Financing

The Steps to Financing a New Home

Buying a home is one of the single largest decisions that a person can make in their life. As such, it should be handled with a high level of care and understanding. Having the right people there to guide you through the process and take it a step at a time can help you avoid the risks and minimize the headache of buying your dream home.

1 Examine Your Mortgage Options

Mortgages come in several types, each with its own attributes that different people will find appealing based on their circumstances. The two most common types of mortgages are Fixed Rate Loans and Adjustable Rate Loans.

Fixed Rate Loans offer a consistent rate throughout the duration of the loan. You will be paying a single monthly payment and interest rate that stays the same until the home is paid off. Adjustable Rate Loans can be adjusted later on in the life of the loan, but interest rates and payments may change over time.

2 Credit Where Credit is Due

The single most important factor of qualifying for a large loan, aside from income, is your credit score. A credit score is basically a ranking of your dependability in making payments. Almost every credit-related action you make will affect your score in some way. When applying for a home loan, a good credit score may result in lower interest rates.

3 Mortgage Process

Once you have applied for the mortgage, the process will require a fair amount of information about your financial history and income. You should also be ready to provide various documents, including bank statements, tax reports, and pay stubs.

Feel free to use our mortgage calculator to determine the monthly payment on a specific home price. You will want to include your tax and insurance estimates along with the base price. Enter the calculated amount and the mortgage calculator will determine your estimated monthly cost.

Keep in mind that this is an estimating tool only. Additional costs, such as insurance, HOA fees, and taxes are not included by default. Final actual payments may vary.