Mortgages are financial tools that can be used for the purchase of a home, land or investment property. Understanding how a mortgage works is essential in making informed decisions about your borrowing needs.
The term “mortgage” actually refers to a series of loans and fees that come together over time to pay for your home or property. This includes monthly payments made to the lender, taxes and insurance premiums.
Make monthly mortgage payments directly from your bank account or use a third-party escrow account to hold funds. Doing this can save money if you plan to purchase a new home in the future and want to take advantage of lower interest rates.
Depending on the length of your loan, you may pay more or less than the full value of your home each month. Your payment amount will depend on factors like credit score, income and other circumstances.
When looking to obtain a mortgage, it’s essential that you shop around and compare offers. Doing this will enable you to find the most advantageous interest rate and loan terms tailored specifically for your situation.
Once you’ve chosen a mortgage lender, it is essential to get pre-approved for a loan. A pre-approval is an official document from the lender indicating your capacity to afford the loan and likely qualify. The document includes details like your credit score, income, assets and debts.
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is an important factor lenders use when deciding whether or not to approve your mortgage application. This ratio measures how much of your gross monthly income goes towards housing expenses and other debt obligations such as car loans or student loans; typically between 28 and 36 percent).
If your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is too high, your lender might refuse the loan or raise your interest rate – leading to thousands of additional expenses over the life of the loan. To prevent this from happening, check your FICO(r) Score before applying for a mortgage – available free through Experian.
During the mortgage process, your lender may run a background check on you and request documents such as tax returns, W-2 forms and other documentation. This data can reveal any criminal or other issues that could disqualify you from getting a mortgage.
You must provide a down payment of at least 20 percent of the purchase price of your home. This deposit protects you in case the market drops and can serve as an effective negotiating tool when selling for a higher price.
A down payment can also help you qualify for a lower interest rate and better terms on your mortgage. The larger the deposit, the lower your monthly payments will be.
