13
Jun
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Millennials Are Finding Home Buying Overwhelming

Millennials Are Finding Home Buying Overwhelming Many millennials find home buying overwhelming due to a variety of factors such as high housing prices, student loan debt, competition from investors, economic uncertainty, and a lack of knowledge about the home-buying process. These challenges can make it difficult for millennials to save enough money for a down payment, find a suitable property, and navigate the complex process of buying a home.

It is important to note that not all millennials may face these challenges, and there are also many resources available to help first-time homebuyers navigate the process.

Housing counseling agencies: These agencies provide guidance and education on various aspects of home buying, including budgeting, credit improvement, mortgage options, and navigating the purchase process. They can also help you understand down payment assistance programs and other available resources.

Online tools and calculators: Many websites offer tools and calculators that can help you estimate your affordability, calculate mortgage payments, and compare different loan options. These tools can provide valuable insights into your financial situation and assist you in making informed decisions.

Government programs: Various government programs are designed to assist first-time homebuyers. For example, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers loans with lower down payment requirements, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides resources on home buying and offer different assistance programs.

Local first-time homebuyer programs: Many cities and states have specific programs and initiatives to support first-time homebuyers. These programs can provide down payment assistance, favorable loan terms, or other financial incentives. Research the resources available in your local area.

Real estate professionals: Engaging a trusted real estate agent or broker who specializes in working with first-time homebuyers can be immensely helpful. They can guide you through the process, provide market insights, and negotiate on your behalf.

Online forums and communities: Online forums and communities dedicated to real estate and home buying can offer a wealth of information and advice from experienced homebuyers. Engaging in these communities can help you learn from others’ experiences and gain insights into the process.

Remember to do thorough research and seek advice from multiple sources to ensure you make informed decisions when buying a home.

09
Jun
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Will Pre-Approval for a Mortgage Hurt My Credit Score?

Will Pre-Approval for a Mortgage Hurt My Credit Score?Obtaining a pre-approval for a mortgage is an important step when you’re planning to buy a home. It gives you an idea of how much you can afford, helps streamline the home-buying process, and strengthens your position as a serious buyer. However, many people worry that the pre-approval process might negatively impact their credit score. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the details to determine whether or not a pre-approval for a mortgage will hurt your credit.

Understanding Credit Inquiries

To understand how pre-approval affects your credit, we need to discuss credit inquiries. When you apply for credit, such as a loan or credit card, the lender typically pulls your credit report to assess your creditworthiness. These inquiries are categorized as either “hard” or “soft.”

Hard Inquiries: A hard inquiry occurs when you apply for credit, and it can impact your credit score. These inquiries are visible to other lenders and may suggest that you’re actively seeking credit.

Soft Inquiries: A soft inquiry, on the other hand, doesn’t affect your credit score. These inquiries occur when you check your own credit report or when a lender pre-approves you without your explicit consent.

Pre-Approval and Credit Inquiries

When it comes to mortgage pre-approvals, most lenders perform a hard inquiry to assess your creditworthiness accurately. While this hard inquiry might have a temporary impact on your credit score, the impact is typically minimal. Generally, a single hard inquiry will only result in a small dip in your score, typically around five points or less. The credit bureaus understand that consumers may shop around for the best mortgage terms and account for this in their scoring models.

The Logic Behind Credit Scoring

Credit scoring models are designed to account for consumer behavior related to loans and credit applications. They recognize that it’s normal for individuals to shop around for the best rates and terms when seeking a mortgage. To encourage this behavior, credit scoring models treat multiple mortgage inquiries made within a certain time frame (usually 30 days) as a single inquiry. This means that even if you get pre-approved by multiple lenders within that timeframe, it will be considered a single inquiry when calculating your credit score.

While a pre-approval for a mortgage may result in a temporary dip in your credit score due to the hard inquiry, it’s generally a small and short-lived effect. The benefits of obtaining a pre-approval, such as understanding your budget and strengthening your position as a buyer, far outweigh any minor impact on your credit score.

To minimize any potential negative impact on your credit score during the mortgage pre-approval process, consider the following tips:

Do your research: Before applying for a pre-approval, research lenders and their qualification criteria. Focus on a select few lenders who are likely to meet your needs to minimize the number of credit inquiries.

Time your applications: If possible, try to complete all your mortgage pre-approval applications within a short time frame, such as 30 days. This way, the credit bureaus will consider them as a single inquiry.

Monitor your credit: Regularly monitor your credit report to ensure accuracy and identify any potential issues. You can obtain one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus.

In most cases, the impact of a mortgage pre-approval on your credit score is minimal and short-lived. While the initial hard inquiry may result in a small dip in your score, credit scoring models are designed to account for shopping around for the best mortgage terms. The long-term benefits of obtaining a pre-approval far outweigh any minor impact on

07
Jun
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

What You Need To Know About Your Home Appraisal And Your Mortgage

What You Need To Know About Your Home Appraisal And Your MortgageWhen buying a home, there are certain steps a buyer should go through before the home sale is official. First the buyer makes the offer, then the offer is accepted.

Next the buyer schedules the inspection and home appraisal. Finally, everyone is ready for closing.

It’s easy to overlook the impact of some of these steps, but when it comes to a mortgage, the home appraisal is actually quite important. Banks want to see that they are lending money for an investment that is worthwhile, so that appraisal is a crucial step to getting financing. Here is what buyers need to know about how the appraisal could affect their mortgages.

Understanding The Home Appraisal Process

The home appraisal gives a home valuation expert the chance to evaluate the home a buyer’s considering to determine its market value. Home appraisers are highly trained, state-licensed professionals that know how to evaluate homes and assign value to them.

The appraiser will use various approaches to determine the final appraised value. The appraisal typically happens after an offer on the home was approved but before the lender loans the money.

The Appraisal And Mortgage Approval

The appraisal is one factor that a mortgage lender considers when deciding whether or not to approve a final loan request. Even if a borrower had preapproval, a low appraisal could cause the mortgage to fall through.

Why is this? A lender only wants to lend enough to cover what the home’s actual value, and if the appraisal comes in lower than what the borrower is asking for, the lender can deny the loan.

If the lender does not deny the loan completely, they may refuse to lend more than the home’s value. In order to buy the home at the agreed price, the buyer may need to come up with the difference in cash at closing.

What Can Buyers Do If The Appraisal Is Low?

If an appraisal comes in low on the home someone wishes to buy, the buyer shouldn’t panic. It is possible to get a new appraisal at a higher value.

First, consider the condition of the home. Did the seller let some things fall into disrepair? If the seller fixes those items, a new appraisal may be higher.

Does the home look rundown or cluttered? This shouldn’t affect the appraisal, but it can sometimes cause the appraiser to trend lower. Sometimes, simply asking for a second opinion might get a slightly different appraised value.  That said, if the appraisal is low, make sure to evaluate the purchase price. Is it in line with current market conditions and the overall condition of the home?

If the answer to that question is no, then the offer may be too much for the home. The appraisal, in this case, gives the buyer the opportunity to reevaluate the purchase decision.

When it comes to mortgage approval, the appraisal is one of the critical steps in the process. If a buyer has shopped wisely, the home should pass with flying colors, and soon the home sale process will be over.  As always, your trusted mortgage professional is the best resource for appraisal information in your local market.