Category: Mortgage Industry

A lot of people are so willing to jump at the first home mortgage they find that they end up getting burned by an unstable, variable loan. This is obviously something you want to avoid and thus you need a good understanding of how the industry works. Below, you will read some great tips pertaining to home mortgages and how you can get a good loan.

There are loans available for first time home buyers. These loans usually do not require a lot of money down and often have lower interest rates than standard mortgages. Most first time home buyer loans are guaranteed by the government; thus, there is more paperwork needed than standard mortgage applications.

If the idea of a mortgage looming over your head for the next few decades does not appeal to you, consider refinancing over a shorter period. Although your monthly payments will be more, you’ll save a lot in terms of interest over the life of the loan. It also means being mortgage-free much sooner, and owning your home outright!

Bring your financial documents with you when you visit lenders. You are just wasting your time and everyone else’s if you go to your loan interview without proper documentation. Have these documents handy because your lender will need to review them.

Regardless of how much of a loan you’re pre-approved for, know how much you can afford to spend on a home. Write out your budget. Include all your known expenses and leave a little extra for unforeseeable expenses that may pop up. Do not buy a more expensive home than you can afford.

Know the terms before trying to apply for a home loan and keep your budget in line. This means limiting your monthly payments to an amount you can afford, not just based on the house you want. Stay out of trouble by only getting a mortgage you can afford. For some first-time buyers, there are government programs which are designed to help. If your credit score is less than ideal, there are agencies that can help you get a better mortgage and lenders that will work with you.

Make sure you’re not looking at any penalties when you apply for a new mortgage. Your old mortgage may impose fines for early payment, which can include refinancing. If there are fines, weigh the pros and cons before getting into a new mortgage, as you may end up paying a lot more than you expected, even though refinancing means a lower monthly payment.

Find out how much your mortgage broker will be making off of the transaction. Many times mortgage broker commissions are negotiable just like real estate agent commissions are negotiable. Get this information and writing and take the time to look over the fee schedule to ensure the items listed are correct.

Read the fine print of your mortgage contract before signing. Many times home buyers find out too late that their fixed rate loan has a balloon payment tied to the end of the loan contract. By reading over the contract you can ensure that you are protected throughout the entire loan term. You can request for the seller to pay for certain closing costs. For example, a seller can pay either a percentage of the closing cost or for certain services. Many times the seller is responsible for paying for a termite inspection along with a survey and appraisal of the property.

Save up for the costs of closing. Though you should already be saving for your down payment, you should also save to pay the closing costs. They are the costs associated with the paperwork transactions, and the actual transfer of the home to you. If you do not save, you may find yourself faced with thousands of dollars due.

If you are looking to buy any big ticket items, make sure that you wait until your loan has been closed. Buying large items may give the lender the idea that you are irresponsible and/or overextending yourself and they may worry about your ability to pay them back the money you are trying to borrow.

Put as much as you can toward a down payment. Twenty percent is a typical down payment, but put down more if possible. Why? The more you can pay now, the less you’ll owe your lender and the lower your interest rate on the remaining debt will be. It can save you thousands of dollars.

Do not close out any credit card accounts while you are in the middle of applying for a loan. This will negatively impact you since all of your credit cards were used when determining your eligibility for a loan. If you need to close your account for any reason, wait until the loan process is over.

After reading the tips above, you probably realize that there’s a lot about the subject you weren’t aware of. That’s okay; many people don’t have the first idea about how to shop for a great mortgage. Just make sure you’re willing to learn about the subject before signing your name to anything.