A New Home And Your Responsibilities
People who are looking to buy a home for the first time need to consider a number of factors. Most private mortgage lenders require a down payment of 10% to 20% of the purchase price of the home. Depending on the price of the home you are considering, this could be between $5000 and $20,000 dollars. There may be some first time buyer programs that will lower the down payment.
First time home buyers may qualify for government insured loan programs which may waive or reduce the required down payment. Since the government wants to encourage home ownership, their credit score requirements may not be as strict as those of banks and mortgage companies. You still may qualify for a lower interest rate. Try to find a mortgage payment that won’t strain your budget. Paying a mortgage is an investment in your future, paying rent is not.
Before looking at potential homes, set a budget. Don’t go over budget when looking at homes to buy. When the realtor says I know the perfect place and it’s only a little more than you want to spend, tell them in that case it isn’t perfect. Realtors make their money on commissions and want to sell you the most expensive house possible. Stick with the budget and don’t let the realtor talk you into a home you can’t afford. Don’t even look at a home you can’t afford. Remember that most homes may need some repairs after you buy them and set some extra money aside.
Never jump into a contract without knowing all the facts. You will need a title search and a home inspection on any home you consider buying. Generally the buyer must pay the fees for these services. Check around for the lowest mortgage interest rates you can qualify for to save thousands over the life of the loan.
Take a look at the required deposit and the disadvantages of having insufficient funds for the deposit. If you do not have the amount, the lender will slap on the insurance fee on the mortgage, increasing the mortgage amount by as much as $20,000. A no deposit mortgage may be tempting for professionals who can service the mortgage but cannot save for a deposit. Take note that these no-deposit loans have more requirements and there are still the standard fees to pay.
Closing costs include the points that buyers and sellers pay on the mortgage, the cost of title searches and home inspections and any unpaid property taxes. If the home requires repairs, the lender may also require that either the buyer or seller put money in an escrow account to cover the costs. Putting an offer in on a home doesn’t insure the sale will go through. Your lender may find a problem with the home and refuse the loan. You can try again with another lender if the problem isn’t too serious.
So how do you compare lenders? Check out the APR or Annual Percentage Rate which will reflect the total cost of the loan and calculate the Annual Percentage Yield which will show how the compounding interest makes the loan worth the trouble. Ask the lender to disclose both APR and APY. They are bound by law to give this information.
Once you have looked into the financial aspects of buying a house, you are ready to start looking at houses. Make sure you understand what your monthly payments on any given house will be before you decide it’s your dream house. Not all dreams are pleasant and you don’t want to end up with a nightmare.
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