Mortgage rates are rising. Interest rates continue to climb up. Are you still on the fence about applying for a home loan? You need to act sooner, or you risk paying more for the same amount of mortgage. Understandably, buying a house isn’t an easy decision to make. But while you think about the mortgage payments that you have to make monthly and annually, the banks are making requirements more stringent and accumulating higher interest rates.
A mortgage broker in Utah or other states will help you find the right financial institution that will grant you a home loan under reasonable terms and conditions. But on your own, you have to make sure that you’re prepared to pay off this loan for the next 20 to 25 years. Considering the high cost of living everywhere in the world, it pays to evaluate where you stand financially.
List Down Your Income and Expenses
Can you afford to buy a home today? Or is it better to rent? The first thing you have to do is to look at your income and expenses. Facing the harsh and bitter truth is often difficult for people, but this is one of the most adult things you should do. Once you’ve listed down how much you have in a month less the expenses, that’s the time you can finally decide whether to apply for a home loan or not. Obviously, if you don’t have an extra $1,000 a month to cover mortgage fees, you shouldn’t think about getting into debt.
Check Your Credit History
Are you paying your bills on time? Do you have credit card debt that you haven’t paid? How huge is that credit card debt anyway? All the things you have done financially in your life will have an impact on your credit history and credit score. Try to keep your credit score on the higher end so that you can get better rates. There’s at least a 1% to 2% difference in interest rate depending on your credit score. This percentage could mean at least $2,000 to $5,000 in interest paid over the course of your loan term. It can be higher if you have a longer-term loan.
Before you apply for a loan, check your credit score and history. Repair your credit score by disputing erroneous entries. Paying your bills on time will also pull up your credit score.
Be Wary of Employment Changes
A stable employment history is required from people who want to apply for a home loan. There are no hard and fast rules on how a lender determines your employment stability. Mostly, they will look at your employment history in the past two years. They will also consider education and military experience. Based on the information that you have provided, the lender may require additional documents to prove the stability of your income.
There are many options in the market that it can be hard to pinpoint where exactly you fit in. Do your own research. Consult experts but read up as much as you can about the different options available to you.
