Merribeth Burns - HOW TO NAVIGATE THE HOME-BUYING PROCESS

a mortgage broker, a bank, or a mortgage lender. It’s up to the buyer, depending on the situation. However, if you’re going to buy a home and your down payment is less than 20%, you’re going to need private mortgage insurance. That can add about $100 per month for a home valued at $100,000. To find the best mortgage professional to guide you through the process of buying a home, seek advice from real estate agents, colleagues, or friends. Banks are generally known for having the fewest mortgage options because their products are tailor-made to suit the bank’s interests. However, they can also be more flexible, as they are the ones lending the money. If the buyer owns other substantial assets, making a deal with a bank will not be a complicated process. Mortgage brokers are known to offer the largest amount of options. Working independently and with several financial outlets, brokers can find the best loan for the buyer from different lenders. Now that you’ve identified the house that you want to buy, and you have a professional mortgage advisor, how do you get the best mortgage deal? The first step is a comparison of different interest rates. It’s easy to get quotes from companies, since most of these companies offer these services online. However, you, as the buyer, should be careful to not just compare interest rates. The best option is to compare the interest rates, as well as all the fees, including origination fees, points, and any other fees that the lender might include in the deal. Any loan regarded as a no-fee loan means that all the fees have been included in the rates and as the buyer, you should make a

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