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Getting a mortgage for single parents is not as simple as it is for others. For several reasons, it can be quite difficult for single parents to obtain a mortgage that will let them own their own home. However, there are programs in place that are tailored for individuals such as single parents who need a little extra help to realize their dream of homeownership.

Obstacles To A Mortgage For Single Parents

Having only one income for the entire household is one of the major obstacles that single parents face when they are seeking a mortgage. When banks receive their application, the strict guidelines that they have can often not be met with the one income. Another common obstacle for obtaining a mortgage for single parents is their credit score. The majority of single parents have fair to poor credit due to debts and credit issues that they were left with when their partner left or passed away. A lower credit score can also make it difficult to obtain a mortgage or to obtain rates and payments that they can afford.

Most single parents also run into trouble when they try to gather enough money for the down payment on a home. It can be difficult for a single parent to save even a few thousand dollars. If they require 10-20 thousand for an average down payment amount, they can often be out of the mortgage game before they even begin. With all of these obstacles, it is no surprise that so many single parents never realize their dream of owning a home.

Solutions To A Mortgage For Single Parents

Although many obstacles can stand in the way of a single parent when they are trying to get a mortgage, many solutions can be implemented to help them get in a home as soon as possible.

Down payment assistance grants are one of the most useful solutions that can help a single parent. These programs are put out by the government and local agencies and allow the single parent to get between 5 and 20 thousand dollars for a down payment on a home. The money is given in the form of a no-interest loan which must be repaid when the home is no longer occupied by them, sold, or when they have paid it off or passed away.

Low-interest loans are another solution that helps to enable single parents to get a mortgage that they can afford. Low credit scores and poor credit history can cause a single parent to qualify for only the highest interest rates. However, first-time homebuyers and other such programs allow those who qualify to obtain lower interest mortgages even if their credit isn’t the best.

A mortgage for single parents is not an impossible thing to obtain. There are many obstacles along the way, but single parents can get the terms they want and assistance they need if they take the time to seek out the available help.

Time-out areas work for parents who are willing to follow through with the time-out procedures. If your child constantly does something inappropriate for his behavior, let him know that doing it again will result in being sent to the time-out area you have designated.

When your child gives in to this behavior again, explain to your child that they will have to go to the specified area for a time-out. Make sure you explain the bad behavior to your child so they are sure to understand what they have done is not acceptable. Then firmly tell them to go to the time-out area and lead them there if they are unwilling to go.

Set a timer for up to 5 minutes, usually, it works best if you go by 1 minute for every year of how old they are, but never more than 5 minutes. You will want them to have a fresh memory of why they are sitting there when it is time for them to get up.

Reset the timer if your child gets up before it goes off to the original time and let them know that they are starting from 0 again. If your child continues to get up, hold them in the chair and avoid talking to them or having any eye contact at all. Reset the timer after it goes off for the child who had to be restrained so that they may have the choice of sitting there on their own or being held to the chair again for the required amount of minutes. Also, reset the timer for children who won’t calm down or continues to talk after being told to be quiet.

When the timer goes off, and the child has spent the required amount of time in the time-out area, ask them why they were sitting there in the first place. If they can’t remember, remind them so they won’t do it again.

Soon after your child has gotten up from the time-out area, praise him for some of the good behavior he has shown. This will make the child want to get your good praises more often and most likely will make a better-behaved child out of them altogether.

By following the proper procedures for a time-out area in your home every time your child shows inappropriate behavior, you will let your child know that every time they behave that way, they will have to pay by sitting in the time-out area, and will remember not to act like that in the future.

Returning to college to get a degree is the dream of many single parents in the United States. However, these individuals usually find it hard to return to school because of a lack of funds. It costs a great deal just to pay for classes and materials for college, let alone the time it would take away from work and the amount it would cost for daycare. That is why there are millions of dollars each year allotted for scholarships for single parents, to allow them to improve their way of living by returning to school.

Where To Start?

The first thing a single parent should do when trying to find funds to return to school is to fill out a FAFSA or form for federal student aid. This allows students to collect federal grant money in the form of a Pell Grant that is offered each year to students who exhibit financial need. Since single parents generally fall into this category, they can receive up to $5350 each year to put towards college expenses.

After you have applied for federal grants, you can begin looking for government and privately offered scholarships for single parents. One of the best ways to do this is to search the online databases that the government has in place. These databases have a list of every available known scholarship and are searchable by different demographics. This will allow an individual to locate scholarships that are specifically available only for single parents.

Another great way to locate scholarships for single parents is to contact every college or university in your general area personally. The financial aid officers can often help locate grants and scholarships that the general public may not be aware of. Once they learn you are a single parent, they will be able to match you up with the source of funds that you qualify for.

How Do You Qualify?

Scholarships for single parents are offered in a variety of different places. Some are federally funded, while others are funded by specific charitable organizations or employers. They also come in a wide variety of monetary amounts. Since each scholarship is different, there are also different eligibility requirements for each one.
The best way to find out if you qualify for scholarships for single parents is to locate the funding organization and inquire about the requirements. Some places will require you to write an essay, or qualify according to grades. Others will simply want you to qualify based upon your income. Regardless of what you must qualify for, scholarships for single parents are invaluable resources in helping you return to school.

Millions of single parents around the country try to return to college each year. The financial burden that they face must be filled by government grants and scholarships for single parents for them to afford this life-changing choice. It is important for single parents not to get discouraged if they do not qualify or get turned down for a specific scholarship. Just continue to apply for various sources of financial aid, and sooner or later you will be able to realize your dream of returning to school.