Are you getting ready to purchase your first home? Are you already a homeowner who is looking for a better deal on your mortgage? If so, there is always more to learn about getting a great deal on your mortgage. Use the tips below to get a mortgage plan that is fair for you.
Beware of low interest rate loans that have a balloon payment at the end. These loans generally have lower interest rates and payments; however, a large amount is due at the end of the loan. This loan may seem like a great idea; however, most people cannot afford the balloon payment and default on their loans.
Consider the Federal Housing Authority to be your first stop when looking for a new mortgage. In most cases, a mortgage with the FHA will mean putting a lot less money down. If you opt for a conventional loan, you will be required to come up with a serious down payment, and that can mean not being able to afford the home you really want.
You must have a stable work history in order to get a mortgage. In many cases, it’s the norm for a home lender to expect buyers to have been in their job position for two or more years. Too many job changes can hurt your chances of being approved. Additionally, you should never quit your job during the application process.
Before applying for a mortgage, pay down your debts. Lenders use a debt to income ratio to verify that you are able to afford a mortgage. A general rule of thumb is 36 percent of your gross income should be available to pay all of your monthly expenses, including your mortgage payment.
Before you refinance your mortgage, make sure you’ve got a good reason to do so. Lenders are scrutinizing applications more closely than ever, and if they don’t like the reasons you’re looking for more money, they may decline your request. Be sure you can accommodate the terms of the new mortgage, and be sure you look responsible with the motivations for the loan.
Pay down your debt. You should minimize all other debts when you are pursuing financing on a home. Keep your credit in check, and pay off any credit cards you carry. This will help you to obtain financing more easily. The less debt you have, the more you will have to pay toward your mortgage.
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.
If you can afford the higher payments, go for a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage. In the first few years of a 30-year loan, your payment is mainly applied to the interest payments. Very little goes toward your equity. In a 15-year loan, you build up your equity much faster.
Base your anticipated mortgage on what you can actually afford to pay, not solely on what a lender preapproves you for. Some mortgage companies, when pleased with the credit score and history they review, will approve for more than what a party can reasonably afford. Use this for leverage, but don’t get into a mortgage that’s too big for your budget.
If you want an easy approval, go for a balloon mortgage. The loan is short-term, and you need to refinance the loan upon its expiration. This can, however, prove to be quite risky as rates may increase, or your finances may take a turn for the worse.
Mortgage rates change frequently, so familiarize yourself with the current rates. You will also want to know what the mortgage rates have been in the recent past. If mortgage rates are rising, you may want to get a loan now rather than later. If the rates are falling, you may decide to wait another month or so before getting your loan.
During your application for a home loan, get a rate-lock. A rate-lock in writing guarantees certain terms and interest rates for a given period of time. Set the rate-lock “on application” instead of “on approval”. The lock-in period needs to be long enough to allow for factors that can delay the loan process.
Set up your mortgage to accept payments bi-weekly instead of monthly. This gives you an additional two payments every year. This shortens the term of your loan and how much interest you pay. This works well if your pay period is every two weeks since the payments can be automatically drawn from your bank.
Take note of home buying season. Usually markets will have hot and cold selling periods. The hotter the selling period, the more shady lenders are likely to be around. If you know what trend the market is in, you will better be able to guard against people looking to take advantage of you.
Do not forget to consider the local property tax rates before you enter into a home mortgage contract. Just because you can afford the mortgage payment does not mean that you will be able to afford the taxes on the home. In some areas the taxes on a modest home can feel like a second mortgage, so be sure to look into this.
Ask about making bi-weekly payments to pay off your mortgage faster. This is a great way to make sure you own the house faster, or at least owe less when you decide to sell the home. Paying off your home sooner relieves the stress of having to make payments when you are older.
Whether you are buying your first home, multiple homes or are looking for a better mortgage on an existing property, the right advice on home mortgages is priceless. Remember the tips listed above when you are signing the papers for a home mortgage. This way you will ensure you are making a good decision.
