A shared equity mortgage is an arrangement under which a mortgage lender and a borrower share ownership of a property. Shared equity mortgages can also occur when there are multiple buyers of a single property. The borrower must occupy the property.
Home equity sharing may also be wise if you don't want extra debt reflected on your credit profile. "These agreements allow homeowners to access their home equity without incurring additional debt," says Michael Crute, a real estate agent and operations strategist with Keller Williams in Atlanta.
Requirements Must be a first-time homebuyer. Income must be within program limits. Minimum credit score of 640. Complete an 8-hour HUD-certified homebuyer course. Property must be located in the Hallandale Beach CRA district.
Generally, you can borrow up to 80% of your home's value minus your remaining home debts, meaning you're not eligible for an HEA until you have at least 20% equity in your home. Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: Calculate what percentage of your monthly gross income goes toward your debt payments.