Maximum Loan Limits Increase Nationwide
Most of the loans done in the United States end up with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or The Federal Housing Administration (FHA). All three agencies have Maximum Loan Limits, meaning that regardless of someone's qualification there is a cap on the loan amount. Over the last few days all three announced increases to those limits. ... Read More
Buying and Financing HUD Homes
Simply Put We LOVE Financing HUD Homes! HUD homes are foreclosed homes. They are homes that the previous owner took out a FHA loan and were subsequently foreclosed on. HUD/FHA then takes those homes and resells them. Not only are HUD homes listed for sale on the local MLS but they are also listed for... Read More
Waiting To Buy A Home Could Cost You
It's a crazy market out there! With the surge in demand and lack of inventory finding the right home can be frustrating and take a lot of patients. It can be easy for home buyers to throw in the towel and put off buying a home with the hopes things will get easier. Don't assume... Read More
Understanding Property Tax Increases
Many home buyers have been facing a very challenging market over the past few years. The current supply of homes on the market just can’t keep up with the huge demand out there. It’s not uncommon for a home to come on the market and be sold in a matter of days after receiving multiple... Read More
Restoring History with an FHA 203k Renovation Mortgage
This is a story of a home owner who purchased a home with extensive fire damage. They brought this 1870's historic home back to life using a FHA 203k Renovation mortgage to complete all the needed repairs and more. A piece of Kalamazoo, Michigan's history has been restored!... Read More
Manufactured Home Loan Programs
Great news! It keeps getting easier and easier to finance manufactured homes. Here are four possible ways to finance manufactured homes! The basic programs that will work for manufactured homes are: FHA - 3.5% down FHA 203k Renovation - 3.5% down VA - 0 Down Conventional - 5% down Rural Development - 0 Down MSHDA... Read More
We Are Number One !!!!
In celebration of National Homeownership Month the USDA's Acting State Director for Michigan announced the top 10 rural development lenders in Michigan. We are proud to say that again for 2016 Amerifirst Home Mortgage is number one! In fact Amerifirst had a 16% market share for the program in 2016. The second lender on the... Read More
HUD Homes Lunch n’ Learn
We will be putting on a lunch n' learn event at the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors! If you are interested in learning more about HUD Homes and all the unique things that come with them this is a must attend event. Some of the items covered will be: Loan program options Special $100 down... Read More
2016 USDA / Rural Development Changes!
HUGE Announcement!!!! The USDA made some major improvements to the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program also know as a Rural Development loan. The upfront guarantee fee changed from 2.75% to 1% of the loan amount and the annual fee changed from .5% to .35% of the average scheduled unpaid principal balance for the life... Read More
Kalamazoo Community Coming Together
This is a heart touching story of a number of local businesses including Amerifirst Home Mortgage coming together to help some of my buyers. It was wonderful to be involved with this project and the family certainly deserved everything that was given to them.... Read More
Latest Blog Post
Conventional vs USDA Loan Michigan: Your 2026 Mortgage Flight Plan
The “obvious” choice for your mortgage might actually be the most expensive path if you don’t account for the unique terrain of the West Michigan housing market. While you might assume a massive down payment is the only way to avoid financial turbulence, comparing a Conventional vs USDA Loan Michigan reveals that the right flight plan often involves much less upfront cash than expected.
We understand that staring at a map of geographic eligibility or weighing monthly mortgage insurance costs can feel like flying through heavy fog. It’s frustrating when you’re ready to move but feel grounded by confusing requirements. This guide will help you compare these options with the precision of a seasoned navigator. You’ll learn how to identify if your dream neighborhood is USDA-eligible, how the 2026 loan limit of $832,750 impacts your Conventional path, and how the $119,850 income limit affects your USDA eligibility. By the end of this flight plan, you’ll have the expert coordinates needed to choose a loan that offers maximum lift for your West Michigan home journey.
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