I recently attended a Neighbor Assistance Program Seminar and would like to share this information to you. This program offers homebuyer (FIRST TIME OR NOT) and homeowners an opportunity to buy a house with absolutely no down payment and no closing cost. It's also an opportunity for homeowners to refinance their predatory loan to a much a better rate of interest. Not only that, they are offering rates about .50% lower than your conventional financing. Is that true, you will ask me? I was doubtful myself that is why I spent almost an entire Saturday listening to what they have to offer. This is not a government program; this company is a non-profit organization that gets certain grant from this conventional lender in order to offer these types of loans. It is true but it's not that easy, you pay either way: the easy way with your dollars, or this way with your time. I will narrow down what I found out from the seminar, and this is something for you to consider if you qualify for it.

For purchasing a home, here are the requirements:

1. Currently, maximum sales price for

CONDO/SFR: $ 362,790.00

Two unit property: $ 464,449.00

Three unit property: $ 561,411.00

Four unit property: $ 697,696.00

2. Attend and graduate from their workshops

3. Complete evaluation forms and daily expense diaries.

4. Qualify for the house when evaluated, sometimes they will accept unconventional method of qualifying you for your income. For example, if you don’t have pay stubs, they will review your previous year’s bank statements to average out your deposit.

5. Credit is not an issue, but you have to resolve and explain late pays.

6. Pay for taxes, interest and insurance fees at closing.

** This process is not going to be a 30 day process, I think it might take between 3-6 months to be able to qualify and buy, because this program educates you and slowly walks you through a budgeting process to help you manage your money well and avoid foreclosure. But, since prices are currently unstable this might be a good time for someone to start this process and wait out the market. Plus, you are not paying anything for the loan, they have the right to make you wait and properly prepare for this home.

** If you are buying a fixer upper, they will allow you to cash out money to make the house livable, funds will not be use to paint your walls or buy your furniture. But if you are buying a house with roof or plumbing problems that can be assessed into the loan for you to use.

For Refinancing predatory loans, here are the requirements:

1. You have to be paying off a loan rate higher than 10%.

2. You have to fully qualify with terms same as above.

3. You have to be owner occupying the house.

4. Of course, you have to attend all their workshops and be evaluated just like if you were to buy.

Things to remember:

1. You have to be able to qualify for the program and afford what you are buying. No stated income or easy qualifying here.

2. You have to prepare yourself to attend workshops and multiple consultations on how to manage your money, debts, expenses etc…

3. Your credit is not a big factor but will be evaluated and you will have to explain and reassure them that your tardiness will not happen again. Tax liens and judgments will have to be paid.

4. Your income, if not verified by pay stubs or W-2’s, will have to be proven with bank statements showing you are depositing those amounts.

5. You don’t have to be a first time homebuyer and could already own a property to qualify.

This organization is going to lend you the money but will make sure you can really afford the house before signing over the paperwork. They will spend a lot of time with you analyzing you debts and spending habits. This is truly a good program to get into, even if you just go in to be educated and learn how to manage your money properly. I think we all need that once in a while to wake us up and not over spend. We have to learn sometimes to say no to our adult children who still live with us and do try to make it on their own.

I have referred some of my callers already because this is a good program. Call me if you are interested and I will forward you all the necessary information on this loan.

Ken Go has been running his southern California home loans business since 1987. His honesty and courtesy equal loyalty to his customers. Forget about "good faith estimates." With 1st Innovative Finance Group, all loan rates and fees are guaranteed upon application. Ken Go writes a California home loans blog for anyone who might want free advice about financing a home with a mortgage. Ken speaks English, Chinese, and Filipino (Tagalog).