Consider The Benefits USDA loans are backed through the Rural Housing Division of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. They are available to millions of eligible primary home buyers with low to moderate incomes or scarce funds for down payments. Features, benefits and things you need to know: Zero Down – No down payment is required…
One Thing You Must Know About Mortgage Rates The lowest mortgage rate is the best, right? The lowest rate certainly sounds best. But did you know the lowest rate doesn’t always mean the lowest cost? Mortgage interest is just one component of the real cost of owning a home. Interest rates are a reflection of…
When prices are rising, why not let the market help you? It’s great to save up for a large down payment of 20% or more. Yet, when prices are on the rise, saving quickly enough to keep pace can be extremely difficult. In times such as these, why not let the market build equity for…
Still Working When Others Might Not The FHA Loan program continues to evolve, and total mortgage insurance costs have risen. While the increase makes these loans less advantageous than in the past, they are still a good option if your needs and situation preclude you from qualifying for a conventional loan. Here are a…
You Can’t Keep a Good Thing Down Ever try to hold a life preserver underwater? It’s hard, isn’t it? It can be equally hard for the Fed to keep Mortgage rates low against a rising tide of market expectation. The Winds of Change. The Fed’s actions to keep interest rates low have worked for a…
Refinance & Reduce Your Balance Faster: With lower interest rate, you pay more principal with each payment, especially in the first years of the loan. EXAMPLE: After five years of payments on a 30-year loan of $200,000 at 4% you would pay $19,706 in principle vs. $17,105 on the same at 5%. That’s an extra…
Many factors go into calculating value of a home. Most importantly, recently sold comparable properties must be considered. “Comps” should be similar in location, size, style, room count, condition, utility, etc. Appraisal is part art and part science, and the latter is hard to change. Sometimes, the hardest thing for owners is to be…
The Application: After determining that refinance will be beneficial for you, we can start the application which is very similar to the original application once you bought the house. Your loan officer will collect the initial documents which could consist of assets, income and other verification. Processing: Next, it’s getting the processing started which is…
Understanding the HOW and WHY of Escrow Accounts Escrow accounts provide for the timely payment of taxes and insurance on your home. This prevents tax liens, loss of property and any lapse of insurance coverage. As part of your regular mortgage payment, 1/12th of the annual cost is collected. These funds are held and paid out as bills…
Before making an offer on your first home, make sure to complete these four steps. 1. Know how much you can afford and how much cash you will need: Knowing what you qualify for before searching for any homes will save you time and disappointment that can come from falling in love with a home…
If you are saving up to buy your first house or wonder if you have enough equity to trade for another, you may be relieved to know that for most buyers there are still low down payment options available. $0 Down: VA (Veterans Administration) and USDA (US Department of Agriculture) both offer a zero down…
There are many different factors to consider when choosing the best loan program option. That is where the skills and knowledge of your loan officer will play a significant role in your decision. One of those choices is the option between FHA Home loans vs Conventional loans. Here are some pros and cons of these…
USDA home loans have been a great option for home buyers looking outside of city limit and smaller towns. USDA loans offer $0 down-payment for qualifying buyers who are looking to buy in the eligible USDA areas. Buyers don’t have to be a first time home-buyer but in most cases, they can’t own more than…
MHDC which stands for Missouri Housing Development Commission has made some modification on all loans reserved on March 2, 2015. MHDC has been a great option for first time home buyers for down-payment assistance and help with some of the closing cost. Prior to the new changes MHDC down-payment assistance program was offering 3.5% as…
USDA home loans have been popular in the last few years due to the crash of subprime market and the credit restrictions. USDA loans are one of the only loans beside VA loans that offer 100% financing and with their low monthly MI, it makes them a great option, but you need to watch out…
