FUNDING FIRST-TIME BUYERS

WELCOME

Long before there were TikTok trends and Instagram followers, before flip phones took real estate on the road, and even before bell bottoms were en vogue (the first time), there was Rosa Nell Hammer, taking names and closing deals in South Florida.

Rosa earned her real estate license 56 years ago, after a series of military relocations taught her how to buy and sell homes in a hurry. At 104 years old this month, she continues to serve as the country’s ‘most senior’ agent—and she’s got the active license and NAR membership to prove it.

Rosa’s first sale, which generated a $600 commission, came after two weeks of door-knocking—a strategy she encourages to this day.

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New options for new buyers

Earlier this week, the White House unveiled a handful of new initiatives designed to make homeownership more affordable—especially for first-time buyers.

• Homebuyers can now count part of the income they earn (or expect to earn) from an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), like a backyard guest house or garage loft, to qualify for FHA-insured mortgages.

• The USDA is expanding the funding available to Native Americans purchasing a home on some Tribal Lands, increasing opportunities for homeownership in these communities.

• The USDA is also testing a pilot program with alternative eligibility criteria for traditional mortgages, making it easier for those with low credit or limited income to access homeownership.

• For veterans struggling to make their mortgage payments, the Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to launch a new home retention program that aims to keep more veterans housed.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the rate of first-time home buying has hit the highest level seen since at least 2000. And of the 1.8 million homebuyers who have used FHA funding over the past few years, 83.6% were first-time home buyers.

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