Maine first-time homebuyer assistance programs
People have been clamoring for a piece of Maine. In 2023, it made Atlas Van Lines’ Annual Migration Patterns Study as the number one most popular state to move to.
While that means there’s a lot of competition out there for first-time homebuyers, there are also several assistance programs available to help level the playing field. The Maine State Housing Authority, known as MaineHousing, connects first-time buyers with loan options and assistance programs to help make homeownership more affordable. In Maine, you’re considered a first-time buyer if you haven’t owned a home in the past three years.
Maine first-time homebuyer programs
MaineHousing offers 30-year mortgages with low fixed rates and little to no down payment. For first-time homebuyers, options include:
MaineHousing First Home Loan Program
MaineHousing’s First Home Loan Program provides first-time homebuyers with 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages, either as a conventional, FHA, VA or USDA loan. There is little to no down payment required with many of these options. You can couple this mortgage with MaineHousing’s down payment and closing cost assistance program, dubbed “Advantage,” to maximize savings.
The First Home Loan Program offers zero- and two-discount point interest rate options, with each point equaling 1 percent of the amount borrowed. You can pay for points upfront to lower your interest rate.
First Home Loan mortgages also include payment protection in case you lose your job. Through Maine HOPE (“Home Ownership Protection for unEmployment”), borrowers in good standing who become unemployed can receive an advance of up to four mortgage payments, including taxes and homeowners insurance. The payments are packaged as a no-interest junior lien that you only need to repay when you sell the home or pay off the first mortgage.
Borrower requirements:
- 640 minimum credit score
- Must meet MaineHousing income limits
Property requirements:
- Must be a single-family home, two- to four-unit owner-occupied apartment building, condominium or mobile home
- Must meet MaineHousing purchase price limits
Since MaineHousing mortgages are financed with mortgage revenue bonds, you might be subject to a federal recapture tax. That means if you sell your home within nine years of buying it and make a profit on the sale, and your income has risen significantly, the feds could tax a portion of the money you saved by having a MaineHousing mortgage. As of 2013, those who do pay this tax might qualify for a reimbursement from MaineHousing.
MaineHousing Salute ME
Through MaineHousing’s Salute ME program, active-duty, veteran and retired military members can qualify for a 0.5 percent discount on a First Home 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. As with the First Home loan program, borrowers must meet income and purchase price limits to qualify. Limits are based on the number of people in a household and the home’s location.
The agency waives the first-time homebuyer requirement for participants in the program, but borrowers must have either remained on active duty for 180 days or been within a war zone, or have been honorably discharged from military service. National Guard members who meet the requirements are eligible, as well.
Property requirements:
- New and existing homes
- Owner-occupied two- to four-unit apartment buildings
- Condominiums
- Mobile homes constructed within the last 20 years and located on leased or owned land
MaineHousing Self-Insurance for Mobile Homes
MaineHousing’s Self-Insurance for Mobile Homes option offers mortgages for first-time homebuyers of a single- or double-wide home on owned or leased land. Through this program, the agency self-insures mobile home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio between 80 percent and 95 percent. In exchange, borrowers pay a higher interest rate, rather than pay for mortgage insurance.
Borrower requirements:
- 5 percent down payment (at least 3 percent must come from the borrower’s own funds)
- 640 minimum credit score
- Maximum 43 percent debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
Property requirements:
- Must be a permanently attached mobile home built within the last 20 years (an unattached mobile home on leased land could qualify)
- Must not use more than 15 percent of the property for business purposes
- Maximum $200,000 purchase price for leased land and $250,000 for owned land
MaineHousing Purchase Plus Improvement Program
MaineHousing’s Purchase Plus Improvement (PPI) Program allows you to finance a home purchase and repairs with a single mortgage, provided the cost of the home and the repairs doesn’t exceed First Home Loan purchase price limits.
The PPI loan allows for $500 to $35,000 in financing for certain kinds of home improvements, including adding a garage or making energy-efficiency upgrades. You cannot use the loan for improvements like adding a deck or swimming pool. The work must begin within 30 days of closing the loan and be complete within six months (180 days) of closing.
Maine down payment assistance
Down payment assistance is available to MaineHousing borrowers who need help covering these costs.
MaineHousing Advantage
Through the MaineHousing Advantage down payment and closing cost assistance program, qualifying homebuyers can receive up to $5,000 in cash toward a down payment or closing costs. To be eligible, the borrower:
- Must combine the assistance with a MaineHousing loan program
- Must complete a homebuyer education course
- Must contribute at least 1 percent of the loan amount to the purchase; the funds can be from a gift
Other Maine homebuyer assistance programs
First Generation Program
MaineHousing also offers a First Generation mortgage for individuals who have never lived in a home that was owned by their biological parents or legal guardians. These mortgages are also available to applicants who may have spent time in foster care as a child.
The program provides fixed-rate mortgages, as well as down payment and closing cost funds. Applicants who complete education requirements can receive $10,000 in closing cost funds.
Borrower requirements:
- Must take a financial literacy and a housing education course
- Make a minimum borrower contribution of 1 percent of the loan amount. Expenses of homebuyer education class count toward the 1 percent contribution
- 640 minimum credit score
Property requirements:
- Single family homes, owner-occupied two- to four-unit apartment buildings, condominiums and single- and double-wide mobile homes built within the last 20 years and located on leased or owned land.
Other Maine first-time homebuyer loans
In addition to MaineHousing programs, government mortgages such as FHA, VA and USDA loans offer terms and rates that can make it easier for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home.
- FHA loan: An FHA mortgage is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and offered by approved third-party lenders. These loans typically include low credit score and down payment requirements.
- VA loan: Designed for active-duty service members, veterans and surviving spouses, VA loans, which are guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, have no down payment and no private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements. The rates on VA loans are also very competitive.
- USDA loan: The USDA home loan program provides low- and moderate-income homebuyers a path to homeownership. The program is designed for homebuyers in designated rural areas who don’t meet conventional mortgage requirements.
Get started
If you’re a first-time homebuyer interested in living in Maine, start your homebuying journey by researching the assistance programs available and their eligibility requirements. Understanding your options can make the purchase process easier and less expensive.
Once you have a handle on the loan and down payment assistance programs out there, an approved MaineHousing mortgage lender can guide you through the application process and help you find the option that best fits your situation. Terms and interest rates vary by lender, so it’s important to compare loan options carefully.
