Red County, California

A news release from Wells Fargo:

A new home financing program, designed to spur homeownership among California’s educators, may receive an “A” from teachers throughout the state. The program, announced today by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., the California Housing Loan Insurance Fund (CaHLIF) and Freddie Mac, allows teachers working within the state to purchase a home with a downpayment of just $500.

The program also offers teachers relaxed credit guidelines – making it easier to qualify for the program – and higher qualifying ratios, which allows homebuyers to qualify for more home. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage will be the exclusive provider of these loans; CaHLIF will provide downpayment assistance and mortgage insurance; and, Freddie Mac will purchase the loans. The program will be available in early September.

“This program caters to the needs of California’s educators – the public and private school teachers that help prepare our youth for leadership in the 21st Century,” said Dan Russell, executive vice president of emerging markets for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. “We’re making every effort to narrow the gap between California’s teacher salaries and rising housing costs. This is definitely a step in the right direction. By making homeownership more affordable, we’re helping more teachers in the state choose homeownership and invest in our communities.”

A starting salary for a California public school teacher is $29,000 a year, according to the California Teachers Association, while the average teacher’s salary is $44,000. Meanwhile, the median home price in California is $217,520, according to the California Association of Realtors.

Using this program, California educators, including public and private school teachers, substitutes, administrators and childcare providers, can finance a new or existing home with only a $500 downpayment.

While California educators will only need $500 for a downpayment, the remaining downpayment will be funded by CaHLIF in the form of a 3 percent simple interest loan with payment deferred until the end of the loan term, or when the home is sold or refinanced.

“The state of California is committed to assisting educators achieve the dream of homeownership,” said John Schienle, director of CaHLIF. “This program will go a long way in helping our educators realize the dream, as well as our efforts to retain and recruit a talented workforce. We are grateful for the support, resources and expertise of our partners Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and Freddie Mac.”

California educators interested in the program will have the option of selecting either a 25- or 30-year fixed-rate loan. There are no income limitations or property restrictions. Additionally, there are no experience levels or tenure required to be eligible for the program.

The program is available with mortgage loan amounts up to $252,700 – with no minimum loan amount – through more than 100 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage’s California retail offices and Wells Fargo bank locations.

“Freddie Mac has long been committed to expanding affordable homeownership opportunities for California’s teachers and the communities that depend on them to educate their children. We are delighted to work with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to further increase the mortgage resources available to California’s hard-working teaching professionals,” said Michael Coffey, Freddie Mac’s vice president of expanding markets.

For more information about the new teacher loan program and other mortgage products and services, call 1-800-222-3408 for the nearest Wells Fargo Home Mortgage location or CaHLIF at 916-322-8936.

(Emphasis added.)

According to an article at OC Metro by Kristin Schott, the median price of a home in Orange County in July was $500,210. According to DQNews, the median price of a home in the state of California in July was $250,000.

A search of Southern California MLS turned up two (2) condos in the city of Cypress for $250,000 or less, nothing in Los Alamitos, two (2) condos in Seal Beach, and five (5) tiny houses less than 1100 square feet in Buena Park.

(Hat tip: Russ Roberts at Café Hayek.)