
Five Steps to Prepare for Buying Your First Home
Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, but the right
Work with one of our licensed housing advisors to achieve your dream of homeownership. Through individual pre-purchase education sessions and group workshops, our staff will help you identify and overcome impediments to homeownership and create savings that will help you purchase a home that you can afford. You may even be eligible for downpayment assistance!
We have several options to help you on your path to housing stability. Choose the one that is right for you!
Receive individual counseling with an experienced, professional HUD licensed counselor.
Pending the availability of grant funding, you may be eligible to purchase your home through our Down payment and Closing Cost Assistance Loan program.
Meet with one of our Trusted Housing advisors to achieve your dream of homeownership
Origin SC will review all applications for qualified first time homebuyers, income restrictions apply. To learn more such as income guidelines & eligibility, please visit the Origin Lending page and view the current available products.
Many lenders accept certificates from our program. Please check with your lender or call us to learn more.
The best way to begin is by reviewing all three of your credit reports & scores with one of our home purchase advisors.
No, but it is important to not take on any new or unnecessary debt unless it is needed.
There are many mortgage lenders out there that determine their own level of risk, but a home purchase advisor will be able to help you understand what options are available based on your circumstance.
Your home purchase coach can help you determine what loan products you may qualify for, and how much will be manageable, based on your income.
It depends on the maximum sales price a mortgage lender is willing to extend to you as the borrower. Five percent of the sales price is a safe amount. This should pay for all upfront fees going into the home purchase, including any downpayment expected from the homebuyer.
Some mortgage lenders will forgive certain collection debts. Having a home purchase advisor review your reports will help you identify what is needed before pre-qualification is possible.
Pay your bills on time and keep balances low.
It depends what is already showing on your reports. There are no quick score recoveries. It takes time, and patience is the key.
It depends on the mortgage products. Some lenders will include student loan debt into the total Debt-to-Income Ratio, even if those loans are currently in deferment or forbearance.
Never look at your reports as “bad.” ALL consumers can improve credit history.
It depends on your gross income and the mortgage product you are interested in.
The interest rate refers to the cost of borrowing money. Your loan’s annual percentage rate (APR) reflects the cost of your loan on a yearly basis. The APR is intended to give you more information on what you’re really getting. All lender fees are included in factoring the APR so you can better see the true cost of a loan and make a fair comparison.
Yes. We offer what’s called “high cost mortgage loan” housing counseling. Please contact us at info@originSC.org or 843.628.3000 to schedule an in-person appointment with a licensed housing advisor.
Your home purchase advisor will educate and supply the tools needed to help you achieve your goals of homeownership. Our advisors also give you information on the current mortgage products available and their basic requirements.
We’re here to help you take the next step toward stability.
Practical guidance for the road ahead.

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