Very few people have the luxury of paying cash for a new home. When purchasing a home, most buyers must take out a mortgage. A mortgage is an instrument that secures a loan against a house. It may also be referred to as a Deed of Trust.
When you secure a loan to pay for a home, you will sign a promissory note and a mortgage at the closing proceedings.
Below are some helpful hints to aid you in the process of applying for a home loan:
The First Step:
Before you even begin looking at homes to purchase, you should contact a mortgage specialist to get pre-qualified or pre-approved. By doing this, it increases your chances of having your Offer to Purchase accepted by the seller. A seller is more likely to accept an offer from a buyer who already has funding versus one who still needs to get a loan.
In addition, it is a good idea to obtain a copy of your credit report prior to contacting a mortgage specialist, so that you can clear up any errors that may appear on your report.
Pre-Qualification: This is an informal way to see how much you may be able to borrow. Pre-qualifying can usually be done over the phone by providing the mortgage specialist with your income, your long-term debts, and the amount of down payment you can afford.
Pre-Approval: This is a mortgage lender’s commitment to loan money to you. When getting pre-approved, you provide your loan specialist with all of the necessary financial records needed to apply for a loan. Getting pre-approved will provide you with the exact amount that you can afford and it shows sellers that you are serious about buying a home.