Chenoa Fund Blog

For those of us who work in the housing industry, few things are more fulfilling than helping individuals and families buy their first home. In fact, it’s why most of us got into the business. Having a place to call your own is the culmination of the American experience. But it’s not always easy to … Continue reading "What makes the Chenoa Fund down payment assistance program unique?"

There’s no doubt that today’s higher interest rates are making it harder for Americans to buy their first home. But even with rates increasing, buying a home is still a better option than renting for many people. If you have FHA-eligible borrowers who are trying to decide whether buying a home today is the right … Continue reading "Why Buying is Still Better than Renting"

Let’s be honest—it’s a tough market for originators, especially with interest rates at their highest level in decades. But if you’re passionate about serving your customers—especially first-time homebuyers—now is not the time to throw in the towel. Yes, rates are higher and home inventories are tight in many markets. But many people still yearn to … Continue reading "3 Ways to Increase Homebuyer Opportunities"

The decision to purchase a home is not an easy one to make. Many still consider the American Dream to be homeownership, and while having a dream is often a great source of motivation, dreams may also be paired with high expectations and anxieties related to living up to those expectations. This puts many would-be … Continue reading "Can Down Payment Assistance Ease Homebuying Concerns for Worried Buyers?"

What would you do if one-third of the loans that you worked on could be saved? How many families would you help become homeowners? How much would it grow your income? A recent Down Payment Resource (DPR) study found that 33% of declined mortgage files were eligible for down payment assistance—down payment assistance that could … Continue reading "How to Save Up to One-third of Failed Mortgages"

If you want to get ahead in the housing market, both in helping borrowers get into homes and setting yourself up as someone that can make nearly any deal work, you need to get in the know with down payment assistance (DPA). Consider, for example, some points that Luz Keuler (editor at Readynest by MGIC) … Continue reading "How Down Payment Assistance Can Set You Apart"

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently published their 2022 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report. Here are some highlights and tips to help you make the most out of the evolving home market. Millennials make up 43% of homebuyers. That’s right, almost half of the current market belongs to millennials at the moment, … Continue reading "Realtor Tips to Help Homebuyers Find Affordable Homeownership"

Minority homeownership has been a trending topic in the mortgage industry for some time now. Two factors play a large role in this: wealth inequality and intergenerational wealth. These topics rise to the top because it is generally believed that improving homeownership rates will help to reduce wealth inequality between racial groups and grow intergenerational … Continue reading "How Lenders and Realtors Can Increase Minority Homeownership"

Rates are rising. Home prices are skyrocketing. Rent is blowing up. Inflation is tightening the budget of nearly everyone in the USA. Homebuyers are still out there, looking for a great deal, but the deluge of yesteryear has come and gone, leaving some lenders and realtors scrambling to snap up the buyers on the market. … Continue reading "Tips for Lenders and Realtors to Discover New Homebuyer Opportunities"

After two years of record-low, mortgage interest rates, today’s future homebuyers are moving into a rapidly increasing interest rate market. Home price appreciation remains high and inventory is still low. But where there is a challenge, there is opportunity, and educated and prepared future homeowners can position themselves to jump the hurdles in their way. … Continue reading "5 Tips for Buying a Home in a Competitive Market "