Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Indicators Of An Affordable Mortgage

By Amy Nutt

For most people, one of their biggest dreams in life is to own a home. With so many mortgage options available, it can often be confusing figuring out what it means to acquire an affordable mortgage. There are a number of indicators that will tell you if a mortgage is affordable. Below is a list of indicators to help you determine if a mortgage is affordable.

1. Because of the current state of the housing market, lenders are now offering great deals on interest rates. Currently there are deals available where you can get a mortgage with an interest rate of around 5%. Many financial experts recommend acquiring a 15 to 30 year mortgage locked in at a low interest rate. The complete mortgage term could save a homeowner thousands of dollars. Locking the interest rate as a fixed-rate will normally have a term of 15 or 30 years. This will ensure your interest rates will not increase over the life of the mortgage. It is important to remember that the longer the mortgage term, the lower your interest rates. As well, the higher the mortgage that you obtain, the higher your monthly mortgage repayments will be. There are variable rates one can secure with their mortgage, but they fluctuate with the market. If the market is doing well, your interest rates will decrease, but if the economy starts to deteriorate your interest rates will increase.

2. Before applying for a mortgage, you first have to assess how much you can afford. You can determine how affordable your mortgage will be by using an online mortgage calculator. You will enter such information your income which will help determine how much you can actually afford to pay each month. Remember this is a base amount that does not include the cost associated with the purchase of the home. You will also have to put down a deposit. The higher the deposit, the lower your monthly payments will be.

3. Paying a monthly mortgage is not the only expense you have to consider. There will be other expenses such as utilities and home maintenance. It is also important to remember that you will have to consider additional expenses such as closing fees, title fees, attorney fees, taxes, registration fees, monthly homeowner insurance payments, etc.

A mortgage is probably the biggest financial commitment you will make in life. It is important to acquire an affordable mortgage to ensure that payments can be met even if your financial situation changes. Financing your mortgage is a serious life investment. The key to getting an affordable mortgage is to compare quotes from several different lenders to get a rate that is low and will not drastically increase if the market takes a down turn. As well, you should always read the fine print of the mortgage contract to avoid any future unexpected surprises that could affect your monthly payments. With the current incentives now being offered for mortgage seekers, this is a great time to find a great deal on a mortgage.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment