Buying a home is the American Dream and one of the most exciting times in a person's life! However, for many first-time home buyers, one thing often stands in their way...a down payment. The long-lived myth that you need a 20% down payment to purchase a home is just that...a myth. There are several loan programs that require less than a 20% down payment: Conventional (5%), FHA (3.5%), USDA (0%) and VA (0%); however, home buyers can also get help through Down Payment Assistance programs!
Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs are a great option to consider if you want to become a homeowner, but struggle coming up with your down payment. DPA programs are available through a variety of sources including federal, state, county and city agencies, as well as non-profit agencies. They provide a fixed amount of money to qualified buyers that can be used for a down payment, and even closing costs on a home purchase. The amount of money available to a home buyer depends on the agency administering the funds. Money provided through DPA programs are generally considered to be one of three things:
A grant
An interest-free loan
A debt you repay in the future
There is a misconception that DPA programs are only available to first-time home buyers. A little more than 60% of programs cater to first-time home buyers; however, there are programs available to repeat buyers as well. Although down payment assistance is available, not every home buyer will qualify for it. Each program has its own rules for determining a buyer's eligibility. Where a person lives and how much money they make will influence eligibility for some DPA programs. "There are geographical zones and income limits, depending on those zones and how many people are in the household," says mortgage expert and author, Elysia Stobbe. Other qualifying factors may also come into play. These include, but are not limited to:
Credit Score
Debt-to-Income ratio (DTI)
Completion of a homebuyer education course
Military/Veteran status
Employment in a public service position
Still think you need a 20% down payment to purchase a home? Think again. Down Payment Assistance programs are readily available and designed to help those who want to purchase a home, but might otherwise be shut out of the market.
TO EXPLORE YOUR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OPTIONS, CONTACT US TODAY!!
Very professional team - great job!
Thomas J B
Thanks to everyone who assisted with getting my loan to closing status I truly appreciate it.
Trakena R W
Katie and Shelly were knowledgeable, prompt, and professional.
Shanta B
The entire team was great and very informative. They took the time to answer all of our questions and ensured that we were knowledgeable about every step of the process. A great help indeed!!! Truly appreciate you all.
Karen H
Great and professional
Jean P G
1) Phone calls and emails were responded to within a very short timeframe 2) All of my options for my mortgage were clearly laid out and explained to me 3) Buying a house and financing it can be stressful. Katie and her team were nice, happy people that made the process easy.
Lance E J
Katie and Tanya, we hit roadblocks we still got what we needed done for closing. Ty Katie and Tanya for your guidance!
Faysal A
Katie and Shelly always provided answers to my questions and they made the mortgage process easy and understandable.
Anselme B
It was a great experience having worked with Katie
Amitay H
Overall service has been great, with that said, I suggest the system upgrade so that Interlinc would not keep asking for the same documents that a customer has already submitted.
Young K K
Thank you for all the help! You and your team were very responsive and always available to answer our questions. It was a great experience to work with you!
Upabali D
Katie was wonderful to work with. She ensured that we were informed on every step of the process. She was always responsive to our calls and emails and ensured that all of our questions and concerns were addressed to our satisfaction. She was great to work with. One comment/recommendation that I have is regarding the application process. I am a biracial woman, and I was categorized as "black" on the application. Given the expectation of companies to move towards greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, I would highly recommend adjusting this section of the application to reflect the ever-growing multi-ethnic population and not force anyone to choose a single ethnicity based on archaic rules created to disenfranchise certain people groups.
Jacquetta Z
Katie is super awesome at what she does! Every question I had, and request was answered and met! Thank you so much for the awesome experience on our journey of buying our first house!
John L F
Katie was phenomenal. She was very thorough, explained everything in simple terms, and walked us through this entire process. She even wished me a Happy Birthday! Will be reaching out again once these rates drop to refi!
Ami J U
Interlinc made the mortgage process smooth and easy. Katie and her team were professional and responsive from application through closing.
Conner A J
Katie and the team did an exceptional job with our home loan application.
Monis A
Thanks for your help!
Ryan J F
Our loan process was smooth and We got all the help needed from Katie and her team. I highly recommend Katie!
