questions about down payment assistance for first time buyer

[Christopher Oliva]

Hi all, I'm a first time home/property buyer in Texas and i've got a few questions i'm hoping to get some help with.

-How many lenders should I be getting quotes from?  Currently i'm just working with one lender (i was referred to them by a few different people), but i'm hesitant to get quotes from other lenders because I don't want my credit dinged by too many inquiries.

-I'll be purchasing a multifamily property (likely a duplex) and I'll be living in one unit for least for a year, while the other side will be a rental unit. With that being said, would i be able to qualify for any sort of down payment assistance program? I asked my lender about this, and she says that she thinks the grants are only for SFR. From the googling i've done, I can't find anything that is specific on the type of property that qualifies for down payment assistance.

Thanks in advance!

[Amy Beth]

I would check with a mortgage broker and not allow hem to run your credit u til you decide if you want to use them or not. You can let them know what your credit score is and they can advise you want to expect with different loan options. Then if something is feasible then allow him or her to run your credit. A mortgage broker will have access to many lenders.