Have you wondered what exactly is up with
mortgage refinance loands home improvement loans new home
Home Mortgage Info for First Time Home Buyers
Home Mortgages for First time Home Buyers
Check for any programs that could give you discounts, dollars or both
If this is your first house, and you're interested to find any special programs that you may be eligible for, call your local government. There's usually someone at the city or county level who will know if there are any special programs in your area that you can apply for. These programs can sometimes offer several thousand dollars toward the purchase of your new home.
Also, if you work for the government, have ever been in the military, have parents in the military, or teach, there may be special programs for you through the VA. VA loans are particularly attractive because you won't be required to pay private mortgage insurance ($100 - $150/month) that is required when you borrow more than 80% of the value of the property.
If you work for a large employer, ask if they have a special relationship with a bank.
Often large employers work special deals with banks for their employees to get good home mortgages. After all, employees who have a home mortgage are happier and less likely to quit. Even relatives may be willing to help you out with your down payment, so that you can get your home mortgage.
This is very common for first time home buyers. I borrowed a small amount from my parents to help with closing costs. Others I know have borrowed the entire amount needed to purchase a house in order to get a lower interest rate.
I recommend that you visit a few local banks or credit unions; they have an interest in helping out locals. Many banks have at least one person specializing in finding home mortgages for first-time home buyers. Don't be shy, you won't know unless you ask. And often, a home mortgage payment is less than, or the same as, rent. Since this is your first home mortgage, things will be easier for you if you have a person that you can sit down and talk to. Going over the phone or internet for your first home mortgage can leave you without someone to help you through the process. On the other hand, some home mortgage companies may be faster than banks. It really depends on whomever you're working with. The bottomline is that there are many options.
Get Pre-Qualified First (before you go house hunting):
Your first step is to get pre-qualified. This is important, because it tells the seller that you're serious about purchasing their home and that you should be able to qualify for a home mortgage. Essentially what happens is you provide the bank or mortgage company with some information and based on your credit score and salary, they will figure how much you can afford to spend on a house. Understand that this is not a guarantee of a home mortgage, but it is close. It means that if all requirements are met on your mortgage application, you will get your home mortgage. After you pre-qualify, don't even think about changing jobs or quitting. Also, don't go buy a new car or something requiring a large loan. This may sound like common sense, but people do it and it has derailed a lot of home mortgages. Stay at your current place of employment for just a little longer, if you can. If you can't, get another job and let your home mortgage company representative know what is going on. If they find out you quit right before closing, they can cancel the home mortgage. So stay where you are.
Next, find a house. This is the fun part. You can either go with a real estate agent, or find a house yourself. Bear in mind, though, that the seller is paying the agent, not you. So it won't cost you anything to have an agent work for you. And the agent will walk you through the process.
Finally, pick your closing real estate agent. You have the right to decide which law firm will close your home mortgage. Every law firm charges something different, so call around. You could save hundreds. Your closing agent will put together the finishing touches on your purchase and help you get into your new house. If you tell them that this is your first time, they will be careful to walk you through the process. The timeline from pre-qualification to closing can take as long as three months, so be patient.
You are not alone in your home mortgage process. As scary as it seems, everyone you talk to will want you to have the right house. And that is what makes the business great.
Buying a house changes your life. A lot like having a baby, things are never the same again for you. There are many people out there to help first time homebuyers get a home mortgage. It is an exciting time; enjoy this new experience.
Dan Lyne has owned many homes over the last 15 years. He's had some very good and some bad experiences. You can find more information about home mortgage info, mortgage calculators and debt consolidation on the sites he frequently contributes to, just follow the attached links.
More Useful Resource and Updates on mortgage refinance loands home improvement loans new home
- Countrywide Settles Fraud Cases for $8.4 Billion (Update1) (Bloomberg)
Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Countrywide Financial Corp. , the home mortgage lender acquired by Bank of America Corp. in July, will offer interest rate and loan principal reductions plus other distressed borrower relief valued at $8.4 billion to settle consumer fraud complaints from 11 states.
- TD Canada Trust increases home equity line of credit and variable interest rate mortgage rates (CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance)
TD Canada Trust has increased its home equity line of credit and variable interest rate mortgage rates, effective October 7, 2008. While TD Canada Trust has endeavored to not pass on the increases in rates to its customers, this change reflects steadily increasing costs of funds in the current economic environment.
- Countrywide Settles State Consumer Fraud Cases for $8.4 Billion (Bloomberg)
Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Countrywide Financial Corp. , the home mortgage lender, will offer interest rate and loan principal reductions plus other distressed borrower relief valued at $8.4 billion to settle consumer fraud complaints from 11 states.
- Aus banks must explain interest rate strategy: Bishop (ABC Radio Australia)
Australia's opposition treasury spokeswoman, Julie Bishop, has urged banks to explain why they can't pass on any future interest rate cut in full.
- Big interest rate cut tipped (The West Australian)
Home borrowers are tipped to see the biggest rate cut in seven years on Tuesday as global financial market turmoil puts pressure on bank funding costs.
- BofA in mortgage lender settlement (Financial Times)
Bank of America has agreed to settle multi-state claims of deceptive and predatory lending practices against Countrywide Financial , the mortgage lender, in a deal that could result in a cut of up to $8.4bn in interest rate and principal payments for homeowners.
- State Discount Mortgage Unit Moves to Increase Interest Rate (New York Times)
A state agency that provides subsidized mortgages to first-time home buyers stopped offering discounted interest rates this week and started looking for new sources of funds.
- Interest rate relief but not much (Adelaide Now)
HOME owners are likely to miss out on half the interest rate cut expected to be announced by the Reserve Bank today.
- TD Canada Trust hikes variable mortgage rates, lines of credit (Canadian Business)
TORONTO - One of Canada's biggest mortgage lenders, TD Canada Trust, is increasing the interest rate charged for its home equity line of credit and variable-interest mortgages.
- RBA slashes interest rate (The Courier Mail)
OFFICIAL interest rates have been cut by one per cent to counter any economic slowdown from the global financial crisis - but your mortgage is unlikely to drop by that amount.
|