Rikesh T
Katie Andy and her team were accommodating and professional. It was a pleasure to work with Interlinc. It has been a smooth process. We were kept appraised through the various steps. The phone app is nicely put together and a must-have. Questions were answered without hesitation. Glad we used Interlinc for our loan. We have recommended it to friends and family.
Guillermo C R
Awesome service.
Destinee B
Katie was extremely helpful throughout the loan process. She always took extra care in answering all questions, even trivial ones. She was very compassionate and professional.
Rakesh S
Always great!
Sheryl C
Thanks for all your hard work.
Maria C H
It was great working this journey with you. Thank you.
Oyekunbi F
I had a good experience, and they were helpful in every way.
Michael O O
Katie and the team were excellent as always Thank you.
Doug F
Katie was there for me in every step of the process.
Kim D F
Katie was awesome! Extremely knowledgeable, professional, dedicated, and responsive. Any time I needed Katie, she was there. I’d work with Katie again in a heartbeat. Thank you!
Khusro S S
Katie and her team were exceptional! They went above and beyond to meet all our needs! We had a bit of a crisis with our movers and needed to close one day early and Katie and her team made it happen!!!! We would recommend Interlinc Loans to anyone we know!!!! Thank you, Katie, and team!!!! You are amazing!
Jose A I
Katie is amazing to work with!
Sheryl C
From the beginning to the end of the process, the team was always informative, very helpful, and always willing to answer questions. They presented various options and programs that would suit our needs. We were always kept in the loop on what was going on, what was needed, and how we were tracking the schedule. We closed on time with no hiccups and everything was in place. We are repeat customers and appreciate Katie and the whole tram! We would use them again!
Matthew E K
Katie was always quick to answer our questions. She made sure we had up-to-date information and that everything was clear.
Brandy C
The team was great! Everyone was so on top of things that we got to close early on our house! We couldn't be happier. Thank you for all that you did. We appreciate you more than you know!
Julian B
Very helpful throughout the whole process!
Stefani M
Katie is awesome!
Bonnie M
Awesome job!
Doug F
Thanks, Katie!!!
CW K
Great communication and options for buyers.
Jacqueline C
Very good!
Abay C B
I loved working with her and hope to work with her again soon.
Ferris S
20 days from start to close! Amazing job Katie!!
Sheryl C
We have had a wonderful experience working with Katie Andy and the rest of our team on our home loan! They were helpful, timely, and kind. We were thrilled to close on our home in time with no complications. Thank you InterLinc!
Tabitha I
Always a pleasure.
CW K
Thank you very much. I am very happy with my family. It was an amazing experience, and I would like everyone who was involved to make happen. Again, Thank you!
Meseret C
I would like to thank Katie and Shelly for your cooperation and help.
Amir R
It an amazing service I ever had. Katie is the best person and a family-oriented professional person. She made my family happy. I can say all of the people I got on this process were the best. Thank you!
Teressa D S
Katie and her team are awesome!
Doug F
Katie and her team could not have been better. 1 million percent recommend it!
William M
Katie was awesome to work with and answered all my calls and questions!
Ferris S
Always great with Katie.
Sheryl C
Katie Andy was excellent. My customers felt and feel comfortable with her, and she answered all their questions. Explain everything to them. Smooth process. Thanks, Katie.
Jacqueline C
Katie was a pleasure to work with. She is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and always returned calls in a short period of time.
Edward D V
If you are looking for an amazing experience, then look no further than Katie Andy at Interlinc Mortgage.
Destinee B
Katie is always great.
Sheryl C
Best lender we have ever had! Great communication with the entire team and very very timely! Would recommend 10/10.
Glorious H
Katie was great. She helped us from A to Z. She was very knowledgeable and detailed about the whole process and made it very seamless. We truly enjoyed working with her.
Brandon D S
I will buy more houses in the future because of a such tremendous experience with Katie and her team. New home buyers can get an amazing service with a profound knowledge in the field on top of honesty and professionalism with Katie.
Essaw J
The professionalism, skillfulness and honesty is something you cannot find elsewhere.
