Dean Shainin asked:


Not many people know a lot about home loan rates, even some who have purchased or refinanced their mortgages before.

In most cases this applies to people who do not take the time and effort to know more about interest rates for their home loans. These people may be busy executives who are involved in investment properties, or home buyers who do not know that it is important for them to know more about interest rates for their home loans. This also applies to some home buyers who get their mortgage brokers or advisors to process their applications on their behalf, and the advisors do not explain the loan terms and interest rates to their clients.

It is very important for home buyers to know all the details about the home loans, including interest rates.

There are a lot of lenders available who offer various packages of home loans with many different aspects of rates. Most people do not have the time or proper education to find good rates for their situation.

Some home loan officers do not explain the details of different loan products and rates to their customers. In some cases, loan officers tend to promote home loan packages for which they earn high commissions, although these packages may not the best for the customers in the long term. In some cases loan officers assume that the customers know about the loans and rates, and do not take the time to explain the details of the loans. It is therefore important that you ask any questions you have about different loan packages.

It is therefore a good idea that you educate yourself about the various options that are available to you. If you do this initial research, you will be aware of some details of various home loan packages and rates, and you can then ask for clarification for what you do not understand.

Whether you are dealing with a mortgage broker and or a loan agent at a bank or other lending institution, it is important that you ask the right questions so that you can select a loan type and rate that is suitable for you.

You will need to educate yourself about the risks for the various loan packages, and you will also need to know about fixed-rate home loans, adjustable rate mortgage loans (ARM), and two step mortgage (Fixed interim-rate mortgage or FIRM).

For you to ask the right questions which will help you choose the best home loan with a good rate, you will need to have educated yourself about the basics of the home loan packages and rates.

Assess the different home loan packages and rates, compare what will be the best for you and your situation, and if you have any questions, ask your agent. A mortgage is a long term financial obligation, so it has to be right.



PRESTON

Patrick Markert asked:


While shopping for a home loan, brokers and lenders will offer to pre-qualify or pre-approve you for a mortgage. Home loan pre-qualification and pre-approval are different and distinct processes, so it is important for you to understand the difference.

Pre-Qualified

A loan officer or loan processor working for a mortgage lender or broker can typically pre-qualify you for a home loan within an hour. Getting pre-qualified for a home loan is a good first step that will let you know if you should proceed to the pre-approval process. To get pre-qualified you will need to complete a mortgage application and allow the broker or lender to pull your credit. They will review the mortgage application and your credit and let your know if you are pre-qualified.

Pre-Approved

Only a mortgage underwriter can pre-approve you for a home loan, loan officers and processors can not. Typically mortgage brokers do not have underwriters on staff, so they typically can not pre-approve your home loan. A valid pre-approval is the best tool you can have when shopping for a new home. The key is to ensure that it is valid. A valid pre-approval has been underwritten by an authorized underwriter (an underwriter is the final person that says your loan is approved). If an underwriter pre-approves your home loan application upfront, all you have to do is find the home you want, have it appraised, and then you should be able to close in just a few days. Some mortgage brokers and lenders will issue pre-approvals that have not been reviewed by an authorized underwriter, be sure to ask.

To get pre-approved for a home loan you will need to provide the underwriter with your income and asset documentation (W2′s, Bank Statements, etc). The underwriter will review your credit, mortgage application, documentation, and then approve you for a set loan amount and property value. Once you have been pre-approved for a home loan you are ready to start shopping. The process typically takes a couple of days.

Knowing exactly what type of home loan you can obtain will allow you to shop and negotiate with confidence. For example, you could inform a seller that you are pre-approved for the mortgage and you are prepared to close next week. If the seller needs to close quickly, it will not matter if there is another buyer that cannot close for weeks or months. Plus, sellers do not like to take their properties off of the market for long periods of time. The ability to close quickly is one way to get a great deal.

Realtors will work much harder for you if they know that you have a valid pre-approval. Think about it, if the realtor is spending days or weeks driving you around, they want to make sure that they are going to be compensated for their efforts. By ensuring the realtor that you are approved, they will be willing to spend more time working for you.

In summary, a pre-qualification is a good place to start. Once you have the pre-qualification, you should proceed to the pre-approval process. Watch out for mortgage brokers and lenders offering pre-approvals that have not been fully underwritten by a mortgage underwriter.



MARCEL