Posts with tag 'Home Loan'

November 11th is Veterans' Day—a day to honor those who have bravely served our country. In an effort to help veterans buy a home, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a program to help, and our REALTORS® can guide you through the process. Here's what you need to know about VA loans.

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Real estate markets across the country are red hot. It is not uncommon for sellers to receive numerous offers within days of listing their property. Time and time again, our REALTORS® have seen homes sell for well above their listing price. If you have your eye on the perfect property for your next home, we recommend taking the time to get prepared before you jump into the pool of buyers eager to get their hands on your dream home.

• Preapproval
  Start by getting preapproved for a loan. This is more rigorous than a prequalification process and shows you precisely where you stand and how much the lender will loan for your purchase. There are multiple advantages to this when searching for Mansfield or Ashland homes for sale. It helps narrow down your search to only those properties within your price range. This speeds up the process considerably. It also shows you how high you can go if a bidding war breaks out. Equally important, when multiple offers are submitted, sellers are more likely to accept offers from preapproved buyers than those who are merely pre-qualified.
  
  In fact, be prepared to pay more than the listing price. This is especially true for well-maintained homes in desirable locations. It's not unheard of for homes to sell for 100-110% or more of the asking price. As you search, factor this into your calculations and search for homes that are 95% or less of your preapproval.

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It's a competitive real estate market. For first-time homebuyers, the goal of homeownership can appear difficult to achieve. While it's true that there are obstacles in the path, it's not impossible to overcome them and beat the odds. Our REALTORS® know how to help first-time homebuyers position themselves in the market to purchase the home they desire. 

Overcoming the Obstacles to Homeownership

• Strict Lending Requirements
  This is often the most daunting obstacle first-time homebuyers need to tackle. Overcoming it requires a multi-prong approach that starts with trimming the budget. Eliminating unnecessary spending, paying off credit card debt, and consolidating existing loan obligations at a lower interest rate are essential steps. It pays big dividends. It will help first-time homebuyers save money for the down payment, and it reduces the debt-to-income ratio. It also helps boost the credit score a few points, which allows buyers to qualify for a lower interest rate.

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When it comes to applying for a mortgage, getting pre-approved for financing and starting the credit application process should begin as early as possible. The sooner you get a jump on the process, the fewer problems you'll have when it's time to close and sign on the dotted line.  

But is it possible to apply too early? Our REALTORS® know the answers, and we've put together some of our expertise to help you apply for your mortgage financing at an optimal time for your home purchase.  

How Long Does Pre-Approval Take?

Before you decide how early to apply for a mortgage, we should help you understand how long the pre-approval process takes. 

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If you've spent even a tiny amount of time shopping around for a mortgage, then you know it's not exactly a picnic. Our REALTORS® understand that securing a home loan is easily the least fun part of the home buying process, but it's an unavoidable one. 

That said, many homebuyers have a loan option they may not have considered: VA Loans. For those who qualify, a VA loan is an amazing resource, arguably much better than a conventional mortgage. So if you're looking at Mansfield homes for sale, be sure to carefully consider all your loan options. 

What is a VA Loan?

VA Loans are backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and are designed to provide a simple and affordable route to homeownership for military, veterans and their families. Since VA Loans were first offered under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act in 1944, they have helped countless current and former service members finance their homes. 

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