Posts Tagged ‘home loan’

Buying A First Home

One problem plaguing excited first time home buyers is the deposit for the house of their dreams. If you are one of them, this problem can be resolved with a little help from family or friends or the First Time Homebuyer Credit. But all these are just the beginning of your new life as a homeowner and your responsibilities is just starting.

Most first time home buyers are young newly-weds struggling with their budget but they are keen to get their own house instead of renting an apartment for years. The money that would go to the rent would instead go to the mortgage. This is a smart decision, but there are a lot of things you should know to get yourself the best mortgage deal and save you hundreds of dollars in the long haul.

Calculate how much you can comfortably afford to spend on your mortgage each month. Deduct your down payment from the amount of the purchase price of the home and determine whether the payments on the home you are considering will be manageable. You need to set a strict limit and stick to it, no matter how tempting it may be to spend more. Tell your realtor your top price and advise him you don’t want to look at homes that cost more. Realtors make money on commissions and the more expensive the house they sell, the high their commission. Don’t let your realtor talk you into a house you can’t afford.

Young newly-weds are always excited at the prospect of owning a house that they jump into a deal without examining what goes with the mortgage. They take the first offer that looks good on paper without knowing that there are fees and more fees attached to the deal.

Take a look at the required deposit and the disadvantages of having insufficient funds for the deposit. If you do not have the amount, the lender will slap on the insurance fee on the mortgage, increasing the mortgage amount by as much as $20,000. A no deposit mortgage may be tempting for professionals who can service the mortgage but cannot save for a deposit. Take note that these no-deposit loans have more requirements and there are still the standard fees to pay.

Closing costs include the points that buyers and sellers pay on the mortgage, the cost of title searches and home inspections and any unpaid property taxes. If the home requires repairs, the lender may also require that either the buyer or seller put money in an escrow account to cover the costs. Putting an offer in on a home doesn’t insure the sale will go through. Your lender may find a problem with the home and refuse the loan. You can try again with another lender if the problem isn’t too serious.

So how do you compare lenders? Check out the APR or Annual Percentage Rate which will reflect the total cost of the loan and calculate the Annual Percentage Yield which will show how the compounding interest makes the loan worth the trouble. Ask the lender to disclose both APR and APY. They are bound by law to give this information.

With the mortgage information you need tucked under your belt, you can negotiate for a reasonable and affordable loan and keep your house for years. A dream house may not be for you, but you can make that house your dream house, one that is for keeps.

If you are looking for more advice about home mortgage Lansing, you should check out this site which has great info about Lansing mortgage company.

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30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates The Basics

For those of you who are new to mortgages or new to the process of applying for a home loan, this article will be a valuable resource to introduce you to the basic fixed rate mortgage. This is one of the easier mortgages to understand and also relatively easy to calculate. A basic understanding of the fixed rate mortgage will help you understand how other mortgage products may differ from the fixed rate, but also help you to ask intelligent questions when speaking with and evaluating a loan officer you may potentially be working with.

The fixed rate mortgage is by far the most common type of mortgage. When new homebuyers begin pricing loans, these are typically where people will start. Most fixed rate mortgages advertised also usually talk about the rate for a 30 year “fixed” rate. When people talk about their mortgage, there is a very good chance that they are referring to their 30 year fixed. A little less common are the adjustable rate mortgages. Of course there are dozens of different mortgage products available based on the needs you have. Interesting that the selling of “money” is basically packaged in different forms just like any other product or service.

These fixed rate mortgages are most commonly setup with 15 or 30 year term, but also have options for a 10 year or 20 year, or even a 40 year mortgage. The longer the mortgage term, typically the lower the interest rate as the bank or financial institution that is extending the loan will typically make more money, at least via interest paid on the loan. This is why the shorter term rates are typically a higher rate.

Fixed rate mortgages have the same payment for each period. The benefit here is that you are able to base your monthly budget or even bi-weekly budget from the amount you’ll be paying each month towards your mortgage. Because the rate doesn’t change, neither does the monthly payment. This makes the fixed rate mortgage very predictable.

