Frequently Asked Questions

What is Teacher Next Door? The Teacher Next Door Program was designed to increase home ownership among teachers and other public servants, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. The program is intended to eliminate confusion by streamlining the home loan and home buying process and by matching the individual with the best program available, based upon the specific needs of the program participant and their family. Your Teacher Next Door agent will help you locate the perfect home and negotiate the lowest price possible. Our team will handle all of the purchase, finance and closing paperwork for you.* Top

What programs are available? For home purchases, there are many different Federal, state and local programs available to Next Door Program participants, including the HUD Good Neighbor Next Door Program, the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP), Keystone Challenge Fund, USDA Rural Program and other specific programs available through HUD, FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae and other local agencies. In addition, Teacher Next Door offers private money GRANTS and may be combined with our matrix of other nation and state specific programs, such as Arizona Home in Five, California CalPlus, Colorado FirstStep, Iowa IFA Plus Grant, Nevada NHD Home Possible, Ohio OHFA You Choice, Texas SETH 5-Star Advantage, CBC Chenoa Fund and over thirty other programs. Programs vary by city and state. Your Certified Next Door Program Specialist will help you determine what you qualify for, and which programs may be combined.* Top

Do GRANTS have to be repaid? NO. Grants available directly through Teacher Next Door and the other programs we utilize, do not ever have to be repaid. Grants are subject to availability. To check availability in your area, please visit GRANTS.* Top

Do you offer down payment assistance ? YES. In addition to our grant programs, we have down payment assistance of up to $10,681.00. These programs are available in all 50 states and may include, Home in Five Advantage, Home Plus, Georgia Dream, Golden State Platinum, Florida First, Military Heroes, First Home, Chenoa and Unison, just to name a few. Your Teacher Next Door Program Specialist is trained in all of the various programs and will explain your eligibility. Programs are each structured differently and eligibility varies by city and state.* Top

Do I have to be a Teacher? NO. Teacher Next Door recently expanded the program to include many public service professionals. These include police officers, firefighters, nurses, medical professionals, government workers and others. We are committed to serving those who serve us in the communities where we all live and work. For a complete list of non-military programs, please visit Home Buying Programs.* If you are current or former military, please visit Soldier Next Door.* Top

How do I purchase a home for a 50% discount off the list price? This program is currently available to teachers, police officers, firefighters and EMT's through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Program. These properties are located in certain revitalization areas and available via a lottery style bid. There are some restrictions, including a three year occupancy requirement. Your Teacher Next Door representative can provide additional details and check availability in your area. For more information, please visit Good Neighbor Next Door.* Top

Are ALL homes through the Teacher Next Door 50% off? NO. Only the HUD "Good Neighbor Next Door" homes.* Top

Can I only buy certain homes? NO. You may purchase ANY home on the market, in ANY neighborhood, as long as it is within the guidelines of your loan approval.* Top

Is there an application fee? NO. There is NEVER any application fee.* Top

Are there any up-front fees? NO. There are NEVER any up-front fees charged by Teacher Next Door or our preferred lenders.* Top

Is there a fee for using the Teacher Next Door Program? NO. There is NO FEE at all for using the program. In fact, teachers can typically expect to save money based upon lower fees charged for the various programs we offer. Plus, teachers may receive additional discounts on title insurance, home inspections and other services.* Top

Do I have to live in the home for a certain period of time? NO. (Except for one or two down payment assistance programs that require a three or five year commitment.)* Top

Will you pull my credit? NO. Teacher Next Door will never pull your credit or have access to your personal financial information. When you click APPLY NOW and complete the short Pre-Application, you will be contacted by a Program Specialist who will go over the program with you, answer any questions and discuss your options, including any GRANTS and down payment assistanc e you may be eligible for. Your credit would then be pulled during the mortgage application process.* Top

What is the Simple Docs Program™? With Teacher Next Door’s new Simple Docs™ program, many times we can access all or most of your documentation online (with your permission), thereby eliminating the need for you to collect many of the loan documents typically required, including pay stubs, W-2’s, tax returns and bank statements. Simple Docs™ is not available in all areas. With each application, we only collect the documents required by law.*

Is there a First Time Home Buyers Program? YES. Our First Time Home Buyers Program allows buyers the unique opportunity to combine GRANTS and down payment assistance with the other programs we have available, including Fannie Mae's HomeReady, Freddie Mac's HomePossible and HomeOne programs. Down payment assistance programs may include state specific programs such as Arizona Home in Five, Georgia Dream, Florida First and others or may include national programs such as Chenoa and Unison, depending on which has the greater benefit. To be eligible, you must be a teacher or school employee, nurse or healthcare worker, law enforcement, firefighter or government employees. For more information, please visit First Time Buyers Program. * Top

Do I HAVE to be a First Time Home Buyer? NO. If you own a home you may still take advantage of all Teacher Next Door programs and benefits except for the HUD Good Neighbor Program, which prohibits you from owning any property for 3 years prior to placing a bid.* Top

How does the Free Home Buyers Service Work? Once approved, one of our licensed agents will work with you to help find a home in your area. We will let you tour the inside of the homes, negotiate the purchase contract and handle all of the paperwork for you. Due to recent changes in the real estate industry, this service may not be available in all areas, or on all transactions.* Top

