2025 Homebuying Made Easy: Market Trends and Preparation Strategies

In this guide, we’ll share how you can qualify for our 1% down payment program, the benefits homebuyers get with only 1% down, and how this exclusive option is making homeownership more accessible for everyday buyers. How Our 1% Down Payment Program Works With our Homeownership for All program, eligible buyers can purchase a home with just 1% down—and we’ll cover the rest, up to 2% or $7,000 in assistance. With our 1% Down Program, you’ll get: Up to $7,000 in down payment assistance A low-cost conventional loan with cancellable private mortgage insurance (PMI) once you reach 20% equity Financial flexibility with the option to use gift funds or a local first-time homebuyer grant program to cover your 1% down payment No additional second lien or repayment terms on the 2% or $7,000 down payment contribution See the full guide below to learn how our 1% down payment program works and helps you decide if it's the right path to homeownership for you. Why Consider 1% Down Here’s why eligible buyers choose our 1% down payment program: Lower Upfront Cost The biggest obstacle for many buyers is saving for a down payment. This program removes that barrier and lets you get in the door sooner. More Affordable Than an FHA Loan Unlike FHA loans, this program gives you access to a conventional loan with PMI that can be removed once you hit 20% equity. Room in Your Budget for Move-In Costs Save money for furniture, moving expenses, appliances, or even a rainy-day fund. Gift Funds Flexibility Friends or family can gift the entire 1% down and help you cover closing costs. No minimum borrower contribution required. How to Qualify for 1% Down Payment Program Income: Income at or below 80% of Area Medium Income (AMI) Credit Score: 620 FICO Down Payment: 1% (or remaining amount if 2% down payment assistance exceeds the $7,000 maximum) Debt-to-Income (DTI): Less than 50%, exact amount varies by borrower. Property Types Allowed: Primary home. Q: Can I buy a home with no money out of pocket? A: In some cases, yes! If you combine this program with local or state grant programs or receive gift funds, you may be able to buy with little to no money due at closing. Use our affordability calculator to get a snapshot of your homebuying budget Compare 1% Down vs. Conventional vs. FHA Loans Q: Which loan is best for low down payment buyers? A: If you have a 620+ credit score and qualify based on income, the 1% Down Program gives you the best of both worlds: low upfront costs and a conventional loan with cancelable PMI. How to Apply for the 1% Down Program Step 1: Pre-Qualification (60 Seconds) Answer a few quick questions online or with a UMortgage Loan Originator. Step 2: Get Custom Loan Options We’ll check your eligibility, show you rates, and explain how much assistance you qualify for. Step 3: Lock Your Rate Once you're happy with your rate, you can lock it in and start gathering documents for underwriting. Step 4: Close with Confidence We'll guide you every step of the way and help you close on your new home quickly and clearly. Frequently Asked Questions Q: How does the 1% down program work? A: You put down 1% of the purchase price, and UMortgage provides 2% of the down payment (up to $7,000). That gives you 3% equity, which is enough to qualify for a low-cost conventional loan. Q: Do I need to be a first-time homebuyer to qualify for 1% down? A: No. You don’t need to be a first-time buyer, you just need to meet the income and credit qualifications. Q: Is this available in my state? A: Yes! This is a nationwide program. Your UMortgage loan expert can help you confirm your eligibility based on your location and income. Q: Can I combine this with other assistance programs? A: Yes! If you qualify, you can stack this program with local or state first-time homebuyer grants to reduce your total upfront costs. The 1% down payment program can also be combined with our Temporary Rate Buydown product, giving you the option to secure a lower interest rate for the first few years of your loan. Talk to your UMortgage Loan Originator to see exactly what you qualify for. Q: Can I use gift funds for my portion? A: Yes. Your entire 1% down payment and closing costs can be covered by gift funds. Ready to learn more? Fill out this form to connect with a UMortgage Loan Originator in your area. *For informational purposes only. This program is available only for income-qualified borrowers and subject to eligibility under HomeReady® and Home Possible® guidelines. A minimum FICO score of 620 is required. UWM provides lender-paid assistance of 2% of the home’s purchase price (up to $7,000) toward the down payment; the borrower must contribute 1% of the purchase price. Total down payment must meet a minimum 3% requirement with a maximum 97% LTV. Available only for 30-year fixed-rate, primary residence purchases originated through the broker channel. Program is not available for condos, PUDs, or TRAC-eligible properties. Homeownership education is required for first-time homebuyers. Incentives such as the $2,500 pricing benefit for borrowers at or below 50% AMI are subject to specific criteria and may be removed upon any change of circumstance. Down payment assistance programs are subject to eligibility requirements and availability. Not all borrowers will qualify. This is not a commitment to lend. Terms and conditions apply. UMortgage LLC | NMLS ID 1457759 | Equal Housing Lender. For licensing information, visit www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.*

