Applying for a mortgage can be an overwhelming process. There are so many forms, documents, and things you need to know, so that you can prepare for completing your mortgage application and get approved. Not all things pertain to everyone, verifying income from your own business for example. But understanding the “why’s” and the “how’s” can make the entire process much less confusing. Our mortgage guide articles will help you navigate the home buying process and give you the confidence to make the right purchase for you and your family.
What Is A Prepayment Penalty?
What Is a Prepayment Penalty? A prepayment penalty is exactly what it sounds like, a penalty for paying off your loan early. Certain mortgages, and specifically home equity lines of credit, can come with a prepayment penalty. It’s best to understand how they work and when they kick in to know whether it’s something you [...]
Types of Home Inspections: Tips and List
When you’re buying a home, there are certain inspections that are a required part of the mortgage process. There are also some which are voluntary. When you’re working with a tight budget, as many homebuyers are, going the cheap route may seem smart, but it’s best to know what types of home inspections are available [...]
What Is The New Good Faith Estimate (GFE)
The new GFE In October of 2015, a new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) was introduced to make closing costs and loan terms easier to understand for borrowers. This new document, also referred to as the Loan Estimate, replaces the previously used GFE and Truth In Lending (TILA) statements. A Change in Rules for Closing Cost [...]
Income Verification For Mortgages
The days of “no-income check” mortgage applications are long gone. Now, when applying for a mortgage, you will need to include your income on the application itself, and provide documentation of a history of that income (usually two years). For a typical 9 – 5 job, this means copies of the previous two years’ W-2s, [...]
Home Loan Options
Home Loans - What Are Your Options? In this article we go over fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages and what home loan options are available. Fixed Rate Mortgages Fixed rate mortgages offer the following term options as a general rule: 30 year 20 year 15 year 10 year For many, a fixed rate term [...]
Credit Scores and Mortgages
Credit Scores – How Do They Apply To Mortgages? The web is full of articles about credit scores; getting them for free, improving them, what to do if you don’t have great credit. But there are some FAQs that are specifically related to applying for a mortgage. Three Different Credit Bureaus There are three different [...]
Mortgage Prequalification
A mortgage prequalification is a formal document that indicates that a lender has reviewed preliminary information about your financial circumstances, and based on that information, has determined that you qualify for a specific amount of mortgage loan. Pre-qualifications usually expire after a short time (60 – 90 days), and are usually required by a realtor before [...]
Gift Funds
Buying your first home? Receive a gift of cash to use as a down payment from family? A rich uncle, or a significant other who has less than stellar credit but wants to contribute his/her share of the purchase? There are multiple situations where someone might want to give a gift of cash towards the [...]
Can I Borrow Money For My Down Payment?
Ask this question and you’ll no doubt hear a resounding “NO!” from most mortgage professionals. In a way they’re right, but in reality, you can use borrowed money for your down payment with limitations. And any payments due on the loan will be included in your total debt ratio. This could impact the total amount [...]
Proof Of Funds
Proof of funds for a mortgage can come from many sources. Whether a family gift, money you’ve borrowed, or money you’ve saved. Each has important considerations to be given, and each is looked at slightly differently by a lender. When applying for a mortgage it is important that you understand the way a lender will [...]
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