So you've found the perfect home, the seller has accepted your offer, and now you're just waiting for the mortgage to close before you wrap up the sale and take possession. It's time for the closing meeting. But what does this meeting entail? And what do you need to prepare for it? Here's what you need to know.
Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're in a position to do it, paying off a family member's mortgage is one of the biggest gifts you could give this holiday season.
If you're looking into fixed term mortgages, you might be wondering whether there's any reason why you should take the full term to pay off the loan. In a lot of cases, paying off a mortgage before it comes due is a great decision. If you're considering paying off your mortgage early, you'll experience a variety of benefits â here are just a few of them.
If you're in the market for a mortgage, you may want to set up a pre-qualification meeting with a bank or lender. Even if you're not sure which lender you'd like to apply for a mortgage with, pre-qualification can still be a valuable step to take. And given that it only takes a few minutes, it's something every potential homeowner can do.
If you're buying a home, you'll want to try to get your mortgage processed as quickly as possible. Improperly filed mortgage applications are one of the biggest reasons why home sales get delayed, and if you have a hard move-out date already set, it's critical that your mortgage process goes smoothly.
If you're planning to buy a home in the near future, you're probably already in the process of saving up for a down payment. But if you haven't seen a mortgage advisor or started looking at properties yet, you probably don't have a good idea of what a down payment will cost you.
A new house is a major investment. Even if you have a mortgage, the bank and the seller will still expect a sizable down payment. That's why lots of people regularly gift down payments to friends and relatives - it's a great way to help young people start out on the path of home ownership.
If you're in the market for a new home, you're probably trying to budget for all of the expenses that come with a home purchase. After all, the asking price isn't necessarily the entire amount that you'll pay - there are other expenses that will factor in to the final price. One such expense is your closing costs.
Mortgage rates have been at record lows for quite some time, making it easy for new homebuyers to finance their dream homes. But what comes down will eventually go back up, and with the world economy expected to rebound in 2016, we're about to start seeing more expensive mortgages. So what can you do to prepare yourself before mortgage rates start to rise? Here are three strategies that will keep you ahead of the game.
New mortgage rules that take effect Saturday aim to help borrowers shop for the best deal. But some fear confusion and delays as lenders, Realtors and closing agents adapt to the changes. Under the federal “Know Before You Owe” guidelines, gone are the good-faith estimate and the so-called HUD-1 settlement statement, the documents that spell out the