What Are Seller Concessions? A Simple Guide for Homebuyers and Sellers Buying a home comes with a lot of upfront costs. Between the down payment, closing costs, prepaid taxes, and insurance, the amount you owe at closing can add up fast. That’s where seller concessions can come in. Whether you're a homebuyer looking for a little financial relief or a seller trying to attract more offers, this guide will walk you through what seller concessions are, how they work, and how they benefit both sides of the transaction. What Are Seller Concessions? Seller concessions are when the home seller agrees to pay certain costs on behalf of the buyer as part of the purchase agreement. Seller concessions most often cover things like title fees, taxes, insurance, and other expenses that come due at closing. Instead of reducing the sale price of the home, a seller might agree to pay some of the buyer’s costs to help make the purchase more affordable. It’s a way to get creative with negotiations, especially in a market where buyers may be struggling with high interest rates or limited cash. How Do Seller Concessions Work? Here’s an example: Let’s say you're buying a $300,000 home and ask the seller to contribute 3% of the purchase price ($9,000) toward your closing costs. If the seller agrees, that $9,000 can go toward things like your appraisal fee, loan origination fee, or even buying down your interest rate. The key thing to remember is that seller concessions must be negotiated upfront and written into the purchase contract. Your mortgage also needs to allow them, and each loan type sets limits on how much a seller can contribute. We’ll touch on that shortly. What Can Seller Concessions Cover? Seller concessions can be used to cover many of the upfront costs involved in purchasing a home, including appraisal fees, title insurance, loan origination fees, property taxes, and homeowners’ insurance. Seller concessions cannot be used for your down payment or to help a borrower qualify for the loan; they’re only allowed to cover closing costs and prepaid expenses. Seller Concession Limits by Loan Type Each loan program has its own rules about how much a seller can contribute. Here's a quick breakdown: Conventional Loans: Less than 10% down: The seller can contribute up to 3% of the home’s price. 10% to 25% down: Up to 6% in concessions allowed. More than 25% down: Up to 9% in concessions. Investment properties: Only 2% allowed, regardless of down payment. FHA Loans: Flat 6% seller concession limit regardless of the down payment amount. VA Loans: The seller can contribute up to 4% in concessions, in addition to paying for standard closing costs as permitted by the VA. This 4% can be used to pay off a buyer’s debt, cover prepaid expenses, or even fund a temporary buydown. USDA Loans The seller can contribute up to 6% of the home’s purchase price toward the buyer’s closing costs and prepaid expenses. Why You Should Negotiate Seller Concessions as a Homebuyer or Seller Seller concessions have plenty of benefits for both homebuyers and sellers. Here’s why you should consider them depending on your side of the transaction. How Seller Concessions Benefit Homebuyers Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs: Concessions reduce the cash you need to bring to the table at closing. Easier Loan Approval: By lowering your upfront costs, you may have more flexibility in choosing your loan program or interest rate. Buydown Opportunities: You can use concessions to buy down your interest rate, which can lower your monthly payment for the life of the loan. How Seller Concessions Benefit Sellers Attract More Buyers: In a market with less demand, offering concessions can help your home stand out and attract more buyers. Faster Closings: Buyers who receive concessions may be more motivated and financially ready to close on time. Higher Sale Price: In some cases, sellers can offer concessions instead of reducing the list price. Seller concessions are a powerful tool that can make homeownership more accessible for buyers and help sellers move their homes more quickly. Whether you're buying or selling, working with a local mortgage expert can help you understand exactly how seller concessions fit into your overall game plan. Ready to talk through your options? Follow this link to get connected with a UMortgage Loan Originator near you.

