15
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

3 Tips and Tricks to Make Mortgage Pre-Qualification Easy

If you're planning to buy a home, you should know that the mortgage pre-qualification process is the first in a series of steps that eventually lead to home ownership. A pre-qualification is different from a pre-approval - the pre-qualification meeting is simply you and your lender hashing out how much you can afford to spend on a property. But once you've been pre-qualified, it makes the mortgage process easier. So how can you make the pre-qualification quick and painless so you can get on with your house hunt? Here's what you need to know. Get Your Debts In Order One…
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09
Mar
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

It Isn’t Always a Clear Road after Pre-approval: 4 Reasons Why Your Mortgage May Be Denied

So you've been pre-approved for a mortgage – great! You've taken the first step toward becoming a homeowner. But before you start picking out china patterns, you'll want to keep in mind that a pre-approval isn't the same thing as a mortgage agreement. There's still no guarantee that you'll actually get a mortgage. But why would a lender deny a mortgage after pre-approving a borrower? Here's what you need to know. Sudden Changes In Income Or Employment History A number of mortgages will require borrowers to have consistent employment for a certain length of time. If you apply for an…
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29
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Mortagage Tips,

Video: What Is “Prime”?

What Is "Prime"? The Prime Lending Rate - sometimes just called "Prime"  - is the interest rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans. Some consumer rates - like ARMs - are set in relation to Prime.In the US, Prime is affected by the Federal Reserve lending rate to banks; historically, Prime is about 3 percent above the Fed rate.The video shows  an example. The Federal Reserve loans to Bank A at 1% Bank A loans to Bank B at 4% Both banks - A & B - will recalculate variable-rate loans like ARMs on that 4% Prime figure.…
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14
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Mortagage Tips, ,

Who Is Exempt From The VA Funding Fee?

Who is NOT required to pay the VA funding fee? This video could save some veterans thousands. VA loan applicants pay a funding fee - as of 2014, 2.15% of the total loan amount - which can be thousands of dollars. Some veterans and spouses are eligible for exemption. Broadly speaking, veterans who received disability benefits - current or former and who are NOT currently in debt to the government may be exempt from the funding fee. Some spouses may qualify as well. The key thing to understand is, exemption from the funding fee is NOT automatic! Borrowers must certify their veteran…
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18
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Mortagage Tips, ,

Video: What Steps Need To Be Taken To Secure A Loan

What Steps Need To Be Taken To Secure A Loan You’ll see some pictures in this video to help you remember later, but the first step in securing a loan is to complete a loan application. To do so, you'll need the following information. Pay stubs for the past 2-3 months. W-2 forms for the past 2 years. Information on long-term debts. Recent bank statements tax returns for the past 2 years. Proof of any other income. Address and description of the property you wish to buy. A sales contract on the home you want to buy. During the application…
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04
Dec
By Jim Hasek
Home Selling Tips, Mortagage Tips, ,

Video: Are There Special Mortgages For First-Time Homebuyers?

Yes. Like the video shows, lenders now offer several affordable mortgage options which can help first-time homebuyers overcome obstacles that made purchasing a home difficult in the past. Lenders may now be able to help borrowers who don't have a lot of money saved for the down payment and closing costs, have no or a poor credit history, have quite a bit of long-term debt, or who have experienced income irregularities.
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