The mortgage market didn’t rise to its current status in the United States until 1949, although the earliest human evidence for mortgage law itself stems from the 3,000 year-old Code of Manu from ancient India. By 2012 the rates for long-term mortgages reached as low as 3.31% as the housing market began its slow recovery. Since most of us don’t have the funds readily available to buy a house, learning how to compare mortgage lenders can make all the difference when buying a home.
The Significance of Credit
The Home Loan Learning Center has found that a majority of lenders require individuals to have a minimum credit score of 680. Establishing and maintaining good credit is crucial to prevent overpaying and avoiding high interest rates. Bad credit home loans, or sub-prime mortgages, are offered to those who home mortgage lenders consider high-risk; these mortgages are characterized by high rates of interest to compensate, as those with bad credit have been shown to miss payments in the past.
How To Buy A Home The Right Way
There’s no right way to buy a home, but taking these steps could help ensure that you don’t overspend on a home. It is wise to remain with a single employer throughout the home buying process, as changes to employment or income status could impede the mortgage process. In total, your entire monthly debt payments, including the mortgage, shouldn’t exceed 36% of your gross monthly income. Since mortgage rates fluctuates as a part of the negotiation process, it is a good idea for potential home buyers to lock in their rates as soon as they feel comfortable with the figures. Setting aside a good down payment and having extra cash in the bank for closing costs can help provide homebuyers with a financial cushion to fall back on.
Second Mortgage Lenders
In some cases, the cost of a home simply exceeds a homeowner’s capability to pay. Second mortgage lenders provide homeowners with a second mortgage that allows homeowners to access the equity of their home, which is the difference between a home’s value minus the balance of the original mortgage. Many choose to take out a second mortgage to avoid paying high interest rates on home loans, although those who default on their second mortgage loan could have their home repossessed by the bank.