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Home Buyers Assistance for Iraq/Afghanistan War Vets

There are a lot of great ways for real estate agents and mortgage lenders to add value to the service they give their clients. Certainly knowing ways to save clients money are always helpful.  Knowing the lenders and loan programs that do so help too.  These are, of course, the same reasons it makes sense for Buyers & Sellers to work with the best professionals they can find for their real estate deals too..

Here is a good one: First Advantage Mortgage has a new program benefiting members of the armed forces who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Qualifying borrowers are eligible to receive $10,000 in assistance towards the purchase price and/or closing costs on their next home. (Hat tip Bob Brandle)

These funds are available to all veterans using conventional, FHA and VA financing. Buyers on active duty or in the reserves are only eligible for first time home purchases.

The $10,000 grants are actually second mortgages (so do understand that there may be some additional closing costs too), but - as is typical of targeted programs of this sort - the loan is forgivable over a period of time. In this case, the loan need not be repaid if the borrower owns the home for more than two years and who are not otherwise in default on their mortgages.

Don't forget that Vets are also eligible for a Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption - providing qualifying Veterans a one-time $5,000 reduction to their home's equalized assessed value (EAV)  upon their return home, and a Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption that provides a reduction in a property's EAV to qualifying property owned by Veterans with service-connected disabilities as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.  

Do YOU know of any other home buyer assistance for military personnel?  (other targeted loan assistance programs?) If you do, please let me know.
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