You have found that dream home, now which of the home loan
programs is right for you? There is no
simple answer to that question; home loan programs need to be studied to choose
what is best. This all depends upon your
individual family preferences and financial circumstances.
Some factors to consider when choosing from the different home
loan programs. Your current financial
situation, do you expect this situation to change? How comfortable are you with a changing
mortgage payment? A fixed rate mortgage
can save you thousands in interest over the period of the loan, but it will
also give you higher monthly mortgage rates.
An adjustable rate will start you out with lower monthly payments but
you could face higher monthly payments if the rates change.
You have decided which type of loan is best for you, now you
need to choose which of the more popular home loan programs, is the best one for
you.
Conventional loans are secured by government sponsored
lenders. They are also known as
government sponsored entities (GSE’s).
They can be used to purchase or to refinance single family or 4 plex
homes with a first or a second mortgage.
There are limits that are adjusted annually if needed based on the
national average of new homes. You would
need to check what the current year’s limits are for an accurate amount if you
were to choose this type of home loan program.
FHA loans are programs to helping low income families become
home owners. By protecting a mortgage
company from default they encourage companies to make loans to families that
many not meet normal credit guidelines.
Some of the highlights of these loans are. Lower down payments can be as low a 3% versus
the normal 10% requirements. Closing
costs of up to 2 or 3 per cent of the home value can be financed, this reduces
the up front money needed. The FHA also
imposes limits on the fees from the mortgage company such as the loan
origination fee can not be more than 1% of the amount of the mortgage.
VA loans are available to military veterans who served on
active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The dates for eligibility are WWII and
later. World War II (September 16, 1940
to July 25, 1947), Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955), and Vietnam
era (August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975) veterans must have at least 90 days
service. Veterans with service only during peacetime periods and active duty
military personnel must have had more than 180 day’s active service. There are other eligibility
requirements. If you think you may be
eligible contact your local or state veterans’ administration representative.
The biggest factor in a VA loan is that no down payment is
required in most cases. There is no
mortgage insurance payments needed, closing costs to the buyer are also
limited. You can negotiate rates with
the lender and you then have a choice of payment plans with up to a 30 year
loan.
The last loan program we will mention is called a subprime
loan. This is a loan for people with poor
credit who would not qualify for a conventional loan or a VA or FHA guaranteed
loan. These loans normally will require
a higher down payment and have a larger interest rate. This is because of the risk involved to the
mortgage company. These loans should
normally be considered for a limited amount of time such as 2 to 4 years. It is a good way to improve your credit
situation and then refinance with more favorable terms.
We have shown finding or planning that new dream house is
just the beginning of the journey into your new home. The right answer to the question, which of the
home loan programs is for you, takes research and a honest look at your
personal situation.
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