You're halfway to the summit!
From understanding costs associated with homebuying to getting tips for finding your dream home, we've covered a lot of ground so far. Now it's time to look at home financing.
You'll have a lot of choices when it's time to select the type of home loan that fits your needs. Different loans have different conditions and terms, and I will work with you to review your options to ensure you're making a well-informed choice.
Below are some of the more common types of home loans.
Loan Products
FIXED RATE:
Interest rate is fixed throughout the life of the loan. A better choice if you want stable payments and plan to live in your home long-term.
ADJUSTABLE RATE (ARM):
The interest rate fluctuates over time, affecting your monthly payment. A good option if you only plan to live in your home for a few years.
Loan Types
CONVENTIONAL LOANS:
The lender assumes the risk for lending you money. As a result, these have more stringent credit requirements and higher down payment requirements.
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED LOANS:
The government backs the loan, or assumes the risk for lending you money. These typically have lower credit and down payment requirements to make it easier for you to obtain a mortgage, if you qualify.
FHA: Purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down (dependent on credit score.)
VA: Provides 100% financing to eligible veterans, active duty members, reservists, National Guard members, and surviving spouses.
USDA: Requires no money down for eligible homes in rural areas.
Learn more about these and other loan types.
Once we determine the home loan that fits you best, you need to start gathering paperwork that shows your income, assets, and debts. These will help us to determine your creditworthiness; that is, how likely you are to pay the loan back.
Some of those documents include:
I will ask you for other documents at the time of application and may need more further along the trail.
