100% Loan Programs

Many buyers that I talk to want to buy a home with as little initial investment as possible.  When you buy a home the initial investment consists of earnest deposit, down payment, closing costs and pre-paids.

One way to lower these cost is to utilize loan programs which require little or no down payment.  There are several options for a 100% loan.  Keep in mind, you must qualify for these programs.

1) VA  If you are a veteran, you may qualify for this loan.  This is an excellent benefit!  There is 0 down payment required!  There is an up front funding fee but no monthly mortgage insurance so your payment is fairly equivalent to an FHA loan with 3.5% down!

2)  NIFA HBA  (Nebraska Investment Finance Authority - Home Buyer’s Assistance)  This is for a first time home buyer or someone who has not owned a home in the last 3 years.  There are purchase price and income maximums as well.  This loan pairs with an FHA or CONV loan.  The down payment is covered by a 2nd loan which is at a very low rate amortized over 7 years.  You must have a minimum investment of $500 for an FHA loan and $1000 for a CONV loan.  See www.nifa.org for more information.

3)  USDA  This is a 100% loan program for homes in rural areas.  There are income maximums.  The buyer must take a home buyer’s education course.   This is a great fit for those who want to live in a smaller town and don’t have a down payment.  Our Eagle area qualifies for this type of financing. See www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne

4)  We don’t have a 100% loan, but when you buy a Hartland Home, you can save a lot on your initial costs!  We pay up to 2% of your closing costs (ave. of $2500).  Also, when you purchase a new home, if you don’t make too much money, you may qualify for an impact fee rebate.  This rebate is credited directly towards your down payment reducing the amount of money you need at closing!  Maximum rebate at this time is approximately $4600!

$8,000 For All

Time is running out to get the $8,000 tax credit for buying a home....but with Hartland Homes' promotion $8,000 For All you can still cash in! Contract to build a new Hartland Home during the month of October and receive $8,000 towards new home upgrades and points and closing costs. You don't have to be a first time home buyer or close by November 30, 2009! Call a Hartland Homes agent today to learn more about this incredible promotion. (402-477-6668)

*completed homes are not eligible

Lincoln 3rd most affordable for first-time homebuyers!

"Lincoln ranks high for first-time homebuyers" is the headline for an article in the Lincoln Journal Star today. According to a study done of median incomes versus home prices, a Lincoln zip code ranks 3rd in the U.S. This is no surprise to me. Lincoln's prices were never too far out of whack. One of the main reasons for the housing market crashing was prices being so inflated in places such as California, Arizona, Las Vegas and Florida. 5 years ago, you could not get a reasonable price for a home in these areas. Why? Lots of demand (high population), very little supply and in some areas this supply was due to land shortage.

My friends moved to California several years ago. In order to get a new home, they had to put their name into a lottery system and see if they were drawn. Then they had to take the home that was available... no choosing your lot, your style or colors. You were just lucky to get a new home. In addition to that, these homes were all over 1/2 million! Seems outrageous here in Lincoln, NE, doesn't it? That is exactly my point. Even when home sales where at their strongest, our prices still didn't sky rocket out of control. This is one reason why Nebraska is #50 in foreclosures (at the bottom). Another reason is our good old fashioned common sense about spending.

Yes, Lincoln is a very affordable place to buy your first home. Today, it is even more affordable with the $8000 tax credit and NIFA's ABC loan which covers your down payment until you get your $8000 from Uncle Sam. Hartland Homes has been and still is Lincoln's mos affordable builder, we also give you the most value for your money. If you are thinking about buying a home, you owe it to yourself to check us out before you buy! http://www.hartlandhomes.com/

Looking at foreclosures? Read this first.

Are you considering a foreclosure? Their rock bottom prices may be enticing but watch out for the hidden costs hassles. The true sales price may be much higher than you thought! When you compare the foreclosed home to a brand new Hartland Home, it is easy to see why a brand new home just makes more sense.

Consider these items when looking at a foreclosed home:

1. Cost: The foreclosed home’s purchase price may be less in the beginning, but consider all the repairs and fix-up costs. Add the repair costs to the purchase price for the true price of the home.
2. Warranty: This home will have no warranties, you get it AS IS. Generally, a home that has gone into foreclosure wasn’t taken care of properly. The former residents knew they were moving and not going to pay for it, nor sell it, so they had no reason to properly care for it. TIP: Make sure you get a whole house inspection on any used home you buy.
   *Hartland Homes provides a 10 year warranty on all their homes and that is just 1 of many warranties we provide!
3. Health: Health hazards such as mold, pet dander, bug infestations or other items may be present in the foreclosed home.
4. Style: A foreclosed home comes AS IS; it may have out-dated styles, layout and colors.
5. Repairs: Repair costs cannot be rolled into your mortgage and must be paid for in addition to your house payment, utility bills and insurance.
6. Taxes: Just because you paid below market price doesn’t mean your property taxes will reflect that. Most likely you will be paying taxes, which are fully assessed, on the amount the home is worth, not the price you paid.
   *Did you know that when you build and purchase a Hartland Home, your taxes won’t be fully assessed for at least a year? That could save you over $1,800 your first year!
7. Choices: There are limited homes available for below market price and a complex bidding process which makes them hard to buy if you do find one you like!
   *Hartland Homes has over 25 different floor plans in 5 different communities and you get to choose your options and colors.

Opportunity Knocks for Home Buyers

Courtesy of National Association of Home Builders

For those whose homeownership hopes have been dampened or temporarily derailed by the housing downturn and economic recession - the people wondering if this is a good time to buy - the answer is simple: Yes. It's a very good time to buy.
Today's market, coupled with a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers, near-record low mortgage interest rates and ample inventory, provides an unprecendented window of opportunity for qualified prospective home buyers. In fact, there may never be another buyer's market as good as today's.

In landmark economic stimulus legislation, Congress has provided an outstanding opportunity for first-time home buyers with enactment of an $8,000 tax credit for single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000. Partial credits of less than $8,000 are available for individual taxpayers with incomes up to $95,000 and for married taxpayers with incomes up to $170,000.
But time is of the essence to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Only homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009 are eligible for the tax credit.

For more information check out the official website: http:\\www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com or call Hartland Homes 477-6668.

Renting is NOT Your Only Option!

I know you are worried that your credit isn't good enough or you don't have enough money to buy a home...however, at Hartland Homes we can show you how to overcome these issues, stop renting and own a brand new home of your very own!
HOW??
1) Credit issues: We have a credit repair program that is helping people improve their credit within just 30 days! Did you know that only 35% of your credit score is based on payment history? That means you can improve your score by concentrating on the other 65% of how your credit is scored. This is great news!
2) Need money for down payment? There are several ways to solve this issue.
First, some of our homeowners have been able to file their tax returns early and use the federal housing tax credit for a down payment. NIFA lets you actually borrow the money until you receive your credit! $8000 is more than enough for a down payment!
Second, in certain areas, there is a $15,000 down payment assistance option.
Third, if you qualify, you may receive an impact fee rebate which can be used towards your down payment. This could be as much as $4600!
Finally, there are 100% loan options out there.
Don't forget that Hartland Homes pays your points and closing costs saving you thousands of dollars!
Call us today for a free consultation...You CAN own a brand new home and we will show you how! Email us or call us at 402-477-6668!