Buyer assistance programs are typically designed for first time buyers. If you haven't owned a home in the last three years, you may qualify for first time buyer assistance. These programs usually include a combination of subsidized interest rates, down payment assistance, and tax credits.
The NY Real Estate Roller Coaster: New York Mortgage Refinancing
Contacting your current mortgage lender is a good way to start if you want to refinance or need help with any aspect of your home loan. However, always do your homework and compare lenders and mortgage refinance offers. Getting a quote from a New York mortgage lender is free and you'll want to make sure that you have the best refinance offer available to you. Also, a live offer from a competing lender may make it possible for you to negotiate against your current lender!
Unfortunately, your lender may not be able to provide assistance if you live in an area of New York where property values have significantly declined. Refinancing can be impossible if your home has lost value. But there are some New York-sponsored programs and
resources to help you refinance or modify your home loan.
If you're carrying too much debt or need help with avoiding foreclosure, there are programs and services that can help you save your home, develop a cash-based budget, and manage debt (again, you can access some of these services though the form above by selecting "debt consolidation").
The resources supplied here provide an overview of available programs; as you visit these Web sites, you'll find additional information and assistance. Also, please make use of our
loan calculators which include a
refinance calculator, a
mortgage loan rate comparison calculator, and an
amortization calculator & amortization chart. There's also a
mortgage calculator to tell you your monthly payments, and an
affordability calculator that looks as how much you can spend, and your expenses to show you how much home you can afford.
New York State Housing Finance Agency
Keep the Dream NY Mortgage Refinance Program
NY Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
NYC Department Mortgage and Housing Information
NY State Homebuyer Assistance Information
State of New York Banking Department
US Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD info for home buyers) - New York Sites
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (links to local providers)
Veterans Administration Loan Guaranty Program
Tax rate (estimates by state)
About the Author: Karen Lawson is a freelance writer with extensive experience in mortgage banking and home loan loss mitigation programs. She holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.