When mortgage lenders go out of business and are essentially taken over by the FDIC, homeowners are left wondering if they still need to make a monthly payment. Great thought, and a very common question for many borrowers in the …
Shopping For A Hazard Insurance Policy
When shopping for a hazard insurance policy, something called “bundling” can actually save you quite a bit of money that most people aren’t aware of. Many of the big insurance companies price their insurance rates to attract a particular segment …
Ten Things You Can Do To Protect Your Identity
Facts About Identity Theft: It’s estimated that there were 10 million victims of identity theft in 2008, and 1 in every 10 U.S. consumers have reported having their identity stolen. The U.S. Department of Justice reported in 2005 that 1.6 …
Is There A Rule-of-Thumb Regarding The Number Of Credit Lines To Have Open?
While the actual credit score has a big impact on a loan approval, it’s not the only component of the credit scenario that underwriters consider for a mortgage approval. Since loan programs, individual lenders and mortgage insurance companies all have …
Alternate Sources For Establishing Credit
While the basic Rule-of-Thumb for acceptable credit history is a minimum of four trade lines documented on a credit report, there are alternative methods of building a credit picture that an underwriter can use to make a decision for a …
What’s The Difference Between A Primary Residence, Second Home and Investment Property?
When applying for a mortgage, a borrower’s “Occupancy Type” is a major factor in the amount of down payment required, loan program available and mortgage interest rate. Whether you are purchasing, doing a rate/term refinance or taking equity out of …
What’s My Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio?
Debt-to-Income (DTI) is one of the many new mortgage related terms many First-Time Home Buyers will get used to hearing. DTI is a component of the mortgage approval process that measures a borrower’s Gross Monthly Income compared to their credit …
Calculating Loan-to-Value (LTV)
Understanding the definition of Loan-to-Value (LTV), and how it impacts a mortgage approval, will help you determine what type of loan amount and program you may qualify for. Since the LTV Ratio is a major component of getting approved for …
Common Documents Required For A Mortgage Pre-Approval
Even though many lenders are still quoting quick 10 minute pre-qualifications over the phone or online, a true mortgage approval that holds any weight is one that has been issued by an underwriter who has had an opportunity to review …