Articles Tagged "Mortgage Lender"

So you've committed to buying a home, congratulations! Deciding to own a home is a big step, but there's still a lot more to work through before you move into your new digs. How you pay for that home is what we're talking about, and getting a mortgage is how to get there. As a first-time homebuyer, you likely have a lot of questions about getting a mortgage, so our real estate agents put together this list of tips for applying for a one.

First-Time Buyer Mortgage Tips

• What Can You Afford?
  This is a great place to start your mortgage journey, and it begins with affordability. Generally speaking, lenders will look at your finances and use approximately 25% of your gross income to project what you can or should afford in a mortgage. Using that formula, you can play around with the numbers. In other words, if you make $100,000 per year, then you should be able to spend around $25,000 on housing annually or about $2,000 per month.

  Click Here to Read More...

Th real estate market is a fickle thing. While news programs often make us feel the same thing is happening across all real estate markets in the US, that's just not the case.  In fact, our country is filled with thousands of real estate markets sitting shoulder to shoulder across the US.  Each offering unique opportunities and pitfalls that can be radically different at any given time. 

In addition, conditions often change quickly. An entire market can shift overnight thanks to changes in mortgage interest rates, the amount lenders charge borrowers over time. Those adjustments, in turn, can be caused by anything from bank fluctuations to Washington politics.

In the long run, buyers hoping to get the best deal need one thing on their side: Speed.

The faster you get through your transaction, the easier it is to "seize the day" and get the best bargain in any market. This is especially true because a mortgage loan agreement only lasts for a short period of time--if you don't act on it within that window, your rates can go up. 

What's the key to moving faster in the market? Getting pre-approval.

Click Here to Read More...