Am I required to take a HUD First Time Home Buyers Class? NO. You are NOT required to take a 4-hour or 8-hour HUD First Time Home Buyers class. Teacher Next Door does not require any classroom home buyer counseling in order to utilize the program.* Top

How do I know what program(s) I qualify for? Your licensed Certified Program Specialist will help place you in the appropriate program and guide you through the process based upon your individual circumstance including credit, down payment (if any) and the location of property.* Top

Can I buy with NO Money Down? YES. But there are some restrictions for some of the zero down programs. The most common of which is the area in which the home is located. If a zero down loan is not available, the typical minimum out of pocket expense is approximately three to three and a half percent (3 – 3.5%) of the purchase price. This typically includes down payment and other fees such as insurance, appraisal etc. This may come in the form of a gift or 401(k) disbursement. Your Loan Officer can explain additional options.* Top

Can I put more money down if I choose? YES. You may put down any amount you like. If you put 20% or more down, you will typically be able to avoid PMI and you could qualify for a lower interest rate.* Top

Are there any income restrictions? NO.
However, you must make enough to cover the payment. Also, some local down payment assistance programs may have a maximum income you may earn in order to qualify.* Top

Can I use the program to refinance? YES. Next Door Programs Simple Docs Refinance™ is available. You may use this program to take cash-out, lower your payment, shorten your loan term, remove mortgage insurance or just improve your financial stability.* Top

Do you offer a non-qualifying refinance? YES. "Streamline Refinance" as well as the Federal HARP refinance programs may be available, which could assist you if you are under water on your current mortgage.* Top

Is there a No Closing Cost Re-fi Option? YES. Next Door Programs Simple Docs Refinance™ has a no closing cost option available.* Top

What if I own another Home? No Problem. If you own a home you may still take advantage of all Teacher Next Door programs and benefits except for the HUD Good Neighbor Program, which prohibits you from owning any property for 3 years prior to placing a bid.* Top

What is the minimum loan amount? We accept all applications, regardless of the loan amounts. Our Preferred Lenders are required to offer loans down to the individual state minimums, which in most cases is $10,001.00. However, lenders must also meet all other regulations and some lower loan amounts may not meet these regulations, due to individual borrower and loan characteristics.* Top

What is the maximum loan amount? There is no maximum loan amount. In many states, the maximum conforming loan amount is $647,200.00. This number is higher in other states. Our preferred lenders also offer Jumbo Loans. Please discuss specific loan amount questions with you Program Specialist.* Top

Is Teacher Next Door a Lender? NO. Financing for the Teacher Next Door Program is provided by our preferred direct lenders and select U.S. National Banks. Teacher Next Door does not collect, store or have access to your personal financial information and does not receive compensation from mortgage loan transactions. When you complete the online pre-application, you will be contacted by a licensed Program Specialist from our preferred lender who is knowledgeable in all of the programs available to you, including the Teacher Next Door Grant and various down payment assistance and other programs.* Top

What will my interest rate be? Since Teacher Next Door is not a lender, we do not set interest rates. Our preferred lenders have agreed to provide you with an extremely competitive rate for your loan based upon your individual loan application and loan program. Your interest rate will be adjusted by the Federal underwriting guidelines based upon risk factors, as well as compensating factors.* Top

What is a risk factor? As with insurance, underwriter guidelines contain upward adjustments to the interest rate based upon risk factors. These may include: low credit score, high loan-to-value, first time home buyer, no rental history, short time on the job, etc.* Top

What is a compensation factor? Whenever possible, underwriters use compensation factors to counter other risk factors to help keep the rate low. These may include, high credit score, long time on the job, recent college grad, good rental history, large down payment, etc.* Top

Can I get a high interest loan? NO. Teacher Next Door's preferred lenders must adhere to Federal conforming guidelines. They do not offer sub-prime loans.* Top

Is Teacher Next Door a government agency? NO. The Teacher Next Door Program is the largest National Home Buying Program in the United States, and administered by Teacher Next Door, LLC. (License No. FLCQ1044110) You may purchase any home on the market through the program, not just HUD owned homes. It is an independent, private organization, licensed Real Estate Brokerage and registered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to sell HUD homes and represent buyers in the purchase of HUD owned homes.* (HUD License No. NAID-TCHRNX832)    Top

Do I need to use a Teacher Next Door Agent? YES. Since our Agent Partners agree to contribute a portion of their commission towards your closing cost, to receive the full benefit of the Teacher Next Door Program, we recommend that you be exclusively represented by a Teacher Next Door agent. Our Agent Partners are all highly trained, state licensed professionals. Upon loan approval, we will assign one of our knowledgeable agents in your local area who will work directly with you to find the right home and handle all of the paperwork. If you decide to use a non-Teacher Next Door agent, you may not receive the agent rebate.*   Top

What if I already have an Agent?  Your agent may contact our business office in order to become an Agent Partner of Teacher Next Door.    Top

If you are a licensed agent or Realtor^®- CLICK HERE

Ready to get started?

APPLY NOW