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Homebuyer Dream Program

Receive up to $15,000 for your first home.

Five Star Bank is taking part in the Homebuyer Dream Program® Suite through the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY). Individuals and families buying their first home in the state of New York are eligible to apply. The funding for this program is provided by the FHLBNY, is limited, and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

  • Receive up to $14,500 to fund your down payment and/or closing costs
  • Get up to $500 towards a homeownership counseling program

The $500 credit may go towards homeownership counseling programs that can cost anywhere from free to a few hundred dollars, depending on the program and the services offered. Some programs may also offer additional resources after the course is completed. You may use the counseling agency of your choice. A few organizations local to your area may include:
 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a first time homebuyer as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Reside and purchase a home in New York State
  • Total household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the county where purchase takes place
  • Have an executed purchase and sales contract prior to the funding reservation request
  • Have a minimum of $1,000 equity contribution toward the purchase of the home
  • Homebuyer must complete a homeownership counseling program prior to the funding reservation request
  • Homebuyer must commit to 5-year retention period

NOTE:  Eligibility requirements listed above are specific to the Homebuyer Dream Program.® Area Median Income (AMI) limits vary between products in the Homebuyer Dream Program Suite.® The full suite includes the Homebuyer Dream Program®, HDP Plus and HDP Wealth Builder. For more program details, contact us at 1-866-661-7946 or fill out the form below.

 

Free Homeownership Tools

We recognize that buying a home is a big decision. We have an entire playlist of financial education courses dedicated to owning a home- all digital and free to help inform you on the benefits and costs of buying and owning a home. Explore the Owning a Home playlist in our Financial Education Hub or start with a specific topic. Each class can be completed in under 10 minutes!
 
We also have a collection of financial calculators to help you run the numbers when evaluating financial decisions. Below is a calculator to help you through the process of finding out how much you can borrow based on income, purchase price or total monthly payment. Check out our full collection of calculators - including Rent v. Buy, Mortgage Qualifier, Mortgage Comparison, Bi-Weekly Payment and more - found under resources in our main menu.
Considering Homeownership
Understand why you might want to buy a home, how much money you need, resources available and more.
Buying a Home
Learn the process, resources and strategies to help you buy a home while sticking to a budget.


Mortgage Basics
Learn how to work with a lender you trust and find a mortgage that fits your needs and budget.
Mortgage Payment Calculator
Find out how much you can borrow based on income, purchase price and closing costs or total monthly payment.


Ready to get started?

Stop in to your local branch today or fill out the form below, and one of our Mortgage Loan Originators will reach out to you shortly to discuss your eligibility, your needs and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to supporting you through the mortgage application process!

Please do not include personal information (such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or other sensitive personal information) in any message you send through this contact form.

Man on phone and computerCan you buy a house with little or no credit?
As with any major purchase that requires a line of credit, the process of buying a home starts with your credit score; the better it is, the better your chances of being approved for a loan. But what happens if you have little or no credit history, as is the case with many first-time homebuyers?

Fortunately, all hope is not lost if you don’t have a credit history or are just starting to establish a credit history, also known as having thin credit.
Read full article >>


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How much should you Save for a Downpayment?
Buying a home is a milestone worth celebrating, but it takes planning and preparation before signing the closing documents to ensure the purchase doesn’t become more of a burden than a blessing. Proper planning involves determining how big of a down payment you need and saving money for that down payment. Here are some pointers to get you started.



Geographic and other restrictions apply. Mortgage loan is subject to additional underwriting guidelines and credit and property approval. Program subject to change without notice. FHLBNY determines the qualifications of this program.