05/27/2026
Buying Your First Home This Summer? AIM Is Ready to Help You Prepare, Plan, and Purchase ☀️🏡
☀️ Memorial Day is often called the unofficial start of summer, and while many people are thinking about vacations, backyard BBQs, and warmer days ahead, at Affordable Interest Mortgage, summer is one of our busiest seasons for helping clients prepare for homeownership and financial opportunity.
No matter what headlines say about interest rates or the housing market, our focus remains the same: showing up for our clients every single day. Through the summer months and beyond, we’ll be working extra hard to answer your questions, guide you through your options, help you get pre-approved, and create a strategy that fits your goals and budget.
Whether you’re buying your very first home, exploring refinance opportunities, or simply trying to understand what loan programs may work best for your situation, preparation matters. The more informed and prepared you are, the more confident you can feel when the right opportunity comes along.
And for many first-time home buyers, that opportunity may be closer than they think. 🏡
If you’ve owned a home in the last 3 years, you may not qualify as a First-Time Home Buyer… but if you haven’t, you probably do! And you’re not alone. Over 31% of buyers today are FTHBs, and that number continues to grow. Why? Because homeowners have a net worth that’s 44x greater than renters on average. That’s long-term wealth building. 💰
So what programs are available?
There is NO one-size-fits-all loan anymore.
✅ Conventional Loans – As little as 3% down, up to 97% financing, options for primary homes, second homes, and even investment properties. Low mortgage insurance and sometimes appraisal waivers.
✅ FHA Loans – 3.5% down, higher debt-to-income allowances, lower credit score flexibility, great for FTHBs. FHA also offers streamlined refinances and rehab loans up to $75,000 with up to 96–97% financing.
✅ VA Loans – 0% down for eligible active-duty and veterans, higher DTIs allowed, lower rates, and IRRRL streamline options. Can even be used for multi-units. 🇺🇸
✅ USDA Loans – Zero down, lower rates, rural area eligibility, no traditional PMI.
✅ Non-QM Options – Bank statement loans, asset-based income, rental income qualification — even options if you’re self-employed or don’t show traditional income on tax returns.
💡 Down Payment Assistance?
There are over 2,000 DPA programs nationwide. Assistance can range from 1–5%, sometimes repayable, sometimes not. Income limits may apply.
🎁 Gift funds?
Yes! Family gifts and even gift of equity options are allowed depending on the program.
Before shopping, here’s what I tell every First-Time Home Buyer:
✔️ Submit for a true Pre-Approval, not just a Pre-Qual
✔️ Know your payment, rate, APR, and term
✔️ Understand closing costs and mortgage points
✔️ Review debt-to-income, employment, and credit history
✔️ Ask questions and build a strategy before you shop
The process?
Initial application → Provide documentation → Get fully Pre-Approved → Shop with confidence. 🏠
Buying your first home is a big step — but with the right strategy and loan structure, it’s absolutely achievable.
At Affordable Interest Mortgage, we help clients every day with:
✅ Conventional Loans
✅ FHA Loans
✅ VA Loans
✅ USDA Loans
✅ Non-QM & Specialty Loans
✅ Refinances & Debt Consolidation
✅ Investment & Second Homes
No matter what this market does over the summer, we’ll continue working hard to help our clients stay informed, prepared, and ready when opportunity comes knocking.
Sincerely,
Kurt Rogers
Managing Broker | Affordable Interest Mortgage
NMLS #217147 | IMB #2191655
Equal Opportunity Lender | Regulated by the Division of Real Estate
(720) 895-0500
www.aimortgage.net
