Is it time for you to get out of the rent race and buy a home of your own? There are plenty of advantages to homeownership. And while buying isn’t right for every person or for every life stage or circumstance, there are several perks of homeownership that tend to stay stable over time. These include building long-term equity, the comfort and pride that can be associated with owning your own home and, of course, lower overall monthly cost.

If you’re a person on the go and hate mowing grass and raking leaves, maintenance-free condo living might be for you. And if you’re buying a condo with an FHA or VA loan program because of their attractive low-down payment and flexible credit qualifications, you need to be aware that the condo you are considering must be in an approved development.

Being a homeowner has perks. You have privacy. You have freedom to do what you want with decor and style. As a homeowner you can decide to have a party that goes until 5am (if you're not too loud for your neighbors). It's great. But owning your home also means you have to take care of your home.

Two of the most popular mortgage loans for first-time buyers are the USDA Rural Development loan and the VA (Veterans) Home Loan. The main reason these two loans are so popular is because both loans allow you to purchase a home with very little or no money down (also known as a Zero Down or No Down Home Loan). Zero down home loans are most common among first-time homebuyers since they are typically young married couples or single professionals who are just starting out, and haven't yet saved enough financial resources to fund a down payment. At AmeriFirst, we specialize in both USDA Rural Development and VA Home Loans. Download our Concise Guide for the First Time Home Buyer. Here is a quick overview of the first-time homebuyer loans with zero down: USDA Rural Development Loan The USDA Rural Development Loan is offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With this loan you can borrow up to 100% of the appraised value of the home, and in some instances, up to an additional 2% more that can be used for small repairs or improvements. One of the main requirements of the USDA loan is that the subject property must fall within a specific geographical location that is outside a city/metropolitan area. To find out if a particular property falls within the USDA required area, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. VA Home Loan The VA Home Loan (Veterans) is another popular Zero Down Payment Mortgage offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Signed into law back in 1944 by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights) offered veterans a federally guaranteed home loan with zero money down. There are some very specific eligibility requirements in order to qualify for a VA home loan so be sure you visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website for more details. You can also reach out to one of our friendly loan officers at a branch close to you.   Even though both of these loan products are first-time homebuyer loans with zero down, there are still some out-of-pocket expenses when buying a home, i.e. earnest money, and home inspection. Make sure you have enough money saved up to cover these Buyer costs. Learn all about the first home buying process with our "Get Mortgage Ready Kit." The free eBook has a ton of information including a glossary of mortgage terms to help you be a more powerful and educated buyer.   (cash picture derived from: Flickr user Andrew Magill)

This is an article submitted by a guest author. Not all views expressed are those of Amerifirst Home Mortgage or its employees.  A home inspection is an invaluable tool for a home buyer trying to decide whether or not a specific property is a good investment. Being present for the process can make the inspection even more worthwhile. Asking questions of the inspector and getting his or her opinions about the problems with the house can help the home buyer decide whether or not to move forward with the real estate transaction.

This is an article submitted by a guest author. Not all views expressed are those of Amerifirst Home Mortgage or its employees.  Just about everybody fantasizes about owning a pool or spa when the temperatures rise. But how does the fantasy of owning a pool or spa stack up to the reality? The answer is, "It depends." Here are some things to consider if you're thinking about adding a backyard pool to your property. 

Searching for the perfect home has become quite the chore in the last couple of years. The headlines say it all - housing stock is down. This means you as a buyer have fewer homes to choose from on the market. What's a buyer to do?  This can be especially frustrating for a first time home buyer, as most first timers don't have the means to get into a bidding war.  There's an option out there for financing your dream home - even if it looks like a nightmare. The FHA 203k renovation mortgage puts the low down payment option of the FHA loan to work with the power of after-improved value once the remodeling is finished.