There are several loan products or mortgage programs that have what is known as a “balloon” payment where payments are made either directly to the interest as in the case of an interest only loan or even interest and principal with a lump sum due at the end of a given period (usually a couple of years). The fixed rate mortgage is different in this regard, at least the traditional style of mortgage here this article discusses. When you pay off your mortgage with a fixed rate mortgage, you owe nothing more to the bank or lender. There is no need to refinance your home or come up with cash to pay towards a lump sum payment or balloon payment. This style of mortgage is probably the most conservative of the various mortgage products.

On a typical 30 year fixed rate mortgage, you’ll pay your monthly payment of which a percentage of that amount would go toward the principal and the other percentage goes towards interest. This is done on a sliding scale, so the first years of the mortgage, you’ll be paying more in interest to the bank than paying down your loan. This is as designed by the banks who fund these mortgages. Their expectation is that they get their interest paid to them before you’re “allowed” to use more of your regular monthly payment to go towards the principal. This is all done behind the scenes, but it is interesting to know that you won’t start paying more towards your principal than interest until year 22 of your mortgage. There isn’t anything to prevent you from paying down your mortgage early, however, and may be a very good idea depending on your life situation.

Getting a fixed rate mortgage is a good program for a large percentage of home owners in today’s society. Keep in mind, however, that this is not the only option. But, if you understand the basics of the fixed rate mortgage, you’ll better understand the other mortgage products that are available as they are explained to you by your loan officer. It’s important to find someone you can trust to work with on your home loan. This will get you most of the way to where you need to be for getting a mortgage or looking into refinancing.

Brian Armstrong is a licensed loan officer in the state of Utah. He actively promotes information about Utah mortgage rates on his website. You can also find some detailed information about the services and types of home loans Brian offers from his website about mortgages in Salt Lake City.

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Give That House A Second Look Before You Buy It

You were just surfing the net and you saw a picture of this unbelievable house, the perfect house. You know it’s the house you want to buy and live in forever. Slow down. Just because the house looks good on the web, doesn’t mean it’s your dream house. There are a lot of questions to ask and things to consider before taking on the responsibility of a home.

If this is your first time to shop for a home, don’t go into the deal unprepared. Apart from the paperwork, it is important too to take a look into that house up for sale; it’s just right because after all you are going to live in it and live with a mortgage. You look at the house and ask how much it will cost you before you can apply for a mortgage.

Consider the neighborhood. Are the other homes well kept? Look into crime statics for the area. Keep in mind that homes in upscale neighborhoods come with upscale price tags. Make sure the house is in good repair, or that the seller will do necessary repairs before the sale. Make sure you lender will provide a mortgage.

Needed home repairs can give a buyer a bargaining position on the price of the home. Check with your mortgage lender on their requirements. They may be unwilling to grant a mortgage on a home that needs repairs or they may require you to put the money for repairs in escrow. Make sure to check the basement and attic for evidence of flooding, leaks or other potential problems. Mold can be expensive to remove and unhealthy to live with.

In the kitchen, check how many appliances are there to estimate if your appliances can fit in without additional outlets; check the floor, is it level or does it shake? Inspect the floor for stain — can these be removed with the usual cleaning mop and cleansers? If the sink top is marble, examine if it needs to be re-polished. Inspect the plumbing. Are there leaks? How about the tap water? Does it run well or drips?

In the bathroom, are there bath cabinets? Well maintained bath cabinets should be an asset not a collapsing liability. Look at the plumbing; turn on the tap and flush the toilet. If it works fine, there won’t any problem. To be sure, bring along a plumber to inspect the plumbing in all areas – kitchen, bath, garage, and at the backyard.

Visit the attic should to check it for water stains and the durability of the structure. Does the attic have ventilation and insulation? After you have done the rounds of the interiors, check out the exterior. Are the doors and windows secured? How many entrances are there? Does the house have a fire escape?

If you are planning to live in the house, make sure you walk around the neighborhood. Talk to some neighbors. Is this an area of young families or retirees? Will you and your family be comfortable living in this neighborhood? Look at the house on a rainy day. It’s easier to spot leaks and problems in bad weather. If everything looks good and you haven’t found any red lights, make an offer on the house that’s within your budget.

If you are looking for more advice about Lansing Michigan mortgage, you should check out this site which has great info about this site.

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Selling Your Home?

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