Choosing Between Renting & Buying
Which choice is best for you? There are many things to consider when buying a home. Since it is likely that the purchase of a home will be the most expensive purchase of your life, you will want to consider several things before you start to look for a home. |
Determining Your Property Value
The best way to determine property values is to monitor the sale of similar properties in the same geographical area. This way you can track how much a home is listing for, how quickly the home sells, and at what price. |
How Much Can You Afford?
Imagine you have just completed a search that included hundreds of hours of looking at the exteriors and interiors of houses. You have sized up siding, reviewed roofing and perused the petunias. And finally, you have found the house of your dreams. Now imagine that this house of your dreams costs much more than you can afford. |
Mortgage Escrow Accounts
Mortgage escrow accounts have been in the news lately and seem to be greatly misunderstood by many consumers. The original idea behind mortgage escrow accounts was to protect the interests of homeowners and have been serving that purpose for more than 50 years. |
Primary Mortgage Insurance Lowering Your Down Payment
Mortgage insurance (MI) allows you to choose from a wider price range of homes. How? Lenders are generally willing to accept a lower down payment than the standard 20% if the lender obtains mortgage insurance on your loan through a mortgage insurance company. |
Professional Assistance
Having the right professional people to assist you when you buy a home can be crucial. It can save you money and headaches. If an error occurs, you have every right to ask that it be corrected. |
Save Big With 15 Year Loans
Save $100,000 on mortgage interest costs! Sound impossible? Not really. An old-time mortgage that is once again proving popular allows home buyers to do just that. It is the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage that lets home buyers own their homes free and clear in 15 years. |
The Loan Closing
Once your application has been approved and you've received either a commitment letter or approval letter from the lender, the final step, before you can call the house your own is the closing, or settlement. Even though you have a signed purchase agreement and your loan request has been approved, you have no rights to the property, including access, until the legal title to the property is transferred to you and the loan is closed. |
The Mortgage Loan Process
Buying a home may be the most exciting, confusing and stressful financial transaction you ever undertake. If you understand the steps required to qualify for a mortgage loan, much of the stress can be avoided. This explanation of the loan application process is intended to help you through the complexities of obtaining a mortgage loan. |
VA Loan
Veterans Administration Loan Program. A Quick Guide For Homebuyers & Real Estate Professionals. |
What Happens After Applying?
Much of the home buyers' unease results from not knowing what is going on. You know credit checks and verifications of employment are taking place, but what makes the difference between getting or not getting the loan, and how long does it take? Some of the anxiety can be relieved by detailing the steps the lender takes in making the loan decision, a process called "underwriting". |
What To Expect After Your Purchase
If you properly calculated your finances before buying your new home, you should be able to meet your monthly housing obligations. Most people will have higher costs now than they did before, whether or not they rented previously. There are several things you need to keep in mind after you move into your dream home. |
