Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. They offer several low-down-payment options through lenders, both under their standard loan programs and those tailored to first-time buyers and lower- and middle-income households. Most of their programs permit down payments as low as 3 percent to qualifying borrowers, slightly lower than F.H.A. loans.And within the past year or so, both Fannie and Freddie have begun allowing lenders to judge many prospective borrowers using a wider lens. They can, for example, give points to loan applicants who have kept a positive cash balance in a checking account over time, or who have a good track record for paying rent on time. “All of those get factored into the evaluation,” said Danny Gardner, a senior vice president of client and community engagement in Fr …
