What Borrowers Need to Know About Mortgage Rate Locks

When it comes to securing a mortgage, timing is everything—especially when it comes to locking in an interest rate. Mortgage rates can fluctuate daily, and even a small change can have a significant impact on your monthly payments and the total cost of your loan. To protect yourself from rising interest rates while you’re in the process of buying a home or refinancing, you can use a mortgage rate lock. What Is a Mortgage Rate Lock? A mortgage rate lock is an agreement between a borrower and a lender that locks in a specific interest rate on a mortgage for…
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Legal Documents You Need When Buying a House

Buying a house can be an exciting but complex process that involves many legal requirements. You will need to provide several documents to your lender and the seller. The specific documents required may vary depending on the lender and the type of loan you are applying for, but here are some of the most common documents you may need: Proof of Income: This may include pay stubs, W-2 forms, and tax returns from the past two years. Bank Statements: You will need to provide bank statements for the past two to three months to show your savings and checking account…
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ITIN Loans: Are These Loans Right For You?

As you take a look at your mortgage options, you might find that a conventional mortgage presents a few qualification challenges. Fortunately, there are other options available, and you might be able to pursue an ITIN loan. This stands for Individual Tax Identification Number, and Individual Tax Identification Number loans could be beneficial for people cannot get approved for a qualified mortgage. What do you need to know about the process? What Are The Requirements Of An ITIN Loan? First, you need to get an Individual Tax Identification Number. While you do not need a Social Security Number, you might need to fill…
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Do You Need Mortgage Insurance Even If It’s Not Required By Your Lender? Let’s Take A Look

Finding a proper mortgage loan and understanding the processing procedures behind the loan is the basis of good research. The down payment on a mortgage loan is typically significant when dealing with mortgage insurance. Most loan applications with less than 20% down payment are required to include mortgage insurance with the loan. However, mortgage insurance may still be required even if it's not typically required by your lender. Underwriting Requirements Most home mortgage applications undergo a strict set of standards for approval. These standards are known as underwriting and make up the bulk of time spent on a mortgage application.…
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You May Need More Than You Think To Buy Your First Home

Those who are thinking about buying their first home soon are likely saving up for a down payment. This can be a challenging process because, for many people, this is the largest amount of money they have ever saved in their lives. Sadly, the amount that people might need to buy their first home is more than they think. There are numerous other costs that go along with buying and maintaining a home. As a result, people need to save up more than they think. Even for starter homes that are usually less expensive than family homes, there are numerous…
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