11
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates, ,

FICO Scores and Your Mortgage: How to Bump Your FICO Score to Secure a Better Mortgage Rate

Is your credit score holding you back from getting the best rate on your next mortgage? The good news is that there are actions that you can take to increase your credit score and improve the interest rate offered on your next home loan. Here are a few easy and effective tips to help you get your credit score to where you want it to be. Increase The Amount Of Credit Available To You The easiest way to increase your credit score is to increase your credit limit, as this reduces your utilization ratio. To do this, you can either…
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10
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

FHA Home Loans: How to Pre-apply and Get Approved Before Making a Home Purchase Commitment

If you're in the market for your first mortgage, the Federal Housing Administration may be able to help you. Thanks to the FHA home loan program, you can apply for loan approval before you've found a home that you want to buy - which means you know what you can afford before you start your house hunt. Here's what you need to know about FHA home loans and how they can help you find the perfect house. Pre-Approval: Assessment Includes Employment History and a Credit Check The pre-approval process can be done over the phone or online in a matter…
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03
Sep
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Applying for a Mortgage? Three Questions Your Lender Will Ask You – and How to Prepare Your Answers

Before approving a mortgage, your lender is going to have to do his due diligence to ensure that you can afford a loan large enough to pay for a house. That means your lender will be asking you several questions about whether or not you can afford a mortgage. Here's how you can prepare to answer these questions in a way that will increase your likelihood of approval. How Stable Is Your Income? Your lender is going to want to know that your income is going to be stable over the life of the loan. This means that you should…
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27
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Refi or Wait? How to Choose Between Refinancing Your Mortgage Now or Waiting Until You Need the Money

Refinancing your existing mortgage may provide you with the opportunity to lower your interest rate, reduce your mortgage payment and adjust your loan term. For those homeowners who have lived in their home for more than a few years, pulling equity out of the property for everything from a luxurious vacation to making home improvements is a tempting potential benefit. However, with property values and interest rates adjusting frequently, you may wonder if now is the best time to refinance your mortgage. Using Equity From Your Refinance One factor to consider when debating between refinancing now and waiting relates to…
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21
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Separation Anxiety: How to Deal with a Joint Mortgage Loan in the Event of a Divorce

During the course of a marriage, it is common for the couple to acquire property together. This is what is referred to as joint or community property. When a couple divorces, it is up to the parties involved to determine what happens to this joint property or let a judge use applicable law to determine how property is to be split. What Happens To The House? A couple of options are available when deciding what to do with a house where both partners are listed on the mortgage. First, the couple may decide to simply sell the home and split…
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14
Aug
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Can’t Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage? Here Are Three Tips to Try to Get a Mortgage Approval

Few people in the world can afford to pay the entire cost of a new home upfront, which is why banks and other financial institutions offer home loans. Also known as mortgages, those loans let you make monthly payments to pay off the money you borrow and the interest charged on that loan. If you can't get approved for a mortgage, try using a few easy tips. Improve Your Credit Score When you apply for a home loan, the lender looks at your credit history and credit score first. Your credit history contains a long list of all the money…
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