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve probably seen a lot of headlines about the Federal Reserve and interest rates. And if you're a homebuyer or a real estate agent working with buyers, you might wonder: Does the Federal Reserve control mortgage rates? It’s a great question. And the short answer is: Not necessarily. The longer answer is a bit more nuanced because while the Fed does play an important role in the economy, it doesn't directly control mortgage rates. What Is the Federal Reserve and the Federal Funds Rate? The Federal Reserve—often referred to simply as the Fed—is the central bank of the United States. Its primary job is to keep the economy healthy by keeping inflation in check, supporting the labor economy, and promoting stable & sustainable economic growth. One of the main tools the Fed uses to manage the economy is the Federal Funds Rate. This is the interest rate banks charge one another for overnight loans. While consumers don’t pay this rate directly, it has a ripple effect across the economy, influencing rates on credit cards, auto loans, and savings accounts. How the Federal Funds Rate Influences the Economy When the Fed raises the Federal Funds Rate, it becomes more expensive for banks to borrow money. That tends to result in higher borrowing costs for consumers and businesses in an attempt to slow down inflation and prevent the economy from overheating. When the Fed lowers the rate, borrowing becomes cheaper. This encourages more spending and investment, often a strategy used during economic slowdowns or recessions. Important distinction: The Federal Funds Rate influences the economy, but it does not directly control mortgage rates. Why Mortgage Rates Don’t Always Follow the Fed Here’s where a lot of confusion begins. Many people assume that when the Fed raises interest rates, mortgage rates automatically rise too. But that’s not how it works. Mortgage rates are driven by a different set of economic factors, mainly the bond market. Specifically, rates are closely tied to the 10-year Treasury yield and the performance of mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Investors who buy these securities care most about the labor market, inflation, the long-term economic outlook, and market stability/instability If inflation is rising or expected to rise, mortgage rates tend to increase. If economic conditions appear weak or uncertain, rates can fall, even if the Fed is raising the Federal Funds Rate. In fact, mortgage rates often move in anticipation of what the Fed might do, not just in response to what it has done. The markets are always looking ahead. What Really Drives Mortgage Rates? Here’s a quick snapshot of the major factors that impact mortgage rates: Inflation: Higher inflation usually = higher mortgage rates. Economic Growth: A strong economy can lead to higher rates. Global Events: Uncertainty (like geopolitical conflict or pandemics) can drive rates lower. Bond Market Demand: More demand for mortgage bonds often = lower mortgage rates. In other words, mortgage rates are influenced by a wide range of factors and are always forward-looking. Want more in-depth analysis of the housing market? Check out our weekly Housing Market Update blog. How Homebuyers and Real Estate Can Navigate the Market For homebuyers and the real estate agents supporting them, the key takeaway is this: Don’t assume that a Fed rate cut means mortgage rates are going down. In some cases, mortgage rates don’t move much on the day that the Fed cuts rates. Most of the time, they will drop in the lead-up to a Fed Meeting if a rate cut is expected. Other times, they might drop after a Fed announcement, depending on how markets interpret the economic outlook. If you’re considering buying a home or are an agent for a hesitant buyer, here’s how you should navigate periods of market instability: Focus on personal goals and timing, rather than trying to time the market. Work with a knowledgeable mortgage professional who can explain how market shifts impact your unique situation. Make informed decisions based on the bigger picture, not just headlines. Whether you're buying, selling, or considering a refinance, UMortgage Loan Originators are here to help you navigate the market with confidence and leverage homeownership to build wealth. If you’re curious about your homebuying or refinance options and want expert guidance, fill out this form to get connected with a UMortgage Loan Originator in your area!