The right or wrong
decision when signing your home mortgage can mean thousands of dollars
difference in interest paid. There are very important considerations
to evaluate before you commit to a 15 or 30 year note. For many of us
our mortgage payment is the most important financial decision well
ever make. Doesnt it make sense to know as much as possible about
the financing of our home? Take the time to thoroughly investigate all
of your options!
Unbelievably many
of us sign the first mortgage placed in front of us. Typically the excitement
of the new home purchase reduces the mortgage to not much more than
an afterthought. What you read here could save you hundreds or even
thousands of dollars. Your real estate professional has established
relationships with the top lenders in your area. By aligning yourself
with a professional agent you ensure
that all the financial steps are taken care of properly and economically.
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Utilize
a Lender With Established Ties to an Agent- Lenders are much more
flexible with the real estate agents who have done business with them
previously. Their relationship establishes them as a team member.
The lender and agent work effectively together. Thats why a
good agent can make substantial difference in setting up the most
economical financing. And the right financing can, literally, save
you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan!
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Dont
Attempt Paperwork Alone- All the paperwork required to complete
the purchase of a home can be quite intimidating and frustrating for
a home buyer. Make sure you have your lender help you with all the
paperwork. Get help from your team, your lender and agent. Their expertise
will help alleviate the stress and it will prove to be invaluable
before you sign your mortgage.
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Look
at All Your Options- Make sure you see at least 3 loan programs
for your mortgage. Lenders have at least 5-7 programs and should work
with you and your agent on deciding what is best for your circumstances.
Evaluate all your options. After all, its your money youre
spending - not theirs!
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Demand Service- There is little difference between a bank,
savings and loan, or a mortgage broker when it comes to the competitiveness
of their loan rates. The difference is in the service they provide.
It is their job to serve you! You want to get the loan approved and
move into your new home as quickly as possible, but dont overlook
the fact that you are the one spending the money and they are the
ones who should cater to your needs. Dont let the process become
so intimidating that you lose that understanding.
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Stay
in Complete Touch- You should receive a written report from your
lender concerning every step. This will ensure that no details are
overlooked and there will be no surprises.
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Negotiate
a Flexible Loan- Dont just accept the terms they lay down
in front of you. Lenders are in the business of loaning money and
they want your business. Make sure you examine every option available
to you. If you negotiate a variable rate loan, many lenders have the
ability to move you into a fixed loan if rates start going up. Make
sure that you understand whether or not that is an option in the package
you are looking at.
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Dont
Give Up on the First No- Initial decisions are not always final
decisions. Going to a higher authority can sometimes get you the loan,
but do so with the assistance and compliance of your lender and agent.
Many times special circumstances when explained properly to the person
in charge, will win you the loan.
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Dont
Wait for the Bottom of the Market- The odds of your hitting the
bottom of your market are about like the odds of your hitting your
state lotto! You will almost never hit the bottom of a market. And
trying to time it exactly right is often costly. It usually causes
a person or family to miss out on the opportunity to purchase a very
nice property. Youre better off simply negotiating the best
rate and terms you can at the time you find a property. If interest
rates go down, you can refinance. This is a much better approach because
you wont miss out on the property youve spent so much
time locating.
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Be
Honest With Your Lender- Your lender wants to help you with your
loan. The only time they get paid is when you get approved. The more
information (good or bad) you provide your lender, the easier it will
be for them to get an approval. It helps them present the loan in
the best light. This in turn helps the loan get the highest approval
rating.
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Become
Completely Educated- Pick your lenders brain. Lenders will
teach you all about your various options, even if you havent
found the right property yet. They will be very patient with you while
you are looking, especially if you have aligned yourself with the
right agent. They understand all the up-front work will pay off in
future business. Your agent will then continue to refer people to
the courteous and service minded lender on down the line.
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Get
Pre-qualified- Lenders will provide you with a certificate of
pre-qualification. By getting pre-qualified you know exactly what
financial parameters to stay within. Your agent and lender will consult
with you and help you get qualified for the loan that best fits your
needs. Many times they are able to get you a larger loan than you
may have thought possible.
Getting approved
for a loan is often times much easier than you might think. I sincerely
hope this brief report has been a help to you. If you would like a free,
no obligation consultation call my office at:
Stuart
Berger
Coldwell
Banker
Phone (800) 848-1940
Fax (305) 933-1141
E-Mail info@stuberger.com