About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Is This Common Myth Preventing You From Buying a Home?

By: StatePoint Media

photo

SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) If you think saving for a down payment is your number one barrier to homeownership, it’s important to understand how down payments work, how much is necessary and what programs can help you secure the funds you need.

To get you started, Freddie Mac is answering some frequently asked questions:

1. What is a down payment and how does it affect my mortgage? A down payment is the amount of money you pay up front when purchasing a home, and it’s generally calculated as a percentage of the total home price. When you put more money down at the outset, the amount you need to borrow from your lender decreases, and so do your monthly mortgage payments. Although a larger down payment can be beneficial for this reason, it may not be in your best interest if it would leave you in a compromised financial position with no cushion.

However, a smaller down payment can help you become a homeowner faster and begin building equity sooner.

2. How large should my down payment be? A Freddie Mac survey found that nearly one-third of prospective homebuyers believe you need to make a down payment of at least 20% to buy a home. This myth remains one of the largest perceived barriers to homeownership.

The truth is that the typical down payment is between 5% and 20%, and some mortgage programs make it possible to put down as little as 3%. Your down payment size will depend on your financial situation, your lender and your eligibility for different types of mortgages.

Bear in mind that if you put down less than 20% and have a conventional loan, you’ll need to budget for private mortgage insurance (PMI), an added insurance policy that protects the lender if you’re unable to pay your mortgage. This monthly fee is rolled into your mortgage payment. Expect to pay approximately $30 to $70 per month for every $100,000 you borrow. The good news? Many types of loans allow you to cancel your PMI once you’ve built 20% equity in your home.

You can use Freddie Mac’s down payment calculator at myhome.freddiemac.com/resources/calculators/down-payment to explore how different down payment amounts affect how much you pay each month and over the life of your loan.

3. Where can I turn for help? Struggling to save for a down payment? There are many forms of down payment assistance, including grants, mortgage credit certificates, individual development accounts, down payment assistance loans and even monetary gifts from family members. For those earning 50% or less than their area’s median income, Freddie Mac offers a $2,500 credit to qualified individuals to assist with down payment and other closing costs.

A housing counselor or lender can explain the ins and outs of each of these options, and help you determine which make sense for your situation. Ask your lender about DPA One, a free tool from Freddie Mac that lenders can use to help connect you with down payment assistance programs available in your area.

Saving for a down payment can sound daunting, but you may be overestimating the up-front cost. The truth is that homeownership may be a practical and affordable option for you now.

*****

Photo Credit: (c) zamrznutitonovi / iStock via Getty Images Plus

More News

View More
Why Seagate Is Wall Street's New Favorite AI Infrastructure Play
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers BAC STX
3 AI Infrastructure Stocks With Upside After the Summer Rally
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence
Tickers AMZN ANET AVGO GOOGL META MSFT
Can Advantage2 Help Overcome D-Wave's Share Price Plateau?
Via MarketBeat
Tickers F GEV NVDA QBTS
Eli Lilly’s Oral GLP-1 Breakthrough Could Change Everything
Via MarketBeat
Tickers LLY
The Fed Cut Rates: What Now for the S&P 500 and Equity Markets?
Via MarketBeat
Topics ETFs Economy Stocks
Tickers NVDA SNOW SPY WDAY
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.