance your housing purchase, so a seller can have more confidence that your loan application will get approved after making an offer.

Getting pre-approved is also important because it will give you a budget with which to work. A lender will generally approve you for a home loan up to a certain amount of money, which will help you narrow down your search.

Look into mortgage assistance programs

If you still need help qualifying for a mortgage, there are several mortgage assistance programs available. For example, you might see if you qualify for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. This is a federal home buying assistance program that can provide financial assistance to low-income buyers looking to purchase their first home.

Many states also have programs that can help low-income buyers purchase a home or provide mortgage assistance to existing homeowners. Make sure to research the mortgage assistance programs in the state or county where you plan on purchasing a home to see if you qualify.

Start on the Path to Homeownership

Even if your income is relatively low, there are ways to make the prospect of owning a home more affordable. At Griffin Funding, we are proud to offer a variety of financing options, and our options can make it easier for you to afford a home. We are confident we have a loan package for you as well.

We would love to talk about our options with you, so contact us today to schedule a consultation and let us help you start on the path to homeownership.

Bill Lyons

Bill Lyons is the Founder, CEO & President of Griffin Funding. Founded in 2013, Griffin Funding is a national boutique mortgage lender focusing on delivering 5-star service to its clients. Mr. Lyons has 22 years of experience in the mortgage business. Lyons is seen as an industry leader and expert in real estate finance. Lyons has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Wall Street Journal, HousingWire, and more. As a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Lyons is able to keep up with important changes in the industry to deliver the most value to Griffin's clients. Under Lyons' leadership, Griffin Funding has made the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list five times in its 10 years in business.