Loni Lueke REALTOR® - The Do's and Don'ts in your Homebuying Process

company because there are credit repair companies that are either not good enough or charge too much. The company will help you repair your credit as well as assist in correcting any mistakes that might be in the credit report.

DO THE RESEARCH

The next step is a comparison of different interest rates and costs. Loans regarded as a no-fee loan means that all the fees have been included in the rate, and as the buyer, you should make a point of noting that. You have the responsibility of ensuring you understand every aspect of the mortgage deal. Therefore, it’s up to you as a buyer to interview the person handling the loan. Research has shown that most people spend more time shopping for cars than they spend thinking about mortgages. As a result, many people seeking to buy homes end up paying more in closing costs or higher interest rates than they might have because they didn’t bother doing enough research, or they didn’t adequately shop the mortgage market. The real estate mortgage interest rates can move up and down quickly, due to various financial and market factors. The ever-changing rates can confuse almost anyone, and timing is important. Getting a loan to purchase a home can be a tricky business, and there are terms one might find hard to understand — e.g., the term “discount or origination points” which refers to the interest that’s been prepaid. It’s possible to lower your mortgage loan’s interest rate by “buying” points. Discount points are fees paid directly to the lender at closing in exchange for a reduced interest rate. This is also called “buying down the rate,” and will decrease your monthly mortgage payments. One point costs 1% of your mortgage amount (or $1,000 for every $100,000). Essentially, you pay some interest upfront in exchange for a lower interest rate over the life of your loan. In general, the longer you plan to own the home, the more that buying points helps you save on interest over the life of the loan.

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