As the Chattanooga area continues to enjoy a growing economy and steady rise in consumer confidence, many first-time home buyers – including millennials – are gearing up to become home owners. Yet the abundant amount of paperwork involved in the home financing process can intimidate even the most eager of prospective home buyers.
Fortunately, with advanced preparation and a personalized to-do list, new home buyers can easily stay on top of the financing process. You need to decide how much to spend on your home and which type of mortgage will work best for you, as well as understand the settlement process.
Before you visit a sales office, model home or open house, you should take advantage of the many sources that can help ensure you’re in the best possible financial situation.
Be realistic about what you can afford
Figure out what you can comfortably pay on a monthly basis. Write down all your monthly expenses including loan payments, utilities, insurance and credit cards, and don’t forget food, clothing and entertainment expenditures.
When determining the monthly payment that’s within your reach, remember that in addition to the monthly principal and interest, you will also be paying into escrows for property taxes, hazard insurance and possibly mortgage insurance or a home owners or condominium association assessment. Many real estate-focused websites have mortgage calculators that are a great way to figure out what your monthly payments would be based on current interest rates and down payment amounts.
Pay down your debts
Debt that you carry on your credit cards will limit the loan amount that your lender will approve. Lenders typically want to see a total debt service ratio that is less than 40 percent of your monthly income.
Get objective advice
Attend a first-time home buying seminar or talk to a credit counselor who does not work for a lender. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers free housing counseling and seminars. You can find more information by visiting hud.gov or calling HUD’s interactive voice system at (800) 569-4287.
Pre-qualify for your home mortgage
To ensure the financing process goes smoothly, buyers should consider pre-qualifying for a mortgage and having a financing commitment in place before shopping for a new home. Buyers also might find that some home builders have arranged favorable financing for their customers or offer financial incentives. Pre-approval also enables you to quickly make an offer when you find a home, and is attractive to sellers who are considering multiple offers. A lender’s pre-approval would still be subject to a final verification of your credit and a satisfactory appraisal.
Qualifying for a mortgage and saving for a downpayment remain primary obstacles to homeownership. To address these issues, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer low-downpayment mortgage programs geared primarily toward the first-time home buyer market. These lenders will now offer mortgages with three percent downpayments, allowing more creditworthy borrowers who lack the funds for a large downpayment to obtain a home mortgage.
After taking these steps to get your financing in order, finding your first home will be a much more enjoyable experience. For more information to help ease the first-time home-buying stress, contact the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga at (423) 624.9992.