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Homebuyer Dream Program®
Make Your Dream Home a Reality.
Through our partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY), Municipal Credit Union (MCU) will be providing members with the ability to apply for the Homebuyer Dream Program® (HDP)—making homeownership more accessible and affordable for our everyday heroes.
Receive Up to $20,000 in Financial Assistance.
Down Payment and Closing Costs
The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) will grant up to $19,500 towards down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing a home through one of the approved community-based, member lenders, such as MCU.
Homeownership Counseling
Receive up to $500 towards the defrayment of homeownership counseling costs, which will be provided for the use of the household via the member to the non-profit counseling agency. The amount of the defrayment will be added to the grant.
Your Homeownership Goals, Within Reach.
Your Homeownership Goals, Within Reach.
Confirm Program Eligibility.
Check with MCU to make sure you meet the program’s requirements, including being a first-time homebuyer and earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Complete Homeownership Counseling.
Attend a HUD-approved homeownership counseling class to gain a better understanding of the homebuying process and get the certification you need to be eligible for the program.
Get Preapproved for a Mortgage.
Work with MCU to get preapproved for a mortgage, so you know how much you can afford to spend on your new home and go into the process prepared to make an offer.
Find a Home and Secure Funding!
Once you’ve made an offer and have an accepted purchase contract, submit a request to FHLBNY for funding approval. If approved, FHLBNY will contact you confirming commitment of the grant for a 120-day period.
HDP funds are distributed on a first come first served basis. There is no guarantee that funds will be available when your application is submitted. The grant is a Federal Home Loan Bank of NY program. Membership eligibility required. Loan approval is based on creditworthiness.
- Applicant must be a first-time homebuyer. This is generally defined as not having owned a home individually or with a spouse in the last three years.
- Must be able to qualify for a mortgage application under the MCU minimum guidelines.
- Minimum FICO score 620
- Minimum 2 years employment history
- Maximum LTV 95% - Conventional Loan
- DTI cannot exceed 50%
- Household total income must be at or below the 80% Area Median Income (AMI) adjusted for household size.
- Complete homeownership counseling through one of the approved counseling agencies prior to program enrollment.
- Homebuyer(s) must provide a minimum equity of $1,000 toward the purchase of the home.
- Homebuyer(s) must agree to reside at the subject property for five years or repay a prorated portion of the Grant back to the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.
If you have questions about the program or any of the above requirements, please contact an MCU Lending Sales Specialist. Or, send an email to mtg@nymcu.org with HDP 2024 in the subject line.
To reach us over the phone, call 844-MCU-NYNY (844-628-6969) - Select Option# 2, followed by Option# 2 again (For Real Estate sales).
No Matter Where You Are in Life, We’re Right There with You.
At MCU, we believe that a credit union should be a lifelong source of financial education and support—from planning for college to saving for retirement and everything in between.
That’s why we have specialized recommendations for products and services designed to help you meet your goals (both short-term and down the road), based on your changing needs and priorities.
Lending Products Built for the Heroes of NYC
Whether you’re ready to purchase a vehicle, need cash for an unexpected expense, or something else—we’re here to help. MCU offers the lending services you need to achieve your goals.
Auto Loans & Services
Get access to reliable products that help you buy, refinance, or insure your car. Explore our affordable loan and service options so you can focus on what really matters: grocery runs, daycare pickups, or a new commute.
Personal Loans
Need to pay for an unexpected expense, a special event, or just need some extra cash to consolidate bills? An MCU Personal Loan is a hassle-free way to access the funds you need and take control of your finances.
FAQs
Get Answers to Our Most Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I need to get pre-approved before buying a home?
While mortgage pre-approval is not required to make an offer on a house, getting pre-approved is highly recommended if you are planning to buy.
Pre-approval gives you a better idea of the loan amount you can get, the fees associated with it, and allows you to better budget for your future home.
In addition, sellers and realtors will be much more likely to accept an offer from someone with pre-approval.
Am I able to refinance my mortgage in the future?
Usually, yes.
However, there are criteria you must meet to refinance your home, depending on the type of mortgage you have and the type of refinance you want.
For most types of mortgages, you’ll need to have:
- Owned and occupied the house for at least 7 months
- Had a mortgage on the house for at least 7 months
- No late mortgage payments in the last 6 months
- 1 or fewer late mortgage payments in the past 12 months
For conventional mortgages, often you can refinances as soon as you’d like as long as you use a different lender.
If you need specific advice on refinancing your own mortgage, talk to one of our MCU Lending Sales Specialists.
What’s the difference between a conforming and nonconforming loan?
A conforming loan is determined by guidelines set by agencies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are backed by the federal government.
Conforming loans tend to have lower interest rates because there is a larger secondary market for them, which means you'll have lower monthly payments and spend less total over the life of the loan.
Conforming loans are highly standardized, since they must meet federal requirements. While it's always good to take time to consider any financial decision, federal requirements limit the likelihood that you'll be subject to unusual lender conditions.
Conforming loans are more likely to have protections backed by the federal government built in for when you face setbacks, such as an economic recession.
Conforming loans are more difficult to obtain for borrowers with low incomes, no or low credit scores, and higher debt-to-income (DTI) ratios.
A nonconforming loan is literally any mortgage loan that doesn't meet the requirements for a conforming loan—should've known! This doesn't mean they're less advantageous; for example, commercial properties are often financed with nonconforming loans.
Nonconforming loans tend to have more variety, which means you might get more flexibility since you may not be held to the stringent requirements of conforming loans. For instance, you might be able to afford to buy in a more expensive area or buy a type of home that isn't eligible for a conforming loan.
Nonconforming loans are inherently available to more borrowers, and some lenders even offer nonconforming loans specifically as solutions for a borrower with no or low credit, low household income, or even a past bankruptcy.
Since these loans are more accessible, they are also more expensive. Any lender will tend to charge more for borrowers that pose a higher risk, so you'll pay a higher down payment, higher interest rates, and potentially higher fees.
Though a conforming loan is often the first choice, nonconforming loans can offer flexibility and increase the likelihood of your loan application being accepted.
How can I get a better mortgage rate?
There are a lot of factors that go into determining mortgage rates. Most of these factors are outside of your control—for example, overall economic growth and the interest rates set by the Federal Reserve.
However, there are things you can do to ensure you’re getting the best rate you can on your mortgage:
- Focus on your credit score
- The higher your credit score, the more likely you’ll qualify for a lower mortgage rate.
- Save up for your down payment
- More money down will shrink your loan-to-value ratio, meaning you’ll likely qualify for better rates on a smaller mortgage.
- Find the type of mortgage that’s right for you
- Our MCU Lending Sales Specialists are always here to help.
- If you are a first-time home buyer, there may be programs to help make your mortgage more affordable. MCU can help with those too!.
How do I set up my monthly mortgage payment?
There are a few ways to set up your mortgage payments:
- Set up automatic payments through the MCU website or app
- Make a payment by visiting your MCU branch
- Send a check by mail each month