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14 WHO'S WHO IN REAL ESTATE THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL Sheila Nittler Connelly, GRI, SFR Real Estate Consultant Bailey Properties 1602 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Cell: 831-588-4295 Email: sconnelly@baileyproperties.com Website: www.sheilanconnelly.com Sheila Connelly went way above and beyond to help us move to Santa Cruz County in 2016. She exceeded our expectations in so many ways, but let me share a few of the best examples of her dedication to getting our house sold and helping us find a new one to buy. Not only did she find us a well-qualified buyer for our San Jose house, but she dealt with their Realtor almost every single day until closing. As we were buying our new house, she knew just the right way to present our offer the "Santa Cruz" way. We were thrilled with her work ethic and attention to detail and recommend her highly. Doreen and Kevin. JESSYKA SOTO M: 831.359.7189 Fax: 831.476.8366 Email: jsommers@davidlyng.com Visit: jessykasellssantacruz.com CalBRE 01868652 I f you're in the market to buy a home, your down payment is probably top of mind. However, it's important to understand all your options, particularly if you've heard the rule of thumb that you shouldn't pursue homeownership unless you can put 20 percent down. "In today's market, misconcep- tions about down payments are some of the most common, unfortunately" says Danny Gard- ner, Freddie Mac vice president of Affordable Lending. "And this discourages many prospective buyers from even leaving the starting gate." Gardner points out that a grow- ing number of homebuyers are putting down between five and 10 percent, and even as little as three percent through products like Freddie Mac's Home Possible Advantage. is is important to keep in mind when determining how much home you can afford. Prospective homebuyers con- cerned about down payments should also be aware that there are nearly 2,500 homeownership programs across the country that can help with down pay- ment and closing costs, and an estimated 87 percent of U.S. homes are eligible for one or more of these programs, ac- cording to research by Down- Payment Resource. e down payment program benefit most frequently found is about $10,000, making researching these options and discussing them with your lender and real estate agent a worthwhile step. To determine your eligibility and learn more about down payment assistance, visit down- paymentresource.com/are-you- eligible. Of course, home buyers should not forget that there are benefits to putting more down initially -- this will lower your monthly mortgage payment and reduce the amount you will owe the bank. Additionally, those who put down at least 20 percent don't have to pay Primary Mort- gage Insurance (PMI), an added insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay BUying a hOme? WhaT TO KnOW aBOUT dOWn paymenTs B y s t a t e p o i n t