Dream America
OVERVIEW
Many renters that want to buy a home can’t currently qualify for a mortgage. With that in mind, we launched the Dream America Program to help turn renters into owners. How does it work? We accept applicants that have the income and cash needed for an FHA / VA mortgage, but still can’t qualify because low FICO, divorce, medical bills, self-employment, prior bankruptcy, prior foreclosure or other factors that may put a mortgage out of reach. Once approved, you can choose any home that is available for sale, including new construction homes, within your budget. Dream America buys the home and leases it back to you. You then go through the Dream America Program to get mortgage-ready. As soon as you qualify for a mortgage, you cancel the lease, penalty-free and buy your home! PLUS to help you on the journey, Dream America credits 10% of rent paid towards your purchase.
HOW IT WORKS
VIEW THE FOLLOWING SHORT VIDEO TO SEE HOW THE DREAM AMERICA PROGRAM WORKS
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZgdIeim2K4
You will apply using the following link:
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https://dreamamerica.com/home/applyNow/Davida-Roze
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Once qualified, you will go out with me, your Realtor to pick the home you want from any available home that is for sale in your area for $150,000+, including new construction homes.
Dream America will purchase that home and lease it to you for 12 months.
At any time that you qualify for a mortgage, you can cancel the lease penalty-free and buy your home!
If you still aren't ready to buy at the end of the lease, don't worry! As long as you have been paying your rent on time each month, you can renew for another year.
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WHAT ARE THE STEPS INVOLVED?
1) Joining the Dream America Program is a personal decision. Please read the Program guidelines before you Apply to decide if its right for you
2) Once approved, pick any home for sale in your community that fits your budget. New construction homes or re-sale is OK!
3) Dream America will put an offer on the home you select.
4) If our offer is accepted, we will order a professional inspection. The inspection report will be shared with you.
5) Make required payments to Dream America and sign Program agreements.
6) Closing and Move-in!
7) Buy your home from Dream America as soon as you are ready.
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS?
+ FICO score of at least 500
+ Household pre-tax income of $4,000/month (applicant + co-applicant, if any)
+ $5,000 or more cash available from savings, 401k or gift for a $150,000 home. Higher price homes are eligible, but more cash is then required to qualify
+ Debt to income ratio including Dream rent up to 50%
+ 12-month track record of paying rent on-time
+ U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident Alien
*Please note: Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee approval. Our underwriters will review verified income against your payment obligations (car, credit card, etc) to see what you have available for a housing payment. Underwriting will also review your credit history to see if any problems are behind you or you are having trouble meeting current obligations.
FAQs
IS THERE AN APPLICATION FEE?
No. Apply any time at https://www.dreamamerica.com/apply
DOES A PRIOR BANKRUPTCY OR FORECLOSURE DISQUALIFY ME?
No! We have seen it all. For a bankruptcy, you must wait 12 months after the discharge date before joining the Dream America Program. For a foreclosure or deed in lieu, you must wait 24 months.
DOES A PRIOR EVICTION DISQUALIFY ME?
No. As long as your eviction is more than 12 months ago, you are still eligible for the Dream America Program.
I HAVEN’T FILED TAX RETURNS THAT ARE DUE. DOES THAT DISQUALIFY ME?
Yes. You must file all tax returns including 2019 and submit proof you paid any taxes due or have an approved payment plan with the IRS. For payment plans, outstanding balance must be less than $10,000.
IS THERE A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK?
No. When you apply for a mortgage, there is no criminal background check. And we are trying to get you ready for homeownership. However, Dream America will not accept registered sex offenders.
HOW MUCH CASH DO I NEED TO JOIN THE DREAM AMERICA PROGRAM?
For a $150,000 house, a minimum of $5,000 from savings, 401k plan or gift from a family member is required in order to be considered for the Dream America Program (if cash to join is coming from a gift or 401k, you must also have an average bank account balance of $2,000 over the prior 2 months). Higher home prices require more upfront cash just as they do when you purchase.
Use the link below to see how much cash is needed for the house you want.
https://dreamamerica.com/cash-needed
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*Subject to underwriting approval, you can qualify with an upfront cash payment as low as $4,950 by adding $140/month to your rent payment on a $150,000 home.
*Please note: Homes with a 12 Month Purchase Price above the FHA limit in your county will require an additional option payment equal to any overage.
