The home-buying process begins with prequalifying for a mortgage. It’s of no use to spend hours searching for the perfect house if you cannot afford it. You’ll need to do a little homework to find a financing company that will work with you to find the best rate possible for your credit rating and income amount.
Shop around to compare interest rates. When the economy is struggling, lenders often offer lower rates as a way of enticing you to do business with them. However, you need to consider some other factors prior to getting into a mortgage. Check”the down payment required, the contract fee and the yearly percentage rate (APR), the ability and conditions such as locking in an interest rate, almost any application and origination fees, the term of loan, if loan and closing costs can be rolled into the loan, and also for fixed-rate mortgages, and how often the rate can be corrected, the indicator used and the speed cap,” states K.R. Tremblay Jr. at Colorado State University Extension. If you aren’t sure what the terms all mean, then take some time to educate yourself so you can shop with confidence.
Do the math before you walk into a bank and see basically what you can afford. Work by means of a mortgage payment worksheet to determine how much house you can afford. Realize that just because you believe that you can afford it does not indicate a creditor will agree to give you a loan.
Get your finances in order. Make sure all of your debts are current and obligations are made on time for several months. Don’t make any large purchases during the application process since they can lessen the amount a bank might be willing to lend. Save as much cash as you can to find a good-sized down payment. Using gift money from relatives will not help your credit, so either deposit it into the bank several weeks beforehand or receive a loan depending on your own credit alone. Don’t change jobs, as you will need about two years’ worth of employment at one area for your bank to qualify your application.
Stop by the lending institution that you believe has the best mortgage program for you and ask to be prequalified for a home mortgage. The lender will collect as much info as it has to evaluate how much it thinks you can afford. The answer will be based on debt-to-income ratios, your job history and how much cash you have stored up for a down payment.
Prepare the paperwork that is requested. Make sure that you have copies of everything that relates to your financial position.