4 reasons why buying a home with cash may be a mistake...

Oct 8, 2019 4:49:14 PM / by Mark Gorman posted in Mortgage, Pre-Approval, Pre-Qual, Lending, Home Loan, Pre-Qualification, Approval, professional, home purchase, financing contigency, FHA, closing costs, homebuyers, home ownership, PITIA, financing, capital, payments, mortgage payments, emergency funds, boosting credit, income, asset, myths, credit bureaus

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There’s a common misconception out there that buying a home with cash is always a faster and easier option than financing. If you have the funds to buy a home in cash (congrats on that saving, by the way), financing might actually be a better option. Financing your purchase with a qualified lender offers homebuyers a host of unique advantages that cash buyers just can’t enjoy. If you’re weighing your cash vs. financing options, consider the following:

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6 game-changing FHA home loan features often overlooked...

Aug 31, 2019 8:39:00 PM / by Brett O'Daniell posted in Mortgage, Lending, FHA, Back to work, homebuyers, housing market, millennials, renovation, step-by-step, training, 203k, Credit, Credit Score, first-time

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Rates are falling... What does it mean for your home search?

Aug 28, 2019 9:30:52 PM / by Mark Gorman posted in Insider, Mortgage, Pre-Approval, Home Loan, Approval, homebuyers, housing market, St. Louis, housing demand, financing, loan, rates

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Confused by all the home buying lingo?

Aug 17, 2019 9:02:00 PM / by Mark Gorman posted in Insider, Mortgage, AUS, real estate, FHA, closing costs, HOA, 203k, MLS, PITIA, before you buy, buying a home

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Buying a home can be a high stress time and it feels even more stressful when you don’t understand the lingo being tossed around. From abbreviated words in listings to acronyms used by real estate agents and loan officers, sometimes it can feel like everyone is speaking a different language.  Knowing these acronyms will keep you on the same page as everyone you are working with.

 

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Cellphone & utility payments can now "boost" your credit score

Jul 12, 2019 8:32:00 PM / by Mark Gorman posted in Mortgage, Credit, Credit Score, home ownership, credit profile, payments, mortgage payments, boosting credit, credit bureaus, experian, cell phone, utilities, bills

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5 common FHA appraisal issues: how to fix them

Jul 11, 2019 5:02:07 PM / by Jeffrey Che posted in Mortgage, Home Loan, Approval, Underwriting, home inspection, appraisal, FHA, do it yourself, buying a home, homebuying, myths, paint, windows, safety, utilities, water

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3 myths of traditional vs online mortgage lenders

Jul 10, 2019 7:16:00 AM / by Mark Gorman posted in Mortgage, buying a home, myths

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Deciding to buy a new home is one of life’s most important decisions. Once you’ve given yourself the green light—and after the euphoria and surge of adrenaline spikes and subsides—you need to identify your specific financial capabilities and goals, and what you require from your mortgage lender.

 

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5 red flags within the online home search

Jul 8, 2019 8:58:00 PM / by Jeffrey Che posted in Mortgage, before you buy, buying a home, online home buying

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Real estate websites offer you convenience and control when you’re looking to buy a new home. They feature home search options that let you customize your choices at a granular level, including price range, square footage, bed and bathroom count, and acreage, among other filters. And if you know what to look for, these sites can also clue you into potential problems that homes of interest may have.

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5 steps to make moving easy

Jul 1, 2019 8:52:00 PM / by Mark Gorman posted in Mortgage, real estate, moving, homebuying

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Once you get through the home buying process, it’s time to move on to the next big thing: moving! It can be a stressful and tedious event, and you want to avoid scams. Whether you bought a home across the country or just a few blocks away, here are five tips to choosing reliable movers.

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Confused by all the letters?  Here are some basic mortgage acronyms.

Jun 20, 2019 7:09:00 PM / by Mark Gorman posted in Mortgage, PITIA

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Components of a Mortgage Payment: PITIA

  • P stands for Principal or the amount you borrowed.
  • I stands for Interest.  Lenders charge interest for the money you are borrowing. The interest generally reflects prevailing market rates based on investor demands.
  • T is for property taxes.
  • I represents Homeowners Insurance premiums (hazard insurance), which is mandatory.
  • A stands for Association, as in homeowners association. For some residential properties, HOA dues are required.

Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate

  • With a fixed-rate loan, the interest rate charged by the lender never changes over the life of the loan. That means the P (principal) and I (interest rate) portion of your PITIA payment will not change. However the T (taxes) and I (insurance) portions may change if your taxes or insurance premium change. Many people prefer the stability of a fixed-rate loan.
  • With an adjustable-rate loan, the interest rate can increase or decrease. There are a large variety of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).

Government Loans vs. Conventional Loans

  • Government loans include VA loans guaranteed by the Veterans Administration, FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and USDA Rural Loans insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • If a loan is not insured or guaranteed by a government agency, it is considered to be a conventional loan. These loans are often purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, although this purchase is typically invisible to the member. If you have less than a 20 percent down payment, you will likely need private MI. The advantage of MI is that you need less upfront cash and can buy your home sooner.

Length/Term of the Mortgage

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