*Please remember: You will also need to pay the 1st month’s rent prior to move-in.
WHEN DO I NEED TO HAVE THIS CASH AVAILABLE?
Payment is immediately due once Dream America has an accepted offer on the home you select (or prior to signing a contract for new construction). You cannot start the Dream America home search process unless you have funds available. If you are obtaining funds from a 401k or a gift from a family member, please discuss that with someone on the Dream Team during the application review process.
I WANT TO GET INTO MY DREAM HOME, BUT I DON’T HAVE THE REQUIRED CASH. DO YOU MAKE EXCEPTIONS?
No. We set the required cash as low as possible to help you become a homeowner in the next 12 months. If you don’t have the minimum required cash to join today, please establish a savings plan and check back with us in the future.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Click here to start the application process:
https://dreamamerica.com/home/applyNow/Davida-Roze
AFTER I APPLY, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET APPROVED?
After you apply, the Dream Team will review your application and ask you to submit supporting documentation showing income and cash available. Once all requested documents are submitted, you should receive an answer within 2 business days. *Please note, If your application is declined, you must wait 90 days before re-applying.*
WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSES ARE AVAILABLE WITH THE PROGRAM?
Dream America is available in select major metro areas in FL, GA, TN and TX.
Atlanta, GA
Dallas, TX
Jacksonville, FL
Nashville, TN
Orlando, FL
Sarasota, FL
Tampa, FL
Once you qualify, you can go out with your Realtor, Davida Roze and pick any home for sale in available cities.
WHICH HOMES ARE ELIGIBLE?
+ Asking price of $150,000 up to FHA Limit ($400,000 max)
+ Single family home or townhouse (no condo or manufactured homes)
+ New construction or resale
+ Homes built or renovated in the last 15 years. You are responsible for maintaining the home and the last thing we want you to have is big repair bills!
*Please note: Except for new construction, we order an inspection on all homes before we purchase them and share the report with you. We then ask the seller to make any necessary repairs.
HOW DOES RENTING FROM DREAM AMERICA WORK?
Rent is determined by house price, property tax, HOA fees and insurance costs. To state the obvious, rent is more expensive than your cost of ownership once you obtain a mortgage! That is why we offer a penalty-free early lease termination when you buy your Dream home.
Use the link below to calculate an estimate for your rent:
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DOES ANY OF THE MONTHLY RENT GO TOWARDS MY PURCHASE?
Yes! 10% of rent paid will be applied as a closing credit towards your purchase of your Dream home if all rent payments are made on time. We make this easy for you by collecting rent automatically from your bank account on the 1st of each month.
CAN I AFFORD THE RENT ON THE HOUSE I WANT?
Great question! We want to see all of our clients become homeowners. But first you need to be able to afford the rent, pay your other bills on-time and build some savings.
Use the link below to calculate the rent budget you may be approved for:
https://dreamamerica.com/budgeting
DO I HAVE TO PAY FIRST AND LAST MONTH’S RENT BEFORE I MOVE-IN?
No. You will only pay the first month's rent before you move-in.
DO I HAVE TO PAY A SECURITY DEPOSIT?
No.
WHAT FEES ARE INVOLVED IN THE DREAM AMERICA PROGRAM?
You will pay an onboarding fee equal to 1% of your home price as soon as we are under contract to buy the home you selected.
WHO MAINTAINS THE HOME?
You are responsible for maintaining the home during the life of the lease and thereafter once you purchase it. Please remember, we order an inspection before we purchase the home and share it with you. If you aren’t happy with the condition of the home, we won’t purchase it.
*Please note: As an additional benefit, we insure your home comes with a home warranty, covering appliances, electric, HVAC and plumbing repairs.
CAN I MAKE COSMETIC IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOME?
Absolutely! You are free to upgrade the landscaping, paint the walls, install new carpet, etc. in your Dream home. Major construction involving structural changes is not permitted. You need to buy your Dream home first.
ARE PETS ALLOWED?
Yes, pets are allowed but they must be listed in the lease. A non-refundable $250 pet fee will also apply. Certain pets may be excluded due to insurance restrictions or community standards.
CAN I RENEW MY LEASE AND PURCHASE CONTRACT?
