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Author: Keith Young

Home Buyer, Getting A new Loan

Home Buyer, Getting A new Loan

With mortgage rates still at historic lows, it’s more tempting than ever to either upgrade to a newer home or refinance an existing loan. But it’s anybody’s guess how long the rates will stay where they are, so now may be a great time to consider your options.

Home buyers looking to get a new loan should be informed about the mortgage industry to lock in the lowest rate possible. Here are some tips to help you get started.

  1. Figure out your budget

A good rule of thumb is that your total housing payment, including taxes and insurance, should not exceed 30 percent of your pre-tax income. You should know the maximum amount you can spend before starting the mortgage approval process. Use a mortgage calculator to help you understand how much you can afford.

  1. Get pre-approved by a lender

Your offer will be more attractive to a seller if you’re already approved for a mortgage. It also can help you avoid any snafus heading into the closing process. Pre-approval isn’t binding, but it tells the seller that you are able to get a mortgage.

  1. Save for a down payment

Your down payment can range from 2.25 percent to 20 percent of the home’s purchase price. Creating a monthly budget can help you save the money you need for your down payment. If you can’t come up with 20 percent of the home’s purchase price, you might consider an FHA loan.

  1. Track interest rates

Because the interest rate is one of the biggest factors in determining what your mortgage payment will be, it’s good to know where they’re heading, and they change almost daily.

  1. Know and maintain your credit score

Credit scores and activity have a big impact on whether you’ll be approved for a new loan. A low credit score is a sure-fire way to prevent you from getting approved — many lenders require a minimum score of 680 before they’ll proceed.

Be sure to pay your bills on time, and don’t cancel any of your existing credit cards or apply for new ones. Keep your credit card balances in a normal range. You don’t have to have a zero balance to get a loan, and sometimes paying off the entire amount due can do more harm than good.

  1. Keep your job

Loan officers like to see employment stability. Even if you have a new job lined up, it’s best to stay where you are until you close on your loan. Sometimes even accepting a new position with your current employers can stall the process.

  1. Tell the truth

Underwriters take loan applications seriously, so don’t misrepresent your financial situation. They’re giving you a lot of money, after all.

  1. Educate yourself on loan options

Know the difference between a 30-year fixed rate loan and an adjustable-rate mortgage. Fixed-rate loans are predictable while adjustable-rate mortgages can fluctuate.

  1. Get organized

Mortgage lenders will want to see quite a few financial documents and having them organized will speed up the process of getting a loan. You should be able to provide at least your last two pay stubs, your most recent W-2 and your last two years of tax returns. You also should have your current bank and brokerage statements.

  1. Respond to your lender quickly

Your lender may have additional requests for financial documents, and you should respond to these requests as quickly as you can. Taking too long could delay closing your loan.

  1. Research utilities

Avoid surprises by asking your real estate agent how much you can expect to pay for utilities. If you’re moving into a larger house or an older house from a newer house, the bills could be significantly higher.

  1. Shop for closing agents

The costs for document preparation, legal fees, and title insurance can vary. As your real estate agent and mortgage officer for recommendations.

  1. Know how much cash you’ll need at closing

You’ll need your down payment and closing costs. Closing costs are generally about 3 percent of the total loan amount and include origination fees, title insurance and appraisal fees.

  1. Budget for miscellaneous expenses

You’ll still need to spend more money after you close on your home. Think about how much it will cost you to move, as well as unforeseen maintenance costs. If you’re buying a condo within a homeowners association, be sure to include the HOA dues in your budget.

  1. Understand potential risk

Buying real estate involves a certain amount of risk because values change over time. In a good market, the value is likely to go up. However, that’s not always the case, so planning to hang onto your house for several years is a good bet.

  1. Sell your other house before you buy a new one

Man with son on his shoulders in front of a sold sign for a houseDo you have an existing house that you need to sell before you buy a new one? Selling your home can be very stressful and unpredictable. If you want to avoid the anxiety of wondering when or if it will ever close, then consider selling it to one of those companies that buy houses and then you can lock down a set closing date while still getting a fair price.



Before you decide to put your house out there on the market for sale, there are some important factors that you should consider if at all you would like it to move fast. It can be quite a headache, especially if you are selling a house that is also your home, one that you currently reside at. The following top 5 tips will assist you to make the right moves, and ensure that your house does not take “forever to get a buyer.

Keep your house in good shape, enhance the outlook. Especially for a house that has been in use for some duration of time, or even one that has been standing unused, renovations, repairs and repainting is in most cases inevitable if you want it to sell fast. Moreover, most buyers will judge the goodness of the house just by observing the outlook. This said, hedges, perimeter walls, lawns, front yards and back yards should be well attended to, long before you decide to sell the house.

Plan time for visitors/ buyers’ access. In this busy age and aggressive economic times, time might be a limiting factor in businesses such as those of selling your house. However, for you to achieve a quick sale, you need to come up with a visitor’s schedule that will work both for you and your prospective buyer. It almost goes without saying that the more prospective buyers are allowed access to visit and inspect what they are about to buy, the higher the chances that the property will move fast.

Clean, de-clutter, and depersonalize. When a prospective buyer visits the house for consideration, they should be able to visualize it as their own. The place should be extremely clean, free of clutters and free of too many personal belongings for this to happen. This increases not only their chances of buying the house fast but also your negotiation power.

Price it right, advertise, and allow for negotiation. When setting the price of your house, both consultation and market research are quite important. The price should be fair both to you and the buyer. Also, you should tag the price in such a way that it allows for negotiation between you and the buyer or selling firm. Good multimedia and online advertising will ensure that the offer reaches as many potential buyers as possible.

Look for a good Realtor. There are good real estate agents that you can approach to work with, especially in a situation whereby you are too busy to handle the sale by yourself, or you just don’t know where to find potential buyers. When selecting one, consider their reputation and experience in the industry, their fees, commissions, and benefits that they can offer once you get to work with them. They know the market better, and this will definitely increase the chances of selling your house fast.