Jonathan Schecter is set to close next month on the purchase of an apartment in New York City, but it's been an adventure getting there.
He began home-shopping a year ago. Schecter's lender said in September that he could count on 80% financing up to $420,000. The other 20%, or $105,000, would come from Schecter's down payment. But things changed after he committed to buy a place on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The bank said it would finance only $393,000, increasing the down payment he needed by $27,000.
Ian and Laura Salish, both 21, say they were pleased to get a 3%-down payment loan through FHA. They closed this month on a three-story, three-bedroom townhome in Seattle for $319,000.
They had to show proof of employment â Ian is a sales representative for an organic food company, and Laura is a personal assistant â and explain gaps in their job histories. But they're relieved to be getting a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage at 6%.
Leonard Poteat, 27, a graphic artist in Washington, D.C., is trying to buy his first home and has been looking since June. He's found plenty of affordable homes but also has found that he's competing against investors who are looking to snap up properties and sell them when the housing market rebounds.
He's also finding it difficult to come up with both a down payment and closing costs.
"That's a significant amount to come up with. The typical person doesn't have $15,000 to $20,000," Poteat says.
"I have the down payment, but it's the closing costs I'm still trying to hammer out."