Mortgage

It used to be that buyers could go house shopping and when they have found their dream home, then they go to get pre-approved. However, in today’s market, that has proven to be one of the least effective methods in landing the dream home. Most lenders can pre-qualify you for a mortgage over the phone. Based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history, lenders can estimate...

Have These Items Ready When You Apply For a Loan It used to be that lenders mailed out verifications to employers, banks, mortgage companies, and so on, in order to verify the data supplied by borrowers. Nowadays, the interest is often in speed and getting answers quickly so alternate documentation has become more widely used. Alternate documentation means that underwriting answers can be obtained with...

What kind of lender is best? If you ask a loan officer, “What kind of lender is best?” the answer will be whatever kind of company he works for and he will give you a list of reasons why. If you meet the same loan officer years later, and he works for a different kind of lender, he will give you a list of reasons why that type of lender is better. REALTORS® will also have differing opinions, and...

Downsizing to a smaller home can be a major life decision, but it can also come with a variety of benefits. As people get older, they may start to consider downsizing in order to reduce costs, simplify their lives, and increase their mobility. Here are just a few of the benefits of downsizing to a smaller home: Lower costs One of the biggest benefits of downsizing is the potential for lower costs. A...

Buying a house is exciting, but it can feel like it takes forever to get from the offer to the closing table.  On average, it takes 30 – 45 days to get to the closing table, and that’s in a perfect situation. Sometimes you may close faster or slower, but keep 30 – 45 days in mind when signing a sales contract. The Process to Close on a House The house closing process is complex. Not only must you...

Your mortgage isn’t a ‘sure thing’ until you sign the closing papers. Until that point, anything can happen, which is why it’s so important to keep your financial and employment situation status quo. If you’re thinking about buying a home or are in the middle of the process, here are five things that could make you lose your loan approval. Changing Jobs When lenders approve you for a mortgage,...

When it comes to homeownership, one of the greatest hurdles can be financing. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans present a viable solution, especially for first-time homebuyers and those with less-than-perfect credit. FHA loans, backed by the government, offer more flexible eligibility requirements than conventional loans, facilitating homeownership for a wider demographic. But the question arises...