HomeReady Mortgage Guide 

Key Takeaways:

• A conventional HomeReady mortgage type only requires a 3% down payment. It can be used to refinance an existing mortgage or to purchase a house.

• To be eligible, your income must be at most 80% of the local median income.

• The 3% down payment requirement can be satisfied with grants, gifts from friends and family, and other financing sources. Rental income is another item you can include on your loan application.

What is a HomeReady mortgage?

One kind of conventional loan that assists lower-income borrowers in purchasing homes is the HomeReady mortgage. To be eligible to buy, your income must be at most 80% of the area's median income.

A HomeReady loan's primary attraction is its minimal down payment requirement, only 3% of the house's purchase price. There are several ways to fund that down payment, including grants and gifts from friends and family.

Mortgage lenders provide the funding for HomeReady loans, guaranteed by the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) Fannie Mae. Your lender will handle both the mortgage application and closing.

"For HomeReady borrowers whose incomes are 50% or less of their respective area median incomes, Fannie Mae provides a $2,500 credit. You can use this credit to cover closing costs or your down payment. It applies to loans closed between February 28, 2025, and March 1, 2024."

Terms for HomeReady loans

A HomeReady loan is typically a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Still, it can also have terms of five, seven, or ten years adjustable-rate in addition to fixed-rate mortgages with terms of ten, fifteen, and twenty years.

Types of HomeReady Loan Property

A HomeReady mortgage can be used not only for purchasing a property but also for refinancing.

It is limited to primary residences or the house you occupy. It applies to single-family and qualified cooperative, condo, and manufactured homes. Additionally, you can use it to purchase a duplex, triplex, or four-unit building, but only if you intend to make one of those units your primary home.

Who qualifies for a HomeReady Loan?

To be eligible for a HomeReady mortgage, you must:

• A minimum credit score of 620

• A three percent down payment

• This tool can be used to determine the local AMI limits for income that is 80% or less of the area median income (AMI).

• A maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 45% (or, depending on the situation, up to 50%)

• If this is your first home purchase, you must also finish a homebuyer education course. However, you don't have to be a first-time customer.

Nevertheless, according to Fannie Mae regulations, you are only allowed to own one additional financed property in addition to the one you are purchasing.

Even if your credit score is below 620 or you have other "nontraditional credit" types, you may still be eligible for a HomeReady loan. Speak with your loan officer to find out your options.

Benefits of HomeReady Mortgages

The following are a few advantages of a HomeReady loan: 

• Minimal down payment: Only 3% of the total needed for a HomeReady mortgage must come from personal savings. For instance, gifts from friends and family can count toward the 3% requirement.

• Diminished mortgage insurance: If you put less than 20% down on a conventional loan, you must pay mortgage insurance premiums. If a borrower puts less than 10% down, the HomeReady program lowers these premiums. In addition, after you've paid down 20% of the value of your house, you can ask to have the premiums canceled.

• Rental income on your application: You can list rental income as one of your qualifying sources of income when you apply for a HomeReady loan. For example, you could include that income on your loan application if you purchase a duplex and rent out the other unit.

FHA vs. HomeReady loans

One kind of mortgage with a low down payment is the HomeReady loan. Moreover, the minimum down payment for an FHA loan is less. This is how they contrast:

The HomeReady program provides conventional loans, which are neither guaranteed nor insured by the government. Conversely, the Federal Housing Administration insures FHA loans. Instead of applying for and closing through the FHA, you will apply through a private lender, much like you would with a HomeReady loan.

Both mortgages require low down payments; however, the FHA minimum is slightly higher at 3.5%.

Mortgage insurance is also required for both loans; however, if you choose an FHA loan and put less than 10% down, you will be responsible for these premiums for the duration of your mortgage unless you refinance into a different kind of loan. Once you have paid down twenty percent of the value of your home with a HomeReady loan, these premiums are cancelable.

You may purchase a primary residence consisting of up to four units using an FHA or HomeReady loan. You must reside in one of the units to use a loan for an investment property or as a second or vacation home.

However, regarding income and credit requirements, FHA loans are more accommodating. A credit score as low as 580, or 500 if you put down at least 10% of the total amount, will qualify you for an FHA loan. Unlike HomeReady loans, an FHA loan has no income limitations.

The DTI ratio is flexible for both mortgages, but the FHA loan is once again more favorable. Lenders looking to offer an FHA loan prefer a DTI of at most 43 percent, though they can go as high as 57 percent in certain situations. The recommended maximum DTI on a HomeReady loan is 45 percent, though it may go as high as 50 percent in certain circumstances.

HomeReady vs. Home Possible Mortgages 

"Like HomeReady, Home Possible is supported by Freddie Mac instead of Fannie Mae. These two loans are intended for borrowers with lesser incomes. The main distinction is that a credit score of at least 660 is required for a Home Possible loan if you purchase a single-family home at a fixed rate. With a HomeReady mortgage, you can buy the same kind of house with a credit score as low as 620."

FAQ

What is the income limit for HomeReady?

HomeReady mortgages are only available to borrowers who make 80% or less of the area median income (AMI) in their purchasing area. Use this tool to find out the limits in your area.

How do I know if my lender offers HomeReady?

If you want to know if the lender offers HomeReady mortgages, you can ask your loan officer. Most lenders provide the program or a variant; however, it may not be marketed under the Fannie Mae brand name "HomeReady." Alternatively, it may be referred to as a "3 percent first-time homebuyer loan" or a "3 percent conventional loan."