With millions of Americans still unemployed or furloughed, lenders deal with job loss and income changes daily. If you’re in the middle of the mortgage process and you lose your job, lose hours, or get furloughed, you may think you’ve lost your approval.
Fortunately, this isn’t always the case. It depends on your situation, though. We’ve covered the most common situations below.
Thinking about buying your first home is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. It’s a whole new world when compared to renting. You own your home, can do what you want to it (within reason), and are responsible for all expenses including maintenance, repairs, taxes, and insurance, along with the mortgage payment.
How do you know when you’re ready to take the leap? Here’s what we think.
Saving for a down payment is often the largest hurdle first-time homebuyers face. Many assume they need 20 percent down (which isn’t true) or just don’t have enough for even the minimum down payment. Fortunately, many loan programs allow mortgage down payment gifts, but only if you follow the rules.
You found your dream home – congratulations! You’re in the middle of underwriting and can’t wait to hear the words ‘you’re clear to close.’ Even those words, though, mean nothing until the ink is on the paper and unfortunately, things can go wrong between underwriting and closing if you aren’t careful.
Avoid these common mistakes and you’ll close your loan just like you hoped.
Are you thinking about buying a home but wonder if you have a high enough down payment? Do you worry that your credit score isn’t high enough and that you’ll never get a loan?
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or you’ve owned homes before, the FHA loan may be the perfect option for you, here’s why.
Your credit score tells lenders a lot about you. Before they ask you questions, they’ll have an opinion of your financial credibility. The three-digit number speaks volumes, so it’s important to know what lenders consider ‘bad’ credit.
When lenders approve you for a loan, they take a risk. They risk you not paying the mortgage back, which means the bank takes a loss. While foreclosure sales earn banks some money back, they still suffer financially for each foreclosure.
PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance helps banks offset the risk. Private insurance companies issue the insurance that protects lenders should you default. Conventional loan borrowers who put less than 20 percent down on a home pay PMI.
When you apply for a mortgage, you may hear the word mortgage points thrown around. Many people assume they are ‘bad’ and try to avoid them.
This guide breaks the stigma surrounding mortgage points, helping you understand the truth of how they work.
As mortgage rates continue declining, more buyers enter the real estate market. Unfortunately, there are lower housing inventories, making your home search more difficult than you expected. Does this mean buying a home during COVID-19 is impossible?
It doesn’t. It means making changes and expectations regarding the home buying process, though.
Here’s what to expect buying a home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Do you have equity in your home? Many homeowners don’t even know if they do or how much.
If you have equity in your home, you may use it to consolidate debt, make home improvements, or just keep on hand. Equity goes beyond the amount you invested when you bought your home. As you make your mortgage payments and/or your home appreciates, your equity increases.
Now, learn how to determine your home equity and how to use it.