Lauren Scungio
Lauren was the U.S. Country Manager a few years ago.
Biography
Lauren is a mortgage professional and personal finance writer in Scottsdal, Arizona. She enjoys creating interesting and educational content geared towards spreading financial literacy and helping people make the best financial decisions.
Experience
- Country Manager
Low-Income Home Equity Loans
Your income level doesn't have to keep you from tapping your home equity. Here's what lenders really look at and how to qualify.
Down Payment
* The average down payment is 15% of the home price, but first-time buyers often put down just 3-10% * FHA, VA, and USDA loans offer lower minimums, with VA and USDA requiring 0% down * Putting less than 20% down triggers private mortgage insurance (PMI), adding to monthly costs * Down payment assistance programs are available in all 50 states for qualifying buyers