Before potential homeowners apply for a mortgage, they may ask themselves the all important variable, “How much home can I afford?” It’s always a good idea to ponder affordability in advance because it means you can look for houses that fall exactly within the your price range. Read More
It’s no secret that grants are available to help you purchase a home are available. In fact, homebuyers can get down payment assistance (DPA) in thousands of locations, which helps them save on money they’d otherwise need for down payments. Many of these programs are run by the state, county, or city governments, so DPA programs are different depending on where you live. Fortunately, most home buyers may be eligible for thousands of dollars in downpayment assistance if they meet the requirements. Read More
Conventional loans are considered the ‘garden variety’ of mortgage programs. And while the term ‘conventional loan’ is defined as any mortgage that isn’t guaranteed or insured by a government agency, conventional loans can be either “conforming” or “non-conforming”. Conforming loans are conventional programs that meet or ‘conform’ to guidelines set forth by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as well as the funding criteria for either Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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Coming up with a down payment and mortgage closing costs can be a difficult thing for many prospective homeowners. The good-ole-days of zero-down mortgage loans with no closing costs and everything rolled into the loan are gone. Read More
To decide if you qualify for a conventional mortgage, various aspects of your financial history will be looked at. How does that happen? Fannie Mae provides a powerful application called “Desktop Underwriter” that helps conventional loan lenders quickly evaluate mortgage applicants. “DU” software instantly analyzes the borrower’s finances, assets, employment history, and credit profile. Freddie Mac also provides a similar program called “Loan Prospector“.
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