Getting Financing for Buying a Home: What You Need to Know

Getting Financing for Buying a Home: What You Need to Know

Lenders are constantly changing the parameters and terms for obtaining financing. Most people still need to get a loan to purchase a home. There are more cash buyers in some areas but most Americans still finance their home. With mortgage rates at historic lows, money is almost free to borrow. Getting financing is not as difficult as you might think in 2021.

The seller’s market

Lenders have a much easier time financing a home today if you are willing to fix up your current home or buy a home that is fixer-upper. We are in a seller’s market where only sellers are willing to sell. Your house should have about 90% of the other homes in the neighborhood, since there are very few places to move. That doesn’t mean a home that needs a lot of repairs won’t sell. A home that needs major work is very hard to sell. It might take a year or two to sell. Here is the deal. There are more buyers out there than sellers. And with an unemployment rate under 5%, home prices have appreciated rapidly. As a result, you have to pay top dollar. You should look to buy a home with an affordable mortgage rate.

Interest rates

One of the first changes a prospective homebuyer will encounter is the rise in interest rates. The current rate is 4.1 percent for a 30-year fixed rate. The average rate since 2010 is 3.3 percent, and the average rate from 2012 to 2017 was 3.58 percent. As interest rates rise, so does the cost of borrowing. This can be a deterrent for a lot of people but there are some great financial opportunities for people who finance their home. If you think you need a new car or other expensive item, think again. The tax deductibility of home interest and property tax is going to be incredibly beneficial. Other financial changes As interest rates rise, other parts of the economy will be affected.

Mortgage underwriting

In the old days, lenders were reluctant to lend to poor credit scores. They wanted to see a pristine credit report. With the new credit reporting laws, you can get a free credit report for a year from each credit reporting company. Don’t be shocked by the bad news you will find. Also, do not fall for a mortgage scam where you are offered a lower interest rate. Scammers use the freedoms provided by the new law to trap borrowers with mortgage loans that they cannot afford. Many of these lenders want cash. Those who have a record of delinquent or late mortgage payments are not going to get approved today. The new lender will want you to have a long, well documented track record. The lender also wants a decent down payment.

What is the FHA loan?

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a federal loan program for buying and selling homes. It helps people qualify for low-interest loans for a down payment and closing costs. FHA loans make it easier for minorities to get credit for a home purchase. It has loan limits that are somewhat higher than conventional loans and it pays more toward closing costs. Loans can be secured with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. How much credit can you get? The conventional loan is the least expensive loan. For borrowers with a decent credit score and income, it’s possible to obtain a conventional loan with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. However, other lenders may require a down payment of 7 percent or more to qualify for a conventional loan.

Closing costs

While the mortgage rate looks to be attractive, getting a loan still requires a substantial down payment. A good way to make a down payment is a gift from a close relative. Be sure to get a receipt to prove the gift. Once the money is transferred, the closing costs are often less than the mortgage rate. Low interest rates Those of you with good credit should be able to get a loan for less than the mortgage rate if you qualify. The Federal Reserve has been reducing the target interest rate since the end of 2015. It has dropped from 1.25 percent to today’s rate of 1.5 percent. Now might be the time to shop for a mortgage. Loans with no money down Before we head into the 21st Century, it might be good to go back in time.

The FHA loan

The FHA loan is a government sponsored mortgage which is a good option for those who qualify. Mortgage lenders will require you to provide a strong down payment as well as submit to more thorough credit history and income. FHA loans are affordable for almost everyone. This is because the FHA down payment requirement is only 3.5%. This gives an average homebuyer the opportunity to have a larger down payment because they can save enough for their entire mortgage. Equity Line Mortgage Equity lines of credit (ELCs) are for borrowers who already own a home and want to upgrade their home. You can purchase a home for a considerable lower price than the purchase price with the equity of your current home.

Conclusion

In the next several years, there will be an economic shift in the real estate industry. Millennials, the first wave of homebuyers, are expected to overtake Baby Boomers to become the largest generation of homebuyers. This is great news for the real estate industry. Millennials are saving and investing more money than ever before. Many people would not mind saving money and investing it for a future purchase. It’s also great to know that there are now abundant mortgages available for first time home buyers. The biggest change will be in the flexibility that banks have to approve borrowers for mortgage loans. Will banks have to provide more documentation to qualify borrowers? Will banks have to change their application forms? The answers are yes, yes, and yes.