Max Hunter asked:


You have undoubtedly heard a plethora of advice when you mentioned you were considering buying a home. Everyone probably had an opinion, they always do. Some very well intended people probably gave you the worst advice you could possibly have received but you would have know way of knowing that.

Let us dispel some of the most common myths about home buying and loan selection. First and foremost the myth that the only type of mortgage to ever consider is a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Perhaps when your parents or grandparents first considered buying a home this was true. The simple fact of the matter is that there are many loan packages available to buyers with all different financial circumstances and needs. For many a fixed-rate mortgage will be the right way to go. For others adjustable rate mortgages will make the most sense based on their financial situation. Your loan officer will be able to explain the differences between them and discuss which will make the best sense for you and your unique circumstances.

Another popular myth is that you should have a home in mind before you contact a mortgage professional. This is probably, however, the worst time to contact a mortgage professional. It is always best to start your home search only after you have spoken to a mortgage professional who can put a scope on your search for you before you fall in love with a home that is well beyond your financial means. A mortgage professional can save you hours of heartache when you try to compare a house within your means to those houses a realtor showed you but you simply cannot afford.

The only place you want to apply for your mortgage is with your personal bank. Or, at least that is what you will be told. Again, that may have been true about forty years ago, it is not necessarily true any longer. The mortgage market is competitive and there are many lenders that specialize in precisely this industry and are not retail banks. You may not want to close the door to the prospect of using one of these lenders because they very often offer the best loan packages.

Online mortgage lenders are risky. That is what traditionalists will say. Though you should be careful in selecting an online lender, there are many safe and reliable retailers. You will want to make sure that they have an encrypted, safe site that you can comfortable input your information. Very often these lenders are actually a network of lenders that combined can offer you the most possible loan packages to choose from. It is important to know that the site is encrypted and safe before you input your personal information. Most sites will have information on the site regarding the measures they take to protect your information.

If your credit is not great you will never get approved for a mortgage is what you have probably heard time and time again. There is an entire, tremendous industry that has been created to provide mortgages to people with poor credit or no credit history at all. Rather than have your friends and family deny the loan that you had not even applied for yet, speak to a mortgage professional who has the means to open the door to this entire world of lenders waiting for people with little, no or bad credit.

If you do not have a big enough down-payment your mortgage payments will be huge and you will have to pay PMI. Again, this is simply not true. There are countless mortgage packages available to people with little or no down-payment, including many packages that combine loans in order to prevent your having to pay PMI (private mortgage insurance).

The home loan industry is a vast industry that grows annually. The key to your success in maneuvering in the industry is to speak to mortgage professionals rather than well-intended but ill-informed family and friends. Though your family and friends may offer good advice, very often they just proffer myths that have long ago been busted. We have addressed but a small number of these myths in this article, there are countless. The best thing to do is get the information directly from the source- a mortgage professional rather than the people around you who may have misinformed you when they heard you are thinking of buying a home.



BILLIE

Kristin Abouelata – Home Loans asked:


We encourage our kids to plan for their future, but we seldom include buying a first home sooner than average as a path to building that future. Let them know buying a home is easier than they think.

Most of the people who read this column are not first time homebuyers. The fact of the matter is many of you that are first time homebuyers and reading this article are relatively mature individuals who are fighting off your commitment fears of being tied to a mortgage. But there is a huge segment of the population that could buy their first home, yet it doesn’t occur to them to do so. Who are these people? Well, it’s your 24 year old son or daughter, new to the work force, and is throwing away money on rent somewhere. Encouraging your children to buy a home when they are young is some of the soundest financial advice you can give them. Equity in a home is an easy way to grow one’s portfolio with very little investment. But the fact of the matter is it doesn’t occur to most of us to encourage the younger generation to buy early in their lives. And trust me, it rarely occurs to our kids themselves to consider buying a home in the early twenties. They are more concerned with buying a new Halo 3 for their Xbox.

Why do so many people miss the boat on this opportunity? It could be they plan to be in the area for only a short time because they will job hop to advance their career, thus viewing a mortgage as “too permanent.” I counter to simply sell the house when you move. Or maybe they expect their income to double or triple over the next three years. I say buy a home now, then upgrade to a new home; sell or rent the old house. Investing in real estate is a proven, safe and solid return on investment. And with the right combination of credit history (or a history of paying utilities, cable and your cell phone on time) and no money down, you or someone you care about can start investing in the future.

When Junior starts his new job at the company and 401(K) is available, he’s been informed by his folks, boss or peers to enroll and contribute at least a little something to it with every paycheck. Yet, he is rarely counseled quit renting that apartment for $750 a month and buy a $75,000 house. Where will he come up with the money to do it? There are multiple options for first time buyers that allow for 100% financing. Get the seller to kick in closing costs (up to 6% of sales price with some products), and one can close on a loan and bring no funds to the table. If your home value appreciates 4% in the next year, that’s a nice return on a no cash investment.

For some time, I’ve considered writing this series for first time buyers to let them know buying a home is easier than they think. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the advice I would offer would most likely not reach my target audience. So parents, it is up to you to supply your kids with this last little bit of advice and help to set them free to further establish their independence in this world. Clip this article out and tape it to their iPOD or the steering wheel of their car – someplace it will get noticed.

I think for most of us who have been through the experience, our first home buy was a very daunting experience. There are so many choices and unknowns – it can be overwhelming. In this series, I will try to break it down the process into small logical steps and make it easier understand the steps involved in financing your first home. Where do you start? That is perhaps the easiest part. Our newly established worker should first make a list of all his or her debt obligations such as student loans (unless deferred), car payments, credit card debt, etc. Hopefully at this age, this will be a small list. Then add what you think amount you could afford for a mortgage. Take that amount and divide it by your gross monthly income. If you come in at 43% or less, you’re in business. If you have something in your savings or checking – great. If not, don’t let it deter you. You have options.

Contact a mortgage specialist to drill out the details and find a good realtor who knows your market for housing you can afford. What next? Get ready to tell your landlord “Adios!.”



CARLOS