Tips On Buying Your First Home

Buying your first home can seem pretty overwhelming at first. You search everywhere for the perfect location, saved your money and took the time to research. All that's left is to secure that mortgage! But how does the process start?

First, you will need a mortgage lender to issue you a mortgage pre-qualification form. From there the lender will ask you your gross (before tax) income is, what your monthly debts are (car payments, credit card minimums) and how much you have saved for your mortgage down payment and closing costs.

Remember, you are not looking to be approved quite yet just qualified.

The mortgage prequalification tells you that you should be able to afford a loan of X dollars and buy a home at X price. Although it is not an approval, it can save you a lot of time. One of the most important things mortgage pre-qualification tells you is what you can afford now. Pre-qualifications covers your income, assets, and debts. 

However, pre-qualification does not even involve a lender checking your credit or verifying your income.

Once you are prequalified for your home loan, the next step is easy. Complete a mortgage application with a local or online lender.

So do not be afraid to start the process of getting approved you can never be too prepared! Contact me today to begin the process!

Had a great talk about Financing!

Even though there was so many people without power yesterday, we had a pretty good turn out at the Salisbury Country Club for our Class "Top Financing Questions Every Realtor Needs to Know". This gave our Realtors 2 CE Credits.

We work very closely with our Realtors to make sure that they know how to answer financing questions when their clients ask. And yes, we don't expect them to know all the answers but that's why we offer these free classes for Realtors so they can have SOME answers.

Buying a home can be a scary process and talking about finances can be very personal for a lot, but in today's market it's more important than ever to have these conversations with our clients early on.

The most important thing to take away from our class is that even though rates remain low and the Real Estate Market remains healthy, we've seen a steady incline in rates, so if you've been thinking of buying, now is the best time to do so!

If you're too scared to ask, make sure that they contact us so we can clear up any questions that they may have, that's what we're here for!

Loan Options

Loan Options

As a home buyer, your mortgage is specific to your situation and lifestyle. First Home Mortgage specializes in a variety of loans that can meet your needs. Your Loan Officer will explain your options and deliver a mortgage with the best loan terms available.

PURCHASE AND REFINANCING LOANS

Conventional Home Loans

Conventional mortgages are loans that are insured by private companies. Typically, these loans meet the funding criteria set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There are a number of conventional loan types offered by First Home Mortgage:

FIXED RATE

A fixed-rate mortgage has an interest rate that stays the same for the entire life of your loan. This offers a predictable monthly payment for a term of 10 – 30 years.

Highlights
– Interest rate security
– Monthly payment stability
– Best for buyers planning to stay in their homes for a long time

ADJUSTABLE RATE

Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) may allow you to lock in a low, introductory interest rate that could increase over time. A hybrid ARM offers a fixed period (typically 3-10 years) followed by a yearly adjustment to the interest rate. Hybrid ARMs are often represented by fractions, such as 5/1 – meaning the first rate reset takes place after five years and continues to reset each year for the life of the loan.

Highlights
– Low starting interest rate
– Lower monthly payments during the initial term
– Best for buyers planning to keep their loan for a shorter period

JUMBO

Jumbo loans typically have higher loan amounts not allowed for standard conforming programs (set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). This allows borrowers to a purchase a higher priced home with an affordable down payment.

Highlights
– Fixed and ARM options
– Loans up to $3 Million
– Best for borrowers who are in the market for higher priced homes

Government Loans

The government guarantees certain programs through various agencies to better serve borrowers with unique circumstances. These loans can only be offered through an approved lender such as First Home Mortgage.

FHA

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Programs are available for borrowers with limited savings for a down payment.

Highlights
– Down payment as low as 3.5%
– Flexible use of gifts and grants for down payment
– Best for borrowers with limited assets for purchase

VA

VA loans are insured by The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).Service members and their spouses are eligible to purchase with little to no down payment or cash to close.

Highlights
– Low to no down payment
– Refinance within the VA program without re-qualifying
– Specifically for eligible past and present service members and spouses

USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) insures loans to home buyers with low to moderate income moving to designated rural areas. These loans can provide up to 100% financing.

Highlights
– Down payment not required
– Specific benefit needed here
– Best for borrowers with limited assets looking to buy in rural areas

State Housing Finance Agency Programs

Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) are state specific and offer programs to residents to help purchase a home. Conditions and guidelines vary depending on the agency. These programs offer special incentives for first time home buyers:

• VHDA (Virginia Housing Development Authority)

Applying for a Loan

Pre-Qualification

The first step toward a home purchase is getting pre-qualified for a loan. Your Loan Officer will review your financial information and determine how much you are qualified to borrow. As a pre-qualified buyer, your offer on a home is more likely to be accepted.

