Buying a Home in Connecticut
It can be exciting to think about buying a home in Connecticut. Soon you could be living your best life in your dream home in the Constitution State. Here’s what you need to know:
Where will you plan to settle down? Connecticut is called home by almost 3.6 million people, and one in six live in the city’s top five biggest cities:
- Bridgeport
- New Haven
- Stamford
- Hartford (state capital)
- Waterbury
What kind of home can you afford to buy? Connecticut ranks 6th in US homes for sale at average price, and 11th for homes over $1,000,000. Get preapproved first, so you know your budget, then start house hunting.
First-time Homebuyers
If you’re a first-time home buyer, it’s possible you could qualify for assistance through a program administered by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA.)
The CHFA’s Conventional Area Median Income Loan Program (CALP) provides access to loans for first-time homebuyers who can’t qualify for an HFA Advantage or HFA Preferred loan due to their income being higher than 80% of the area median income (AMI).
The CHFA’s Down-payment Assistance Program (DAP) is for qualified first-time homebuyers and offers low-interest loans ranging from $3,000 up to $20,000 as a second mortgage to be put towards your down payment or closing costs. To be eligible, you must qualify for an applicable CHFA first mortgage, and contribute at least $1,000 towards the purchase.
To qualify for these first-time home buyer programs in Connecticut, you’ll need to:
- Present proof of completion for a homeowners education course
- Choose a single-family home, condominium, townhome or planned unit development
- Live in the home as your primary residence
- Meet certain income and purchase price requirements based on your loan type
Refinancing in Connecticut
If you want to refinance your home in Connecticut and benefit from lower Connecticut mortgage rates, you can do any of the following:
- Refinance the balance of your home loan at a lower interest rate
- Refinance the balance on your mortgage for a longer term
- Refinance and take out some of the equity in your home as cash
- Refinance to relieve yourself of a private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirement
You might be able to qualify for a streamlined refinance if you are holding a certain type of loan. Ask your lender for more information.