First-Time Buyer: What You Need to Know About Mortgages

Buying a home is a huge investment. If you are a first-time buyer, then you may have a lot of questions about obtaining financing your home. Here’s what first-time buyers need to know about mortgages.

It’s Wise To Apply For A Mortgage Before Looking At Homes

A lot of individuals make the mistake of looking at homes before they are approved for a mortgage. They get their heart set on a home, and then they find out that they weren’t approved to buy it. This is why it’s imperative that you apply for a mortgage first. This will keep you from having to deal with the disappointment of finding a house only to not be approved for it later on. It may actually take a lot longer than you think to get preapproved for a mortgage. When you are ready to buy a house, you need to start applying for a mortgage as soon as possible to ensure that you don’t miss out on a house that you want.

You Should Seek Out More Than One Lender

It’s not uncommon for first-time buyers to only try to get a mortgage from one lender. However, they can end up paying more in interest and not get the best rate by doing so. They really should seek out at least three different lenders when applying for a mortgage. First-time buyers are often quite surprised at the different rates that they receive from each lender.

You May Be Approved For More House Than You Can Afford

Many first-time buyers get in over their head when they buy a house. They don’t realize how much money it costs to be a homeowner. They think that they should be able to afford a house if they are approved for it. However, this may mean that they struggle to pay their mortgage payment every single month. They shouldn’t buy a house simply based on the fact that they were approved for the mortgage. They need to take into account everything from the mortgage payments to repairs that they may need to make on the house. When you are buying a house, you don’t want to feel strapped for cash every single month because you bought a house that you simply can’t afford.

There Are A Lot Of Different Mortgage Options

A lot of first-time buyers may get discouraged about the potential of not being approved for a mortgage simply because they don’t have a 20% down payment. However, there are a lot of different mortgage options available. Some conventional loans, FHA loans and USDA loans might only require anywhere from zero money down to just 3.5% down. You can visit the USDA eligibility map 2019 to determine if you qualify for a USDA loan. If you are struggling to come up with a down payment, you may be able to use money you received from friends or family members as a down payment. You will need to talk to your lender to determine whether or not you are able to use money that is gifted to you as part of a down payment for a home.

There’s A Lot Of Paperwork

Most homes cost a lot of money. Because of this, lenders want to make sure that you will be able to pay them back. There will be a lot of paperwork that you need to deal with when applying for a mortgage. You will probably need to provide things like tax returns and bank statements. You might also need to give written permission for a credit check or provide documentation of renting history. It’s a good idea to start gathering these documents before you start the process of applying for a mortgage.

In conclusion, buying a home can prove to be a great financial investment. In order to get approved for a mortgage as a first-time buyer, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. By being knowledgeable about mortgages and the home-buying process, you can make wise decisions and help the process go a lot smoother.