• Loan Preparation Checklist
  1. Copy of photo ID
  2. Social Security number
  3. Copies of checking and savings account statements for the past 3 months
  4. Most recent pay stubs detailing your year-to-date earnings
  5. Federal tax returns with W-2’s, K-1’s, 1099 for the past 2 years
  6. Evidence of any other assets such as stocks and bonds
  7. Contact name and address of someone who can verify your employment
• Since everyone’s situation is unique, additional documentation might be required. Your Loan Officer will let you know exactly what is needed.

Making an Offer

Once you have found a home, you will make an offer to buy it from the seller. A real estate professional will conduct negotiations and a contract will be submitted to purchase, accompanied by the pre-qualification letter.

Mortgage Process

When the seller accepts your offer, you begin the mortgage process. Your Loan Officer will gather your financial information, loan application and provide the initial disclosures based on your loan terms.

• This process will also include
  1. Ordering the appraisal; estimating the value of the home
  2. Ordering/updating your credit report
  3. Submitting your loan to Underwriting for review
  4. Conditionally approving your loan (additional documentation might be requested)
  5. Providing information on homeowner’s insurance and selected title company
  6.  Underwriting approval on all acceptable documents
  7. Final loan approval – you are cleared to close!
• Your Loan Officer will keep you informed, answer your questions, and navigate you through the loan process.

Closing Process

In the days leading up to settlement, you will be sent final documentation about your loan, including the Closing Disclosure. You must review, sign and return the paperwork a minimum of three days prior to your scheduled closing date.

Your Loan Officer, or a designated employee, will tell you the amount of money you need to close on your home.

• What happens on closing day
1. Meet with your settlement agent as well as your Loan Officer, or designated employee.
2. Provide funds to the title company to cover your down payment, closing costs, taxes, insurance and other costs.
3. You and the seller will execute all closing documents so the settlement agent can properly record the purchase of your home.

Making Your Payment

Your settlement documents will include instructions on how to make your first payment. While First Home services many of our loans, it is possible servicing will be transferred. You will be mailed a notification that designates your mortgage servicer.

Show me your best Pumpkin Carving Skills!

So every year, I drop off pumpkins to a handful of clients and partners and I hold a contest to see who can do their best. It's an awesome contest that gets the family involved and it's just a great activity to do around this time of year. Check out the entries we've received so far! More to come...

Can refinancing save you money?!

Refinancing

Refinancing is a possibility to improve your current mortgage. It means getting a new loan, with new terms, and using that money to pay off your old loan. Your Loan Officer can help explain why refinancing might be the right option for you.

Reasons to Refinance

• Lower payments
  Refinancing with a lower interest rate could result in lower mortgage payments. This may provide extra money each month for homeowners to save, or spend, however they choose.

• Shorten your payment term
  If you want to build equity faster, or pay off your mortgage in less time, you can refinance to a shorter loan term. This may result in a slightly higher monthly payment, but you may also save money by paying less toward interest.

• Convert your home’s equity into cash
  As a homeowner, you make payments to increase your equity, or value of ownership. Refinancing allows you to turn that equity into cash – referred to as “cash-out” refinancing. You are free to access and spend the money without tax penalty*.
  *Consult a tax professional for more information.

Ask yourself the following questions when buying a home

Questions to consider as a home buyer:

How much can I afford?
Before you starting house hunting, you need to make sure you are looking in the right price range. Getting pre-qualified by your Loan Officer will give you a better idea of how much home you can afford based on your current financial situation.

How long do I want to stay in my home?
Think about where you will be in the years to come; whether you want to move again or planning to stay long term. This is an important factor when deciding which type of mortgage is best for you.

What am I looking for in a home?
As you begin to contemplate buying, make a list of the most important things you want in a home. For example: a condo or single family home, monthly mortgage payment, location to work and school zones, neighborhood amenities, and yard size. Not only will this list help your real estate professional find the perfect home, it will also help your Loan Officer tailor a loan program that fits your needs.

Should I consider a second home?
Buying another property as a rental can provide ongoing income from tenants, and a vacation home on the beach or mountains is equally attractive. However, you will need to decide whether the home will be a place to live (primary residence) or a place to rent (investment property). Loan specifications are different based on how you plan to utilize the home. Your Loan Officer can explain the different requirements and help navigate through the process.