A Kentucky Mortgage Loan Officer that has closed over 600 home loans specializing in Kentucky First Time Homebuyer Loans to include the following FHA, VA, USDA, Rural Housing, Down Payment Assistance Loan from Kentucky Housing Corp or KHC and the Fannie Mae Home Path HUD $100 Down Mortgage Program in Kentucky. Call/Text 502-905-3708 with your mortgage questions or email kentuckyloan@gmail.com I try to respond to all requests within minutes during regular business hours. NMLS# 57916 Joel Lobb Loan Originator, American Mortgage Solutions NMLS ID. 1364 Equal Housing Lender
First-Time Homebuyers Kentucky Mortgage Offerings to consider
Here’s a comparison chart outlining different loan programs for first-time homebuyers in Kentucky in 2024:
Kentucky Mortgage Loan Program
Kentucky FHA Loan
Kentucky VA Loan
Kentucky USDA Loan
Kentucky Conventional Loan
Down Payment
3.5% of the purchase price
Typically no down payment
0% down payment
3% – 20% down payment
Credit Score Requirement
500-579: 10% down payment 580+: 3.5% down payment
No minimum credit score but typically 580 and above for lower credit score requirements
No minimum credit score but 640 or higher and some lenders will go down to 580 with compensating factors such as lower debt to income ratio and reserves
620 or higher
Mortgage Insurance
Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) and Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)FHA loan requires both an upfront premium of 1.75% of the loan amount and an annual premium of 0.15% to 0.75%.4 Payment of upfront premiums is at the loan issuance.
Funding Fee varies from VA funding fees for home buying range from 1.4% to 3.6% of the loan amount, while fees for a VA refinance range from 0.5% (for an IRRRL refinance) to 3.6 percent (for a repeat VA borrower using a cash-out refinance)
Guarantee Fee 1% upfront and .35 monthly fee for life of loan
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) may be required-Based on credit score and down payment and debt to income ratio-Not for life of loan
Property Eligibility
Must be primary residence
Must be primary residence
Must be in eligible rural areas and primary residence
No specific property restrictions, primary residence, second home, rentals all okay
Income Limits
No specific income limits, but debt-to-income ratio restrictions apply
No specific income limits for VA loans, but VA has residual income requirements
Income must not exceed 115% of the area median income-They’re are income limits-be careful on this option
Typically no income limits
Interest Rates
Competitive interest rates
Typically lower interest rates
Competitive interest rates
Competitive interest rates
Loan Limits
Yes and varies by location
VA county loan limits apply
No loan limits
Conforming loan limits apply
First-Time Homebuyers Kentucky Mortgage Offerings to consider
Joel Lobb Mortgage Loan Officer
American Mortgage Solutions, Inc. 10602 Timberwood Circle Louisville, KY 40223 Company NMLS ID #1364
NMLS 57916 | Company NMLS #1364/MB73346135166/MBR1574
The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only. The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines. This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people. NMLS ID# 57916, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
Qualifying for a mortgage loan in Kentucky involves understanding the various loan options, meeting credit score requirements, and navigating down payment assistance programs. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you through the process.
Understanding Kentucky Mortgage Options
Kentucky offers several mortgage options tailored to different financial situations:
When shopping for a Kentucky mortgage loan, keep in mind that mortgage rates can change daily. Different lenders have varying fees, and they may sell your loan to another bank. Your middle credit score is crucial, and good credit leads to better rates. Knowing your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and reducing closing costs are important. Finally, you can refinance your home loan anytime and get a mortgage loan after a foreclosure with certain waiting periods.
Shopping for a Kentucky Mortgage Loan?
1. Mortgage Rates Change
Just like the stock market, mortgage rates change throughout the day. Mortgage rates you see today may not be available tomorrow. If you are in the market for a mortgage loan, be sure to check the current rates being offered by lenders. If you have already done your research and have found your dream home consider locking in your rate as soon as possible.
2. Different Lenders Charge Different Fees
Don’t expect every lender to charge the same fees for a mortgage loan. Every lender structures their fees differently, which is why it is important to shop with at least 3 lenders to compare. Next time you apply for a mortgage loan pay attention to the rates, points being charged and closing costs.
3. Lenders Can Sell Your Loan to Another Bank
Many borrowers have experience getting a mortgage loan with a certain lender only to find out that the loan has been sold to another bank. This occurs because lenders need to free up their liabilities in order to make room to give out more loans. This does not affect your mortgage whatsoever, but it’s important to pay close attention to your mortgage statement and any correspondence you receive in the mail to make sure you do not make payments to the wrong bank.
4. Your Middle Credit Score Matters
When you apply for a mortgage loan, the lender will pull your credit scores from three credit bureaus (Transunion, Equifax and Experian) to help them determined if you are credit worthy. Your middle score of the three is what lenders will use for loan qualification. However, the underwriter will review all three scores as part of the loan underwriting process. If you pull your own credit score through a website online, the credit scores displayed to you may be different than what lenders use because they use different reporting systems.
5. You Can Refinance Your Home Loan Anytime
You can refinance your mortgage anytime, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Think about why you want to refinance. Is because you want to lower your monthly payments, to change the type of loan you are in or to take cash out from your equity? Whatever the reason is, make sure that it makes financial sense.
6. You Can Get a Mortgage Loan After a Foreclosure
Many homeowners have experienced a foreclosure after the recent mortgage crisis. There is good news for these borrowers because they can get a mortgage loan after foreclosure. There are waiting periods involved, for example, to apply for an FHA loan you must wait three years after foreclosure to apply. If you want to get a conventional loan the waiting period is seven years from foreclosure. For those seeking a VA loan, the waiting period is two-years.
There are exceptions to the waiting periods, but you have to show the lender that your foreclosure was caused by an event outside your control, such as losing your job or being seriously ill.
8. Good Credit Allows you to Get Better Mortgage Rates
Good credit scores mean a better rate in any type of loan, especially a mortgage loan. Your credit heavily impacts the type mortgage loan you will qualify for. To maintain a good credit report, make sure you monitored it closely. One of the advantages to good credit is that more banks will want to compete for your business, therefore giving you leverage to negotiate the closing costs.
9. Know Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Knowing your APR will allow you see the true cost of your loan. While the interest rate shows the annual cost of your loan, the APR includes other fees such as origination points, admin fees, loan processing fees, underwriting fees, documentation fees, private mortgage insurance and escrow fees.
There may be more or less fees included in the ARP from what we mentioned. To be sure what fees are included in the APR, ask your lender to give you a breakdown of the closing costs included.
10. You Can Always Reduce Closing Costs
One way to reduce closing costs is to have the sellers contribute towards the closing costs when purchasing your home. This can be negotiated between the buyer and the sellers in the purchase contract. The amount the seller can contribute will depend on the type of loan. Another way to save on closing costs is to have the lender give you a credit to cover out of pocket loan costs.
Joel Lobb Mortgage Loan Officer Individual NMLS ID #57916
American Mortgage Solutions, Inc. 10602 Timberwood Circle Louisville, KY 40223 Company NMLS ID #1364
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Kentucky First-Time Homebuyer Loan Programs for FHA, VA, KHC and USDA Mortgage Loans in Kentucky 