Years ago, the only person that could buy a home in Irvine with zero down payment using a new purchase money loan were Veterans of War (called a VA loan). In the past several years, there has been an explosion of new loan programs designed to fit most any buyers circumstances. Today, most anyone can buy a home with zero down payment if they have sufficient income and decent credit.

There are three factors that determine if you have sufficient income to purchase a home with zero down payment, and they are: Purchase price of the home, Interest rates, and debt to income ratio that the mortgage program requires. These three factors are interrelated as described below.

The debt to income ratio is the monthly mortgage payment of the zero down loan, divided by your monthly gross income (not your net take home income). This ratio can vary from 35% to 50% dependent upon the loan program, and your credit score. The monthly mortgage payment is determined by the purchase price, current interest rates, and the type of mortgage program, such as 15 versus 30 years, fixed versus adjustable interest rate, etc. There is another ratio that mortgage lenders look at which is the total debt to income ratio which is too complicated to discuss here. This ratio also analysis other debts that you may have such as car payments, credit card payments, etc.

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