Saturday, May 5, 2018

What Can You Do To Find An Affordable Real Estate Loan

By Nancy Sullivan


You don't need a rocket scientist to tell you that mortgage shopping isn't as fun as checking out floor finishes and crown moldings. That said, it's arguably the most important piece of the jigsaw that is the home buying process. And when it comes to St Kitts real estate loans, there are certain elements you could take advantage of in order to get the best possible deal.

Besides affecting your interest rate, your credit score could also impact your ability to qualify for a home loan. The ball is in your court here, so do whatever's necessary to improve your score. This might be as simple as paying your bills on time and avoiding late payments. Still, there's no harm in spending some time optimizing your score before you can start applying.

It's always a good idea to shop around in order to get a sense of what other institutions are offering. Why? Well, not all lenders use the same formula to evaluate their applicant's creditworthiness. So don't be surprised to find variations when comparing quotes, particularly when it comes to fees and rates.

It doesn't take a genius to see the need to balance your income with debts you already have. This should be part of your priorities list now that you're shopping for a mortgage. Lenders will want to what percentage of your earnings will go towards servicing the mortgage, plus any other loans you'll be paying off. This is known as the debt-to-income ration, and should ideally be no more than 36%.

Opting to pay for points is an effective way to charm a lender into lowering your mortgage rate. Each point will be worth 1% of the borrowed amount, and the more you pay, the less you'll be charged in interest. This will be guaranteed for the life of your mortgage, as long as you keep it unchanged for the entire time. Just make sure to check the difference in monthly payments before taking this route.

Contrary to popular opinion, mortgages with short tenures aren't usually priced higher than their long-term alternatives. While it's true that the former carry higher monthly installments, it's worth clarifying that rates always vary in proportion to the repayment term. So don't let a 15-year loan scare you; as long as you can keep up with the repayments, you'll end up paying less in interest than you would with a 30-year mortgage.

Most lenders require a down payment of at least 5% the property's value. While coming up with a larger amount might seem too much, it's actually one of the most effective ways to land a low-interest loan. This could also save you the need to insure the mortgage, thus paving way for more savings down the road.

How frustrating would it be if the rate you've just been quoted happened to climb between now and the time of closing? No need to state the obvious, but what's important to note is that rates can change daily, at times hourly. The only way to guarantee that yours will stick is to have it locked by your lender. Without a rate lock, it's just a quote and nothing more.




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