Guardian reporter Jessica Glenza and her boyfriend are buying a house and decided to go with a Federal Housing Authority loan. Glenza explains (in a satirical way that catches your eye), how she can finally afford a home and why some might think this is a bad thing.
It was over a plate of linguine and cream sauce that I learned I could afford a home. The government-run program allows buyers to put down as little as 3.5% of the property’s sales price.
What I found out is that the Federal Housing Authority finances about one in five homes in the US, a huge proportion. FHA financing works by allowing people to finance part of the traditional 20% down payment.
Previously, Glenza assumed she would be forced to save for 10 to 15 years in order to pull together a 20% down payment.
However, as she learned about this new program, she also realized the opposition to it. This is where people like Norbert Michael from the Heritage Foundation, who would rather do away with Fannie, Freddie and the FHA, come in.
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