29
Oct
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

The Required Steps For A Smooth Mortgage Refinance Process

The Required Steps For a Smooth Mortgage Refinance ProcessThere are lots of people who have heard that one of the top ways to ensure the best mortgage rate possible is to refinance. At the same time, it is critical to make sure that this process is planned out accordingly.

Therefore, there are a few steps that everyone has to follow to make sure they are able to handle the mortgage refinancing process in a smooth manner that leads to the best rate possible.

Ask If A Refinance Is The Right Step

There are a lot of people who assume that a mortgage refinance is a financial win; however, it is important to keep the added costs in mind. For example, the refinancing process is going to lead to another closing. When this happens, there are going to be closing costs that must be considered.

Therefore, the refinancing process could lead to a higher mortgage payment if the money saved on interest payments is not enough to offset these costs.

Check The Credit Score First

Many people get lured into the refinance process by looking at low mortgage interest rates and assuming they are going to qualify for them; however, this is not always the case. Only the people with the top credit scores are able to qualify for these low rates. Therefore, everyone needs to take a look at their credit score and make sure that their credit report has been cleaned up. This is the only way that people are going to be able to qualify for these low rates.

Talk To A Trained Professional

Finally, many people are going to be going through the refinance process for the first time. It is important to work with a trained professional who can walk everyone through this process, ensuring that they know what they are doing as the process unfolds. This can go a long way toward ensuring that everyone has a successful refinancing experience.

Go Through The Right Steps

Following these steps can maximize everyone’s chances of making sure they end up with a refinance that works for them. By planning out the process ahead of time, everyone can go through the steps they need to make sure that the refinancing process proceeds as smoothly as possible.

27
Oct
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

How Everyone Can Reduce Their Monthly Mortgage Payment

How Everyone Can Reduce Their Monthly Mortgage PaymentFor many people, their biggest monthly bill is their mortgage payment. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are a lot of people who are looking for ways to reduce their monthly mortgage payment. The positive news is that there are several ways to do so.

By putting some of these tips to use, everyone can find a way to pay less every month on their mortgage, helping them save money for other expenses such as a new car, college expenses, or that next vacation.

Shop Around Before Getting A Mortgage

For those who are still in the process of buying a home, it is a great idea to shop around and see what the options are. Even though there are rates advertised in the industry, it is always a smart idea to visit multiple potential lenders and see what they are offering. Then, with multiple offers in hand, it might be possible to leverage the offers against each other to see if they are willing to come down on their interest rates. This can help people reduce their monthly mortgage payment.

Put More Money Down

This is the most direct way that someone can lower their monthly mortgage payments. Even though this is a zero-sum game (taking more money out of the bank account and paying it sooner), this will directly reduce the monthly mortgage payment. Furthermore, this could get a lender to reduce the interest that he or she is charging, which could help homeowners save more money overall.

Refinance An Existing Mortgage To A Lower Rate

Finally, it is also possible for people to refinance an existing mortgage to a lower interest rate. This can help people who already have a mortgage save money by essentially replacing their old loan with a new one, accompanied by a lower monthly mortgage payment. Refinancing could also help people pay off their mortgage sooner.

Save Money On Monthly Mortgage Payments

These are a few of the top tips that everyone can follow to make sure they save money on their monthly mortgage payments. By shopping around, putting more money down, and refinancing an existing mortgage, everyone has the opportunity to save money on their monthly bills.

20
Oct
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Are Home Warranties Worth The Money?

Are Home Warranties Worth The MoneyThose who own homes might regularly receive mail advertising something called a home warranty. Many people end up tossing these leaflets away because they think this is just another form of home insurance, which many people get through their mortgage lender. In reality, a home warranty is not home insurance. Therefore, some people might be wondering whether or not a home warranty is worth the money.

There are a few important points that people should know.

What Is A Home Warranty?

A home warranty is similar to insurance is that people are going to pay a set premium per year to protect them against the risk of larger expenses down the road; however, people need to know what a home warranty is going to cover. This is where people need to read the policy. 

Typically, a home warranty is going to cover the cost to repair or replace certain appliances or home systems is they are damaged or break down. If someone needs to file a claim, this is usually done online or over the phone. Then, the homeowner is going to bring out a professional and pay a service fee (which is similar to a deductible) to get the repair completed. In some cases, the homeowner will have to pay the entire bill and get reimbursed later.

Is The Home Warranty Worth It?

In general, if someone has purchased a brand new home, this policy simply isn’t necessary. In many states, the builder is required to repair defects for a few years after the home is built. The common time-frames range from two years to ten years. Therefore, a home warranty might be duplicate coverage and, thus, unnecessary. Furthermore, brand new appliances are almost always protected by one or two-year warranties. Again, a home warranty might be duplicate coverage.

On the other hand, if someone has an older home or older appliances, the home warranty might be worth it. Older appliances are more likely to break down and, thus, require repairs. Therefore, people need to think about their own individual circumstances and weigh the risk of a broken appliance against the cost of the policy. A home warranty may be right for some people but not others.