The system is simple and, thus far, largely unavoidable. When a user attempts to make a post, Craigslist asks for verification with a viable phone number. It then automatically calls the number and issues a verification code which must be re-entered for the post to go live.
For the purposes of the IRA distributions, a first-time home buyer is anyone who hasn't owned a present interest in a main home for the previous two years. For example, if your parents have promised to leave you their home in their will, that isn't a present interest in the home, so you still qualify.
CalHFA's down payment programs CHDAP, ECTP and MCC require you to be a first-time homebuyer. To know for sure, you should understand that a first-time homebuyer is defined as someone who has not owned and occupied their own home in the last three years. That means if you've never owned a home, you're a first-time homebuyer. It also means that if you owned your home three or more years ago, but sold it, you are right back to being a first-time homebuyer again, and you can take advantage of all of the benefits of CalHFA's first-time homebuyer programs. back to top.