Advice On House Mortgages Straight From The Financial Pros

Article written by-Hodges Prater

You can't just rush into getting a mortgage. If you do it with the wrong information, dreadful consequences can result. If you want a mortgage, but need to learn about the process, this piece is for you.



Before getting a mortgage, study your credit history. Click To See More is what can help you get a mortgage. Obtain copies of your credit history and scores from the three major credit-reporting bureaus. Study your reports carefully to ensure that no issues or errors must be resolved before you apply. Many lenders need a minimum score of 680, which complies with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae's guidelines. Most lenders want to avoid scores that are lower than 620.

Get your financial documents in order. Most lenders will require basic financial documents. Some of them include W2s, bank statements, pay stubs and your income tax returns for the past few years. When these documents are readily available it makes the process smoother and faster.

Reducing your debt as much as possible will increase your chances of being approved for a mortgage. If you are not in a good financial situation, meet with a debt consolidation professional to get out of debt as quickly as possible. You do not need to have a zero balance on your credit cards to get a mortgage but being deeply in debt is definitely a red flag.

You may be able to add your homeowners insurance costs to your mortgage payment. One advantage of this is negating the need to make two payments. Instead of paying your mortgage and an insurance bill, you can pay both bills in one payment. If you like to consolidate your bills, this is a good idea.

Get a pre-approval letter for your mortgage loan. A pre-approved mortgage loan normally makes the entire process move along more smoothly. It also helps because you know how much you can afford to spend. Your pre-approval letter will also include the interest rate you will be paying so you will have a good idea what your monthly payment will be before you make an offer.

Always shop around to get the best terms possible before finalizing any mortgage contract. Read up on the reputations of the potential lenders, any hidden fees, and their rates. Once you are familiar with each's details, you can make an informed decision as to which one is best suited for your personal situation.

Keep your job. Lenders look into many aspects of your financial situation and one very important aspect is your employment income. Stability is very important to lenders. Avoid moving jobs or relocating for as long as possible before you apply for a home mortgage. This will show them that you are stable.

After you've been approved for your home mortgage and are ready to move in, consider starting a home emergency fund right away. Being a homeowner means always being prepared for the unexpected, so having a stash of cash stored away is a very smart move. You don't want to have to choose between paying your mortgage and fixing a hole in the roof down the road.

Consider a mortgage broker for financing. They may not be as simple as your local bank, but they usually have a larger range of available loans. Mortgage brokers often work with numerous lenders. This allows them to personalize your loan to you more readily than a bank or other finance provider.

Pay off your mortgage sooner by scheduling bi-weekly payments instead of monthly payments. You will end up making several extra payments per year and decrease the amount you pay in interest over the life of the loan. This bi-weekly payment can be automatically deducted from your bank account to make it easy and convenient.

You should learn as much as you can about the type of mortgage you will need. There are all kinds of home loans. Educating yourself about each one will allow you to compare them more easily and figure out which one is right for you. Talk to your lender about your mortgage options.

Before you contact a mortgage lender to apply for a loan to buy a home, use one of the fast and easy mortgage calculators available online. You can enter your loan amount, the interest rate and the length of the loan. The calculator will figure the monthly payment that you can expect.

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.

Don't use real estate brokers or mortgage lenders who encourage you to lie on your home mortgage application. It is illegal to lie on this application, and it is a legal document. Misrepresenting your income or other information is grounds for criminal prosecution. Working with people who encourage you do commit a crime is not a good idea.

If you have less than stellar credit, it would be very helpful for you to save more money toward your down payment. You should have at least 20 percent saved toward your down payment to increase the odds of getting approved.

If you can, you should avoid a home mortgage that includes a prepayment penalty clause. You may find an opportunity to refinance at a lower rate in the future, and you do not want to be held back by penalties. Be sure to keep this tip in mind as you search for the best home mortgage available.

If you need to make repairs to your home you may want to consider a second home mortgage. As long as you have a good history of paying on time you should be able to get a great rate, and by improving your home you are increasing its value. Just be sure that you will be able to make the payments.

Never choose a home mortgage from a company that asks you to do unscrupulous things. If a rep is asking you to claim more than you make to secure the mortgage, it's not a good sign that your mortgage is in good hands. Walk away from these deals as quickly as you can.

Now that you know what it takes to get a mortgage which fits your needs, you have to get down to work and do it. Follow the steps laid out here and begin your planning process. Soon enough, you'll find a great lender who is offering a great rate and your job will be done.