banks offer incentives to low income folks because if they foreclose, the unit itself is still marketable, unlike stocks which can lose significant value or become essentially worthless. these units can be be altered for rentals which continue to generate cash income.. it is a low risk situation for banks.
Quote from BayAreaTrader:
To answer the original question; just because you can buy a home does NOT mean that you can really afford one.
I bought my most recent home with a large down payment from equity off of a previous home. My ratios are well below the ratios required in the 70's and I might live here the rest of my life.
A person with 20% or more to put down and an income to properly service the loan and maintain the house over the 10 year period is almost certainly better off buying.
The low down crowd ( unless they have fantastic incomes from a stable job ) is probably better off renting. Once the bubble bursts , I can see a domino effect coming. The weak hands could end up with no home AND bad credit from a foreclosure.
