How to Simplify the Home Buying Process

As a first­-time home-buyer, the home buying process can be intimidating and stressful. This is brand new territory for you. And since you don’t know what to expect, you might not realize how slow and complicated the process can be.

But even if you’re new to the “home buying game” and slowly learning the ropes, there are simple ways to streamline a purchase and minimize stress.

1. Organize your documents ahead of time

 

When you apply for a mortgage loan, the first thing a lender will do is request financial documents. This includes your tax returns from the past two years, recent paycheck stubs and copies of bank account statements.

If you’re not organized, finding these documents can be tedious and time-consuming. So make sure you have a system where all your financial information is located in one place and easily accessible.


The sooner you locate and forward these documents to the mortgage lender, the sooner the bank can process your application and get you approved for a loan.

2. Get pre­-approved before shopping

 

Some first­-time home-buyers don’t understand the importance of a mortgage pre-approval. Pre­approvals aren’t required to make an offer on a house, but they can streamline the process since you’ll already have financing in place. 

A pre-­approval involves completing an official mortgage loan application and going through the underwriting process, with the lender checking your credit and verifying your employment and income.

 

Once you’re pre­-approved, you know exactly how much you can spend on a property, plus you know your estimated mortgage rate before shopping for a home.

3. Check your credit beforehand

 

You might think you have excellent credit, but your credit report can paint a different picture. To avoid any surprises when applying for a home loan, check your credit report beforehand.

You can order a free report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com. Check the report for errors and unfamiliar account activity which can be a sign of identity theft. Mistakes on your credit report can lower your credit score and jeopardize qualifying for a mortgage.

4. Know what you’re expected to pay a lender

 

Speak with your mortgage lender to find out how much you’ll need for a down payment. Down payment minimums vary depending on the type of mortgage.


For example, a conventional mortgage loan requires a down payment between three percent and 20 percent, whereas an FHA home loan requires a 3.5 percent down payment.


You will also need cash for closing costs, which can be as much as two percent to five percent of the sale price (unless the seller agrees to pay all or a percentage of your closing costs).

5. Make sure your realtor understands your needs

 

Be as specific as possible when speaking with your realtor. If your realtor understands exactly what you’re looking for in a property, you won’t waste time looking at homes that don’t meet your needs.

For example, how many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Are you seeking new construction or a resell? What type of square footage do you have in mind? What’s your price range? Do you prefer a specific neighborhood or school district?

Bottom Line

 

There’s nothing more thrilling than buying a home — especially if you’re a first-time buyer. But the stress of getting a mortgage and negotiating a purchase can overshadow the excitement. The above tips, however, can reduce the risk of setbacks and speed the process so you can quickly move into your new place.

source: totalmortgage.com

How to Get a Mortgage With Little Savings

If you don’t have a lot of cash in your savings account, you might think you can’t qualify for a mortgage. Between closing costs and down payments, getting a mortgage is expensive. And some first-time homebuyers think every mortgage lender requires a 20 percent down payment. However, many lenders require much less from buyers, which is good news if you have little savings. The truth is, there are several mortgage provisions for people in your situation. Here’s a look at four options for getting a mortgage with little savings.

1. Low down payment mortgage loans

You don’t need a large downpayment for some conventional mortgage or FHA home loans. FHA home loans only require 3.5 percent down, and conventional mortgage lenders recently reduced their minimum down payment from five percent to three percent.

The downside is that you’ll have to pay mortgage insurance with both options. Mortgage insurance protects the bank in case of default and its required on every loan with less than a 20 percent down payment. Since annual premiums are added to your mortgage payment, mortgage insurance increases your monthly payment. FHA mortgage insurance is 0.85 percent of the loan balance, and private mortgage insurance with a conventional mortgage loan is 0.50 percent to one percent of the loan balance.

2. USDA home loan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages growth in rural parts of the country. So if you’re thinking about buying a home in a small town or a rural  area of your city, you might qualify for a no-money down USDA home loan which features low interest rates and flexible credit guidelines.

