Now that’s a big, big question with 100’s of variations on
the answer.
Let’s hit some big ones:
1.
The standard mortgage is a 30-year fixed,
meaning the interest rate is fixed and can’t go up or down in the future. Commonly,
homeowners will provide a 20% cash down payment if the home is to be used as a
residence. 25% is common if to be used as a rental. However, it is possible to pay
more or less down. If you pay less than 20%, you may need to buy insurance to
protect the lender from default. You might buy the insurance from the FHA or
from a private insurer.
2.
You can get a loan for other lengths of time. 20-year
and 15-year are standard, but 40-year and 10-year are available. The longer the
term, the higher the interest rate.
3.
You can acquire an adjustable rate loan. These
loans start out with a fixed interest rate for 5-10 years that is under market
for fixed loans, thereby reducing your monthly payment in the first few years.
At the end of the fixed period, the interest rate is set based on an index, and
your payments are higher. The interest rate and the payment is generally reset
every six months or year.
4.
You will need to prove your ability to repay the
loan. The decision maker is called an underwriter, and he/she will look to your
income, credit outstanding, credit rating, and other factors to determine if you
would be a good customer for them.
You might want to talk to Bill Rayman about your plans. He has tons of
experience working with folks just like you that are weighing their
options and trying to decide which is the smartest way to manage buying a home that makes sense.
Call Bill today at (424) 354-5325
Check out his website at MortageHelpLosAngeles.com or see his reviews at