Yes. While we want to see all of our clients purchase their home in the next 12 months, you may renew your lease and purchase contract if needed. At the time of the renewal, the rent and future Purchase Price will both increase by 5%.
*Please note: If you pay your rent late two or more times during the initial lease (or Dream files for an eviction even once), the renewal option is void.
HOW DOES THE CONTRACT TO BUY MY DREAM HOME WORK?
The contract to buy your Dream home requires an upfront down payment equal to 3% of your future Purchase Price (more on that below). This payment is credited back to you when you purchase your Dream home. This insures that you have funds available towards your down payment and closing costs when you are ready to buy.
I NEED TO INCREASE MY CREDIT SCORE. WILL DREAM AMERICA HELP ME?
All Dream clients will be given a roadmap to help them build their credit during the life of their lease. In addition, clients must sign the Dream America Pledge which includes steps to increase mortgage-readiness. You may also want assistance to dispute erroneous items on your credit report. Dream can introduce you to specialists that are working with other clients.
WHAT IF I DECIDE I AM NOT GOING TO BUY MY DREAM HOUSE AT THE END OF THE LEASE?
Dream America is not a try before you buy program. We are focused on helping people that are serious about homeownership. If you are not 100% committed to becoming a homeowner, please stop reading this now and look for another alternative.
However, if after renting for 12 months your plans change and you decide not to buy the home you can ask Dream America to sell it. You must continue to rent on a month to month basis until the house is sold. We will then split any profit from the sale 50% / 50% with you.
*Please note: Buying and selling a home involves many transaction costs. There is no guarantee that there will be any profit to split or that your half of the profit will be enough to recoup your 3% payment.
I’M A VETERAN AND ELIGIBLE FOR A VA MORTGAGE. WOULD I STILL NEED A 3% DOWN PAYMENT?
Yes. A VA mortgage has no down payment, but you still have closing costs, including a VA fee.
HOW IS THE FUTURE PURCHASE PRICE DETERMINED?
The longer you continue to rent from Dream America, the more you will pay when you buy your Dream home. If you buy your home in the first 6 months, you will pay 6% more than Dream America’s Acquisition Price (the price today including Dream America’s closing costs). Thereafter, through expiration in month 12, you will pay 10% more.
IS THE FUTURE PURCHASE PRICE A GOOD DEAL?
Dream America purchases homes in cash, with no financing contingency, which is more attractive to sellers and generally allows Dream America to get a better deal. The less we pay today, the less you pay in the future.
WHAT IF I STILL CAN’T QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE IN 12 MONTHS?
Dream America is not a mortgage lender and acceptance into the Program does not guarantee future mortgage-approval. However, as part of the approval process, your application is reviewed to see if there is a path to mortgage-readiness over the next 12 months. If there isn’t one, your application isn't accepted. We understand circumstances change and things happen. That is why your lease contains a renewal option, so that you can rent for a 2nd or even 3rd year if needed.
WHAT IF THE HOUSE DOESN’T APPRAISE FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE WHEN I WANT TO BUY?
As described above, your Purchase Price is set when your lease begins. No one can predict the real estate market, so we don't know what the appraised value will be in the future. In order to bridge any gap, you can first use the 10% rent closing credit (see above for details). We will also ask the mortgage lender to contribute towards your closing costs. If you need to contribute additional funds due to a low appraisal, Dream America will match your contribution. For example, if the appraisal is $5,000 below your Purchase Price, your rent closing credit is $1,500 and the lender contributes $1,000, you will still have a $2,500 shortfall ($5,000 - $1,500 - $1,000). In this example, Dream America would contribute $1,250 to the shortfall and you would contribute $1,250.
ARE THERE ANY CLOSING COSTS?
Dream America pays all upfront closing costs, which are then included in the Acquisition Price. You will pay all closing costs when you qualify for a mortgage and purchase your Dream home. You can get an estimate of closing costs from a mortgage lender.
*Please note: Your down payment requirement plus closing costs will likely exceed your upfront 3% payment to Dream America. It is important that you save additional funds during the life of your lease towards closing costs.
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!
Dream America strives to be 100% transparent with our clients and partners. If you don’t see your question here, please call me at (404) 453-5402 or send me an email at rozeproperties@gmail.com
CLICK HERE FOR INTRO VIDEO AND CLIENT TESTIMONIALS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/dreamamerica
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