However, don’t think you have to move to the country or live far from civilization to qualify. Interestingly, many homes in populated areas are eligible for a USDA home loan. Provide your loan officer with the address of the property you’re thinking about purchasing and he can determine whether the address is eligible for USDA financing.

3. VA home loan

If you’re active-duty military or a veteran, you might be eligible for a VA home loan. Like a USDA home loan, these loans do not require a down payment. There’s no private mortgage insurance and limitations on buyer’s closing costs, which also saves money.

4. Increase your credit score

A high credit score says you’re responsible with money and you’re most likely to pay your mortgage on time. FHA home loans require 3.5 percent down regardless of your credit score, but some conventional lenders will require a higher down payment if your credit score is lower than 650 to 680. In this case, the down payment can range between 10 percent and 20 percent. You can increase your credit score by paying bills on time and paying off debt before applying for the loan.

You’ll face hurdles when buying a home, but don’t be discouraged if you have little savings. Know your mortgage option and think of ways to build your savings, such as liquidating personal belongings or borrowing cash from a retirement account — as long as you’re committed to repaying these accounts.

You also have to deal with closing costs. Getting multiple mortgage quotes is one way to lower closing costs. You can also wrap closing costs into your mortgage to avoid any out-of-pocket expense or you can negotiate seller paid closing costs.

source: totalmortgage.com

New FHA Home Loan Guidelines for 2015

If you need a low-down payment mortgage and you don’t have the best credit score, an FHA home loan can help you get the keys to homeownership. The FHA home loan program has been around since 1934 making homeownership affordable for many.

With the new year underway, the Federal Housing Administration recently announced changes to its program for 2015—changes that benefit many would-be buyers and anyone refinancing to an FHA home loan.

1. Reduced Mortgage Insurance Premiums

FHA home loans only require a 3.5% down payment, which has been a godsend for borrowers who can’t save the traditional 20%. Unfortunately, anyone who puts down less than 20% is required to pay an annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP), which is paid over 12 installment payments and included in the mortgage payment. Borrowers who pay MIP have higher monthly payments than those who don’t, but there’s good news for anyone who closes on an FHA home loan after January 26, 2015.

On January 9, 2015, the Federal Housing Administration announced an upcoming reduction in annual mortgage insurance premiums. For borrowers, this means more money in their pocket every month. This change applies to mortgages greater than 15 years. The reduction of 5% will reduce current mortgage insurance premiums from 1.35% to 0.85% for borrowers to put down less than 5%, and from 1.30%  to 0.80% for borrowers who put down more than 5%.

2. Elimination of Post-Payment Interest Charges

Some conventional mortgage loans charge a prepayment penalty, which is a fee borrowers pay their lender for paying off the mortgage in full within the first two to three years. FHA home loans have something similar, called a post-payment interest charge.

Basically, if you pay off your mortgage early either by selling or refinancing, your mortgage lender might charge interest for the entire month, regardless of when you actually paid off the mortgage. For example, if you paid off a mortgage on September 3, your lender would charge interest through September 30. New rules, however, get rid of this extra cost. Post-payment interest charges are eliminated beginning January 21, 2015. Lenders can only charge interest up until the date a borrower pays off his loan.

3. Advance Notice for Rate Adjustments

Adjustable-rate mortgages typically start with a rate lowered than fixed-rate mortgages. Unlike a fixed-rate, which has a set rate for the life of the loan, an adjustable-rate mortgage has a temporary fixed rate —  one to five years — and then the rate adjusts annually depending on the market. Previously, FHA home loan lenders gave borrowers a 25-day notice of rate increases. Effective January 10, 2015, lenders must give borrowers with an FHA-insured adjustable-rate mortgage a 60- to 120-day notice of any changes to the monthly payment. This provides borrowers additional time to prepare for higher mortgage payments.

Buying a house is arguably one of the most expensive transactions you’ll ever make in your life. And unfortunately, lack of funds is a home buying hurdle for many people. However, with an FHA home loans, affording a property has become much easier.

source: totalmortgage.com