Navigating the mortgage process can be challenging, whether you are buying your first home, refinancing, or planning to sell. Missteps along the way can lead to long-term financial stress or — in the worst-case scenario — pre-foreclosure. Explore the common mortgage pitfalls and learn how to avoid them, ensuring a smoother and less stressful experience.
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When you apply for a mortgage, your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) will play a vital role. The mortgage lenders will review your credit profile and check the DTI ratio to assess your affordability. So, the debt-to-income ratio will indicate how much debt you carry, such as credit card balances, payday loans, medical bills, personal loans, and utility bills against your monthly income.
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The 50-year mortgage first appeared in southern California, where housing was becoming increasingly costly, and people were looking for new ways to reduce their monthly mortgage payments. Except for the extra two decades to pay off the loan, it works the same as a 30-year fixed mortgage.
The advantage of a 50-year mortgage is the lower payment, but the significantly higher long-term costs may outweigh this advantage. Let’s see if you should go down that long road.
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The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) was enacted in 1975. The federal statute was introduced to stop malpractice and restrict the usage of escrow accounts in the real estate settlement process.
Once RESPA became effective in 1975, it was under the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) jurisdiction. Ever since its inception, the Act has undergone several amendments and changes. However, after 2011, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau monitored RESPA due to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection legislation.
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Mortgage rates have been at their historic lows since the pandemic started last year and many have taken advantage of this to buy a home. Will the rates keep going down or will they go back up? This is one of the most frequent questions. People want to buy at the moment but in some parts of the country, there is a shortage of homes. As we all know, there are many factors that go into the performance of the real estate market which impacts the supply & demand.
Whether you’re buying a property now or at a later time, checking the latest mortgage rates can help you to make the best decision for yourself and your family. In addition, you can plan and estimate how rates can impact your budget (when it comes to the monthly payment) with a mortgage calculator. Being prepared and equipped with the correct information can save you time and money when the time comes to buy your home.
Visit Money.com and speak to your local real estate agent and mortgage lender for more information.
Refinancing your mortgage could be a smart financial move. It largely depends on timing.
But how do you know when the time is right for you to refinance?
Refinancing your loan doesn’t happen without a few fees. The good news is that most of these fees will simply be rolled into your new loan, so you won’t need to pay a lump sum out of pocket.
But if you’re planning to sell the home in a few years, you may not hold the mortgage long enough to recover these fees. Refinancing really only makes sense if you plan to own the home for the next several years.