Do I Need To Sell My Home Before I Can Qualify For A New Mortgage On Another Property?
April 1, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
Although every situation is unique, it is not uncommon for homebuyers to qualify for a mortgage on a new home while still living in their primary residence. Perhaps you are outgrowing your current house, or have been forced to relocate due to a job transfer? Regardless of the motivation for keeping one property while purchasing […]
Understanding the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
* Disclaimer – all information in this article is accurate as of the date this article was written * The FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium is an important part of every FHA loan. There are actually two types of Mortgage Insurance Premiums associated with FHA loans: 1. Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) – financed into […]
Making Sure Your Cash-To-Close Comes From The Proper Source
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
Providing proper asset documentation and the actual source of the funds is a critical element of the loan closing process. There’s nothing worse in a real estate purchase than making it all the way through the hoops and hurdles just to have a loan denied after the final documents have been signed due to the […]
Why Do I Need Mortgage Insurance?
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
Mortgage Insurance, sometimes referred to as Private Mortgage Insurance, is required by lenders on conventional home loans if the borrower is financing more than 80% Loan-To-Value. According to Wikipedia: Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is insurance payable to a lender or trustee for a pool of securities that may be required when taking out a mortgage […]
Ten Things You Can Do To Protect Your Identity
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
Facts About Identity Theft: It’s estimated that there were 10 million victims of identity theft in 2008, and 1 in every 10 U.S. consumers have reported having their identity stolen. The U.S. Department of Justice reported in 2005 that 1.6 million households experienced fraud not related to credit cards (i.e. their bank accounts or debit […]
Is There A Rule-of-Thumb Regarding The Number Of Credit Lines To Have Open?
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
While the actual credit score has a big impact on a loan approval, it’s not the only component of the credit scenario that underwriters consider for a mortgage approval. Since loan programs, individual lenders and mortgage insurance companies all have their own credit report restrictions, it’s difficult to define a standard Rule-of-Thumb to follow. However, […]
Alternate Sources For Establishing Credit
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
While the basic Rule-of-Thumb for acceptable credit history is a minimum of four trade lines documented on a credit report, there are alternative methods of building a credit picture that an underwriter can use to make a decision for a loan approval. For potential home buyers with little or no credit history, keeping records for […]
What’s The Difference Between A Primary Residence, Second Home and Investment Property?
March 28, 2010 by Chris Zimmerman · Leave a Comment
When applying for a mortgage, a borrower’s “Occupancy Type” is a major factor in the amount of down payment required, loan program available and mortgage interest rate. Whether you are purchasing, doing a rate/term refinance or taking equity out of your property through a cash out refinance, occupancy type is always considered by the underwriter. […]