Senedu A
Always Great
Sheryl C
Katie and Tanya were outstanding through the entire process and were very patience with us throughout. Great experience altogether!
Josh T
Katie and her team are awesome. Thank You for all that you do
Doug F
Keep up the good work!
CW K
Very professional and helpful
Dora L
Katie, and the entire Katie Andy team are fantastic. Not only are they always consistent, they are direct and always polite.
Zachary B
Process was seamless. Any questions I had was promptly answered. I highly recommend Katie and her team.
Victor O
Katie and the team handled this process very professionally and efficiently. My husband and I were very pleased to know that they were able to help us in every way possible
Emily I
Great overall experience.
Great communication, regular updates. Thank you for a smooth transaction!
Easy group to work with and very prompt to answer any questions.
Katie was great
Katie was great to work with!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks to Katie Andy for her professionalism and efficiency. Thank you to all the team members that worked with a Katie on this too, especially Shelly Brooks.
Very professional and understanding. Highly recommend!
Great service
Katie and her entire team are phenomenal at what they do. I couldn’t be more pleased
Katie always does a great job...although I have a choice of preferred lenders MY choice is clear.
Always great with Katie!
Anything was good
Highly customer centric services.
Katie is a jewel. She has been magnificent in helping and guiding us through our home buying process. I wish we had referral but will keep her in mind when someone is looking for a home loan.
Everything went great
Easy, smooth closing. Quick to respond. Fast funding!
I am so excited that you all were able to help this homebuyer get into a home because they have been a great couple to work with!
You guys are the best
Anytime I had a question about the process I would call Katie and she always explained everything in detail and was very direct at the same time. I always knew what was going on with Katie’s help. A-1 Job
Thank you Katie! Always a pleasure to work with you! You are amazing!!!
Katie was above and beyond our expectations. My experience and overall time with her handling our loan have been nothing but amazing. We are very pleased and happy to have her guide us through this whole process.
Katie Andy always takes great care of my buyers and goes that extra mile to ensure a smooth transaction. I have a choice between preferred lenders...she makes it an easy one.
Katie is a top professional that knows exactly what the customer needs even when we didn't know the right Package for us. 1st class team!!
Katie and her team were a delight to work with. They were professional, responsive, and nothing short of stellar. Interlinc went above and beyond expectations and communicated every step of the process effectively and efficiently to ensure a smooth and stress free closing. I would highly recommend Interlic, Katie Andy, and her team of professionals.
Thank you for making things easy to follow and for your patience and quick response to things!
Great Service!
Katie and her team was thorough, knowledgeable, understanding and very timely in their response to my questions. I highly recommend them for those wanting “A Class” service.
Katie was a wonderful partner in this deal, which was one of the most challenging buying processes I've experienced. Over the course of almost a year and a dozen homes we were finally able to secure one for them. Katie and her team were tremendous in making sure that my clients had all of their resources and great communication throughout.
Thank you Katie for being extremely thorough, available, and so helpful!
Katie was fantastic!!
Katie was very responsive and helpful throughout the entire process. She answered all my questions in a timely manner and never seemed flustered. Great overall experience!
Katie is awesome
Katie and her team were outstanding
Always a smooth process with Katie
Katie Andy is on top of the process and addressed all of our concerns and questions right away. We are pleased with the overall experience and would highly recommend InterLinc.
Katie made the process so easy as always!
I'll be back!!
I would call Katie for any of my loan questions and needs. She is absolutely amazing with all she does. Her knowledge is absolutely fantastic and she always gets back to me immediately. She always made me feel like I was her only client, even though I know I am one of many. Thank you, So much Katie!!! I so appreciate you!
Our loan officer Katie Andy and the entire Andy team are nothing short of exceptional. Their timeliness, attention to detail and ability to work together cohesively and paying attention to every detail treating no loan the exact same. Is exactly why we will always continually work with the Katie Andy team!! Katie and her team are freakin’ fantastic!
Katie Andy and the entire team were thorough, quick to respond to any question, and were very pleasant to work with through our home buying experience. Would recommend using them 100%!
Katie and her team were very easy to work with and helped get us closed quickly with no hiccups along the way. I highly recommend.
