Owning your own home is the dream of every American, and so too is it the dream of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants that come to the United States to build a new life for themselves and their families.  Home ownership has become more than just a dream for many over the past few years as the credit requirements for home ownership have been relaxed by a combination of the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates and the willingness of banks and mortgage companies to offer very creative financing.

However, beginning in the fall of 2006 and continuing into 2007, credit requirements for home ownership have steadily become more strict.  Below are some resources for first home buyers to evaluate the options available in the current market environment for home ownership.