Should I lock in my interest rate today? Many people ask their loan officers, “When should I lock in my rate?” There’s no easy answer. It’s a little like asking when you should sell your stock or which mutual fund will perform better. It all depends on the market and your individual situation. Are you a well-qualified buyer? If you believe that rates are going to stabilize or improve, it might make sense to wait to lock in your interest rate. However, less qualified buyers…
Buying your first home? Be prepared to learn a list of delightful new acronyms—APR, PMI, FICO, FHA, LTV and DTI, just to name a few. When it comes to establishing your home buying budget, PITI is the first term you should tackle. What is PITI? PITI stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance, and calculating it can help you decide how comfortably a home’s monthly costs will fit into your future financial plans. How to calculate PITI: Add together these four costs to get your…
Think you may be ready to write your last rent check or upgrade to that larger home you’ve had your eye on? Following are five signs that could indicate that now is the right time for you to buy a new home. You have good credit. Your credit score can affect your ability to get approved for a mortgage and impact your interest rate. Generally, the higher the score, the better the rate. So, if you want to qualify for lower monthly payments, it’s…
If you’re buying your first home, you’ve probably already heard that an FHA loan is THE loan for you. While it’s true that FHA-insured mortgages are an attractive option for many new buyers, it’s not the only option—and FHA loans are not just for first-time homebuyers! Check out our FHA FAQ below, then be sure to check out our articles about the other mortgage options on the market. How do I get a home loan from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)? You don’t! The FHA…
You’ve contracted on a new home and now it’s time to choose an insurance agent. After all, you want to protect your investment in the event of theft or a natural disaster (e.g., flood, fire). Plus, most lenders require homeowners to maintain insurance as a condition of the loan. Following are some important questions to ask during your selection process: How long have you/your company been in business? Although the number of years in business isn’t a guarantee that an agent or agency will be…
