Vermont First-Time Home Buyer: 2025 Programs and Grants

Peter WardenNotes

What to know about buying a house in Vermont Vermont home prices are rising at a rapid rate compared to many other states. This can be a real challenge for first-time home buyers. Fortunately, Vermont can offer assistance in the form of mortgages with below-market rates, valuable tax breaks, and down payment assistance for eligible buyers. Here’s how to get started. Verify your home buying eligibility in Vermont. Start here In this article (Skip to…) Vermont first-time home buyer programs The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA)4 has three home buying assistance programs for first-time buyers: MOVE, MOVE MCC, and ADVANTAGE. Check your home buying eligibility in Vermont. Start here All three of these programs offer genuinely valuable help. They also knock $825 off your Vermont property transfer tax. Program details and savings are subject to change; check the relevant website before you apply. To top it off, buyers using a …

Utah First-Time Home Buyer | Programs & Grants 2025

Peter WardenNotes

What to know about buying a house in Utah Purchasing your first home in Utah can be difficult. However, there is plenty of assistance available. For first-time home buyers, the Beehive State offers a wealth of advice, counseling, and educational courses. Utah also has special mortgage programs for first-time home buyers. Perhaps most importantly, you may be eligible for a grant or loan to assist with your down payment and closing costs. Are you ready to begin the home-buying process? Verify your home buying eligibility in Utah. Start here In this article (Skip to …) Utah first-time home buyer programs As a Utah home buyer, your first port of call will likely be the state’s housing authority, the Utah Housing Corporation (UHC). It has several mortgage programs that can help Utah homeowners. Verify your home buying eligibility in Utah. Start here In order to get help from the UHC, you’ll …

Texas First-Time Home Buyer | 2025 Programs and Grants

Peter WardenNotes

What to know about buying a house in Texas First-time home buyers in Texas have plenty of places to turn for help. The Lone Star State has a range of first-time home buyer programs — from advice and home buyer education courses to grants and loans that can help you cover your down payment and closing costs. Some of these down payment assistance programs are statewide, but others are for particular cities, towns, and counties. So make sure you explore your local options. Verify your home buying eligibility in Texas. Start here In this article (Skip to…) Texas first-time home buyer programs There are numerous sources of help for first-time home buyers in Texas. Start by checking out the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Check your home loan options. Start here Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) programs The …

Tennessee First-Time Home Buyer | Assistance Programs 2025

Peter WardenNotes

What to know about buying a house in Tennessee If you’re a first-time home buyer in Tennessee, you might be qualified for valuable assistance from your state, county, or city. That could include home buyer education, special mortgage programs, and even down payment assistance. Ready to take your first step toward becoming a homeowner? Here’s what to do. Verify your home buying eligibility in Tennessee. Start here In this article (Skip to…) Tennessee first-time home buyer programs First-time homebuyers in Tennessee can receive a variety of support from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). That includes home buyer education, a range of mortgage loans, and down payment assistance. Verify your home buying eligibility in Tennessee. Start here THDA Great Choice Home Loan Tennessee’s Great Choice Home Loan program offers home buyers a 30-year fixed-rate loan option, mostly based on FHA or USDA loans. The Great Choice home loan program is …

South Dakota First-Time Home Buyer: 2025 Programs and Grants

Peter WardenNotes

What to know about buying a house in South Dakota South Dakota’s average home prices are below the national median. But they saw big growth during the pandemic. Luckily, South Dakota offers valuable programs to help first-time home buyers, including special mortgages, down payment assistance, and tax breaks. Here’s how to get started. Verify your home buying eligibility in South Dakota. Start here In this article (Skip to…) South Dakota first-time home buyer programs The South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA)4 offers special mortgages to first-time buyers across the state. These offer the possibility of competitive interest rates or down payment assistance, together with a mortgage credit certificate (MCC). Verify your home buying eligibility in South Dakota. Start here The SDHDA explains, “SDHDA’s Tax Credit is available through a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), which reduces the amount of federal income tax you pay, giving you more disposable income. With SDHDA’s …

Good News For Homebuyers: Sellers Start Pricing Lower, Monthly Mortgage Payments Dip to 4-Month Low

Dana AndersonReal Estate

The median U.S. asking price posted its smallest increase since the start of 2025 as more sellers come to terms with the reality of today’s buyer’s market.  The median U.S. asking price was $407,000 during the four weeks ending July 13, up 2.9% year over year, the smallest increase in over four months. That’s just slightly higher than the median home-sale price of $401,120; the small size of that gap is a sign that sellers are starting to price their homes lower as they realize it’s a buyer’s market. The median sale price is up just 1.7% year over year; given that the average U.S. wage has increased by more than 4%, homes are more affordable than they were last year. The housing market has been tilting in buyers’ favor for months, with buyers getting concessions from sellers and often successfully negotiating sale prices down. The slowdown in asking-price growth, …

State by State Beer Taxes 2025

Brad BeckettNotes

The Tax Foundation says as we head into the summer months, many Americans enjoy a cold beer at the end of a long day. However, beer taxes might dampen the vibe.  They point out that here in the U.S., taxes are the single most expensive ingredient in beer. This burden accounts for more of the final price of beer than labor & ingredients combined – as much as 40.8% of the retail price.  Check out their interactive map below. Key changes in 2025: Connecticut reduced the tax rate on beer from $0.24 per gallon to $0.19 per gallon. Kentucky reduced the tax rate on beer from $0.93 per gallon to $0.89 per gallon. Arkansas increased the tax rate on beer from $0.35 per gallon to $0.38 per gallon. North Dakota increased the tax rate on beer from $0.40 per gallon to $0.43 per gallon. Utah increased the tax rate on …

Foreclosure Activity in First Half of 2025 Up From Previous Year

ATTOM TeamReal Estate

U.S. Foreclosure Starts increase 7 Percent in First Six Months of 2025; Average Days to Complete a Foreclosure Down Third Quarter in a Row; June and Q2 2025 Foreclosure Activity Post Annual Increase IRVINE, Calif. — July 17, 2025 — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, today released its Mid-Year 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 187,659 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — in the first six months of 2025. That figure is up 5.8 percent from the same time period a year ago and up 1.1 percent from the same time period two years ago. “Foreclosure activity continued its upward trend in the first half of 2025, with increases in both starts and completed foreclosures compared to last year,” said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. “While the overall numbers …

Airbnb Updates Terms of Service for Payments

Brad BeckettNotes

In late June, Airbnb issued an important update to their Payment Terms.  According to a release, updates to their Payments Terms are effective immediately for all first time users and for existing users on September 8, 2025.  If you have Airbnb rentals in your portfolio, it is important to take a look at these new terms and how they may (or may not) impact your business.  Be sure to dig deep into the details as some reports are noting that the payout schedules have been changed. “We updated the Payments Terms of Service to explain the instances and terms under which we may modify the payout schedule for accommodation bookings.” Click here to read more at Airbnb.   The post Airbnb Updates Terms of Service for Payments appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Financing Outside the Box: How Today’s Investors Fund Deals

Brad BeckettReal Estate

On a recent episode of the Idaho Real Estate Investor Show, Jonna Weber talks with Patrick Penner from Coast to Coast Mortgage, about creative financing options for real estate investors.  They explore strategies such as Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat (BRRR), Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loans, and the importance of asset protection. Patrick shares insights from his 30+ years in the mortgage industry, emphasizing the value of planning and pre-approval before investing. Click here to listen.   The post Financing Outside the Box: How Today’s Investors Fund Deals appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.