Real Help From The Government. Who Knew?
March 24, 2009
Unlike most government programs, two new websites designed to help current homeowners experiencing difficulty making their mortgage payments and new buyers considering entering the world of homeownership are both easy and informative.
If you’re having a tough time making your current mortgage payment, go to www.makinghomeaffordable.gov. It’s an easy program to navigate and will tell you almost immediately whether or not your loan is owned by Sallie Mae or Freddie Mac (which may make you eligible for a lower interest rate/house payment). You don’t have to dig out your loan number or any other documentation to do it, either. You simply have to know your home address.
If you have questions about the $8000 credit for first time homebuyers (“first time” means you haven’t owned a home in the last three years), go to www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com. It, too, is an easy site to understand. The dates to pay close attention to: Jan 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. You have to have purchased a home within this timeframe to be eligible for the credit. There are income limitations, too.
Don’t put off doing something because you’re afraid it’ll be too difficult or it’ll make you face something you didn’t want to deal with. Worst case? You click out of the site and you’re back to where you started. No harm, no foul.
