Mortgage Considerations

Your home is a huge investment and your mortgage terms can affect your budget for years to come. Below are a few things to consider as you shop for the best loan for your needs. Keep in mind, these are just suggestions. Speaking with a mortgage professional is the best way to get a clear picture of mortgage loan options, down payments and more.

Check Your Credit Score

Your credit score can directly impact what mortgage loans and interest rates you may be eligible for, so work on getting it as high as you can before starting to shop around for a home. You can request a copy of your score through one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax®, Experian® or TransUnion®.

Create a Budget and Start Saving for a Down Payment

There are several costs built into purchasing a home. The biggest expense to start planning for may be your down payment. While there may be loan programs with little to no down payment, many mortgage loans will require you to put down at least 20% of the total price of the home if you want to avoid additional monthly fees and expenses. The larger your down payment, the more of your home you will own from day one, providing you built-in equity!

Once you’ve started saving for your down payment, you may want to assess your budget to determine what you may be able to afford. Online resources and tools, such as mortgage calculators, can help give you an idea of what your mortgage payment might be based on the hypothetical amounts you enter for the loan amount, down payment amount, interest rate, loan term, taxes and insurance.

Consider Other Expenses

Keep in mind there may be other expenses you’ll incur throughout the home buying process, such as inspection, appraisal and closing costs. In addition, there may be additional expenses once you close on your new home, such as furniture and appliance purchases or landscaping.

Shop Around for a Mortgage Loan

To secure financing for your home, you can work with a bank or credit union in your area, a lender, a mortgage banker, or a mortgage broker who will research lenders for you. You may want to research the current interest rate averages for the area, as well as various loan programs that may be available so you can compare quotes and estimates from different brokers, bankers or lenders.

There are several different types of mortgage loan programs that may be available. Therefore, it can be beneficial to research what programs you may qualify for in advance — especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. Some common mortgage options may be Conventional (Conventional or Jumbo), VA, FHA or USDA. And if you’re financially able and willing to pay cash, you may avoid interest and closing costs altogether!

While these are common mortgage options, take time to meet with one or more mortgage professionals to review all of your possible options. Your mortgage professional will work with you to help find the best loan option for your needs and circumstances.

Determine Your Mortgage Repayment Term

As part of shopping for mortgage loan options, you will need to determine your mortgage repayment term, which are commonly set at 15, 20 or 30 years. You will also need to choose a fixed or adjustable interest rate. Adjustable rate loans may provide lower initial rates, but can rise over time depending on market conditions. With a fixed rate loan, your rate will stay the same over the course of your mortgage loan.

Get Pre-Qualified or Pre-Approved for a Loan

The terms pre-qualified and pre-approved may be used interchangeably or inconsistently by various mortgage professionals. More important than what the mortgage professional calls it, is what the mortgage professional reviews in order to provide it to you. Getting either pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan may give you a better estimate of a loan program you may qualify for if certain conditions are met and based on the level or review by the mortgage professional.

Obtaining either a pre-qualification or pre-approval tends to show homebuyers and their real estate agents that you are serious about buying a house, which may help make your offer more appealing. To get either pre-approved or pre-qualified, your mortgage professional will assess your credit history, current income and debt situation. Once completed, they can give you an estimate of how much you may be able to borrow, which is subject to certain conditions and final loan approval. Once you’ve been pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage loan, you will know how much you can spend and you can begin the search for the perfect home!

Seek Final Loan Approval

After your offer has been accepted, you will submit financial documentation, such as pay stubs, tax returns and bank account statements to your mortgage professional to seek final loan approval. At this time, the mortgage professional can schedule an appraisal to ensure the home is valued at least at its selling price. You may also want or be required to obtain a property inspection to assess the condition of the home prior to purchase. Once the appraisal and inspection are complete and the final loan approval is obtained, it’s closing day — and the home is officially yours!