Smart Loan Shop

1. Make sure that you have your credit checked prior to beginning your home search. Your credit score will be one of the primary determinants in your mortgage qualifying. You must have your tri-merge credit report “pulled” by a mortgage planner to determine your middle score. The middle score is most often used by lenders to qualify an applicant. By having your credit checked early in the process you are able to correct any mistakes or repair any items that may be harming the score. This process can take several weeks so it is important to start this early. A low credit score can cost you thousands of dollars in mortgage interest.

2. Be careful not to make any new purchases on credit. As the prospect of buying your new home comes closer you will begin to think of all the new needs you’ll have. Perhaps it’s larger so you’ll need new furniture. Maybe new appliances or even how a new car will look in the driveway. Don’t laugh, if it hadn’t been done by my past clients then I wouldn’t have mentioned it. Do NOT accumulate new debt before you close on your new home. New debt lowers credit scores and throughs off the deb to income ratio that you were qualified with.

3. Know your Mortgage Planners experience and ability. It is vital to have someone with experience handling the largest purchase of your life. Sometimes people will have a friend or relative that’s in the “business”. Often this is an inexperienced person trying to earn part time income. It is important to have an experienced Mortgage Planner on your side to consult, negotiate and oversee the details of your transaction. Find out what credentials they have. Are they licensed? Do they have a certification in the particular loan programs you are interested in. How long have they worked full time in the industry? Your Mortgage Planner will be responsible for your largest purchase - make sure that you have confidence in that.

4. Do not think there are only 1 or 2 loan options available. Many buyers are unaware of the different loan options available to them. It is easy to see on the news the challenges in mortgage finance and assume that you will need 10% - 20% down payment to purchase a home. There are still excellent home loan programs available even with ZERO down payment. Speak to a qualified Mortgage Planner to review all your options.

5. Not knowing what affects your Credit. Subtle changes in your credit can affect your score dramatically. Be careful not to have your credit “pulled” too many times. Each lender you speak to will want to pull your credit. As each one does your score may drop. Do not close accounts or open new ones prior to obtaining your mortgage. Closing credit card accounts actually drops your score so never do this prior to closing.

6. Do not hide past credit difficulties. One of the most important functions that a good Mortgage Planner provides is helping you obtain your mortgage by overcoming past credit problems. Your Mortgage Planner is on your side and while past credit problems may be embarassing it will often be found out somewhere down the line. Be sure to explain everything to them so they can provide you with the best possible service.

7. Be sure to get a Mortgage Pre-Approval. A mortgage pre-approval is a fast and simple process that cannot be overlooked. A seller will want to know that you haev preapproved prior to negotiating a price with you. The preapproval shows the seller that you are not wasting their time and are negotiating in good faith. It will also give you a great sense of security as you are shopping for your dream home.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!