Shopping for A Mortgage? Do Your Homework FirstIf you happen to be shopping around for a mortgage, it is very important that you first take the necessary time to do your homework. When I say homework, I am talking about research. There are so many loan programs out there that it is easy to get lost in all of the mortgage jargon that people in the industry love to use on you. Not to mention of all of the paperwork. By the time you get to the table, you will have a mound of paperwork approximately six inches high filled with words and terms that most people in the business don't even understand. The mortgage industry is filled with all kinds of pitfalls that you can find yourself sitting in. This is why taking your time and doing research is key to purchasing a home. Research can literally save you thousands of dollars in closing costs and interest charges. So don't rush into it! For starters you will want to contact a realtor and a lender. When choosing a realtor, ask a family member or friends to refer one to you, one they know well and can be trusted. Or better yet, one they have used personally. There are many ways to choose a lender, but for starters, here are just a few ideas to get you started. The traditional way would be to walk into your neighborhood bank and speak with a loan officer. If you don't like that idea, you might consider filling out an on-line application, and let the lenders choose you. Or you could contact a broker. A broker will evaluate your situation for you, and then shop around for a lender with the best program or rate, or both. Remember, just because you have a realtor and a loan officer doesn't mean you should stop doing your research. At this point in the game, you should be doing even more research. This way you will have an understanding as to what your realtor and loan officer are talking about when they start speaking their language. You will also want to find out what your credit score is. Most likely your loan officer will do this for you. Your credit history plays a large role in the loan approval process, and it will also affect your interest rate. If you already know that your credit is a little bit challenged, than you might want to start out using a broker. Most brokers work with about two hundred lenders, so they would be your best bet as far as finding a bank that deals with challenged credit. When you are purchasing a home, you will hear things such as debt to income, appraisal, and loan to value. I'm sure you may have heard these terms in the past, but do you know what they mean, I mean, do you really know what they mean? Inside and out. I cannot stress enough the importance of doing research before buying a home. It is such a vital component when it comes to saving money. Use the internet, use the library, and most of all, use your realtor and loan officer. Ask them as many questions as you possibly can, learn from them, after all, you are paying them! Your home will most likely be the largest financial transaction you will ever make, so when you come to making your decision, make sure it is an educated one. Good luck! This article may be reproduced by anyone at any time, as long as the authors name and reference links are kept in tact and active. Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of http://www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site, he is also the owner of http://www.callprospect.com, a mortgage lead company.
MORE RESOURCES updated Wed. April / 24 / 2024 Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 24, 2024 | Rates Still Slated to Go Down This Year Business Insider Should You Refinance Halfway Through Your Mortgage? Bankrate.com 10-year refinance rates: What to know about the current market CNN Underscored MBA: Mortgage Applications Increased in Weekly Survey Calculated Risk Only Half Of Black Seniors Approved For Home Repair Or Refinance Loans To Age In Place Block Club Chicago How to Refinance Your Mortgage NerdWallet Will Interest Rates Go Down in May 2024? | Mortgage Rates Forecast The Mortgage Reports 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Average Mortgage Interest Rates: Mortgage Rates by Credit Score, Year, and Loan Type Business Insider 30-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 22, 2024 | The Still-Hot Economy is Keeping Rates High Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 21, 2024 | Rates Remain Near 7% Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 19, 2024 | High Rates Make for a Challenging Homebuying Season Business Insider The best mortgage lenders for refinancing in April 2024 CNN Underscored How To Choose The Right Kind Of Refinance For You Bankrate.com Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 20, 2024 | Rates Remain Elevated, but They Could Fall Later This Year Business Insider Should You Refinance Your Mortgage In 2024? Bankrate.com How To Refinance A Rental House Bankrate.com Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders In 2024 Bankrate.com Current mortgage refinance rates CNN Underscored When to Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage Business Insider Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of April 2024 Business Insider Mortgage Rates Chart | Historical and Current Rate Trends The Mortgage Reports Refinance Requirements: What You Need to Refinance Your Home in 2024 The Mortgage Reports How To Get A Home Equity Loan With Bad Credit Bankrate.com How Soon Can You Refinance a Mortgage? NerdWallet Mortgage Rate Forecast February 2024 Bankrate.com Refinancing a Home Equity Loan (2024 Guide) MarketWatch Conventional Refinance Rates and Guidelines for 2024 The Mortgage Reports How To Refinance An Underwater Mortgage Bankrate.com 30-year refinance rates: What to know CNN Underscored Mortgage Rate History: 1970s to 2023 Bankrate.com Current 15-year refinance rates — and lenders that offer them CNN Underscored When should I refinance my mortgage? To determine if a refinance is the right move for you, you’ll need to know the ... The Wall Street Journal Best Refinance Lenders of April 2024: Refinance Your Mortgage The Motley Fool Pros and Cons of a Cash-Out Refinance Bankrate.com Should I Refinance My Mortgage Now? When to Refinance As Rates Drop Business Insider What Credit Score Do I Need To Refinance? Bankrate.com Office of Research blog: A look at cash-out refinance mortgages and their borrowers between 2013 to 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau With property values strong in 2023, many homeowners tapped home equity lines of credit, pushing total HELOC ... Miami Herald The Sales Pitch for an 8% Mortgage: Buy Now, Refinance Later—for Free The Wall Street Journal Will Mortgage Rates Go Down in 2024? What Homebuyers Should Expect Business Insider Mobile Home Refinancing | Loans & Rates 2023 The Mortgage Reports Current mortgage interest rates: Mortgage rates today CNN Underscored CFPB Releases Study of Refinance Mortgage Loans Between 2013 and 2023 Consumer Finance Monitor
|