Looking for the right mortgage can take a little time. That is why it’s a good idea to prepare in advance. The process of closing on a mortgage takes time as well, and you don’t want to find yourself in an undesirable situation. Instead, you want to be happy that you’ve found the right mortgage, so keep reading!
Get a copy of your credit score before you apply for a mortgage. It is best to know where you stand before you complete an application for a mortgage. You should check your credit even if you are sure you have a good score since identity theft or mistakes can occur.
Know how much you can afford to put towards your home mortgage. Do not rely on the lender to tell you the amount you qualify for, causing you to borrow the maximum amount. Try planning your budget and leaving some room for unexpected expenses. This is usually the case when you buy a home. You can use banking calculators to determine how much you can afford on a home and provide an estimate of the monthly mortgage payments.
Know your credit score before going in to get a mortgage. Your potential lender will do their own homework on this, but you should arm yourself with the intel as well. Knowledge is power in terms of the negotiations to follow. If you aren’t clear on your strengths and weaknesses, then a lender can more easily use the knowledge against you.
Get pre-approved for a home mortgage before shopping for a new house. Nothing is worse than finding the perfect house, only to find out that you can’t get approved for a mortgage. By getting pre-approved, you know exactly how much you can afford. Additionally, your offer will be more attractive to a seller.
If your mortgage has been approved, avoid any moves that may change your credit rating. Your lender may run a second credit check before the closing and any suspicious activity may affect your interest rate. Don’t close credit card accounts or take out any additional loans. Pay every bill on time.
Have the necessary documents ready. There are a few documents that you’ll be expected to have when you come in for a home mortgage. You’ll need to provide bank statements, income tax reports, W-2 statements, and at least two pay stubs. Having these at the ready will help make your meetings go much quicker.
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.
Look closely at lenders. There are many companies willing to lend you money to finance your home. They are not all equal. Look into the reputation of the lender and try to talk to people who have their loans through them. Reputations are hard to hide, and you will want to know how your potential lender handles business.
Save up enough so you can make a substantial down payment on your new home. Although it may sound strange to pay more than the minimum required amount for the down payment, it is a financially responsible decision. You are paying a lot more than the asking price for the home with a mortgage, so any amount that you pay ahead of time reduces the total cost.
If you have a little bit more money to put down on a home, consider getting a conventional mortgage as opposed to an FHA mortgage. FHA mortgages have lower down payments, but excessive fees that are added to the cost of the mortgage. Save up at least 5 percent in order to be eligible for an FHA loan.
Understand what happens if you stop paying your home mortgage. It’s important to get what the ramifications are so that you really know the seriousness of such a big loan as a home mortgage. Not paying can lead to a lower credit score and potentially losing your home! It’s a big deal.
Remember that it takes time to get a mortgage closed; therefore, it is important to include enough time in the sales contract for the loan to close. Although it may be tempting to say the deal will be closed within 30 days, it is best to use a 60 or 90 day timeframe.
Realizing that you have just bought a home and have a good mortgage is a great feeling. This is a loan that you’re going to carry for years, and you want it to be both affordable and accommodating. So, use the information that has been passed on to you so that you can find a good mortgage.