Katy is the best in the business and I will continue to refer her to any and everybody that I know that is going through this process. Couldn’t ask for a better person.
Katie is wonderful to work with and I will continue to utilize her and refer her to other people looking for a lender or refinance.
Always a pleasure.
Katie was great to work with.
Awesome!!!!
Katie was very helpful and helped answer all of our questions at all times.
Very professional. Always replies promptly. Great home buying experience with Katie.
I would like to thank Katie and her team, I loved the experience of working with them, they were always on top of everything, they returned my calls every time I needed some help, and they kept me informed of the process the whole time. The experience that can be very stressful was extremely good thanks to Katie and her team.
Great experience
Katie and the team are excellent!
Katie’s expertise with multiple loan programs designed for teachers helped me get into the home of my dreams. Thank you!
Katie did a great job communicating with us and the portal was easy to navigate and complete the to do’s.
Katie was a pleasure to work with. She made the process simple.
Katie Andy is awesome! Not only is she knowledgeable, she is caring and truly passionate about helping people. Whether our clients buy with us or elsewhere we always have and always will continue to recommend Katie Andy and the InterLinc family.
You guys are my preferred lender already, and this transaction was especially challenging. I appreciate Katie getting my buyers through and keeping them happy and relaxed throughout.
Katie is truly amazing! Her knowledge and dedication to our clients is above and beyond. My clients and I feel truly blessed to have her on our team.
You provide excellent communication during the process. Katie did a superior job.
My refinance was a very streamlined and painless process with Katie and her team. Almost everything was completed electronically. And they were able to accommodate several scheduling issues for the final closing.
From filling out the application to signing title papers as new home owners, our experience was wonderful. A few mix ups and misunderstandings, but those were minimal and resolved within minutes. Communication is key and from the very beginning communication was at 100%.
Katie was fantastic. We were building new and it was a long frustrating experience, but she made the financial side a breeze.
Katie is extremely patient and handles all issues expeditiously.
Katie and her team consistently go above and beyond in making a transaction work. There are very few "perfect" transactions. The real measure of good service is how professionals deal with the issues that come up along the way. Katie's team are always proactive and dedicated to getting a resolution and keep the file moving. That is one of the reasons she will always be my number one lender referral.
Great communication! Best I have had from a mortgage company.
Katie was great! She went above and beyond to answer our questions as first time homebuyers.
Everyone at InterLinc was professional, caring, and knowledgeable. Katie Andy and her team went above and beyond and make the process as easy as possible and made our first home purchase a great experience. We were very fortunate to have had a great realtor and great loan officer to help us on our journey.
Katie and her team were absolutely wonderful! There was nothing they could have done any better. Calls, texts and emails were responded to promptly and all my questions were answered in detail. Katie made me feel like I was her only client and took her valuable time. I can not say enough kind things about her company!
We were very satisfied in the process of purchasing our new home...very professional and amazing communication skills .
Katy and her crew helped me through what everybody knows to be a stressful and difficult experience. Thank you so much.
The loan processing was very smooth. Katie and her team was there to answer all the questions we had even outside of office hours. The closing was done in less than a month. We are very happy with the service.
I was kept informed throughout the process, I didn't need to ask questions.
Katie was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!...I can even say that I made a new friend through all of this!...She was my rock and a listening ear through this whole thing…and guided me along the way!!
Katie and her team made the process smooth. We appreciated the clear communication at each step.
It was a stress free process knowing that professionals like Katie and Douglas will be able to guide and supporting me throughout this process.
Katie Andy was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. This was my first time buying a house. Katie held my hand and walked me through, patiently the whole way.
Katie Andy and her team has great passion for buyers to achieve home ownership.
As always it was a pleasure to work with you and your team. You've always treated me with your utmost professionalism and respect and I appreciate you and your team for that. Whatever happens in the future, I don't foresee myself going anywhere for such business. Trust is not a given rather it's earned. I believe we both have earned each other's trust. Thank you for all your assistance and patience working with me through it all.
Katie Andy was very helpful throughout the whole loan process. Thanks for all the help and support.
Daniel M L
