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Advice for First Time Home Buyers Seeking Loans
First time home buyers are faced with a lot of confusion when seeking loans. Their inexperience could lead to them taking several wrong decisions which could become disastrous in the long run. Thus it is necessary to be well-informed on how the home mortgage market operates before entering into it.
Things to consider at the onset are the interest rates. That must be one of the prime deciding factors of the person seeking a home mortgage loan for the first time. After all, it is the rate of interest that will decide the amount of payment to make every month for a long period of time. The homebuyer must take time out and compare the rates of interest of different lenders.
However a low rate of interest is not just the only thing to be considered. Every mortgage has several other fees to be paid, such as appraisal costs, application fees, lawyers fees, closing costs, etc. All these must be found out in advance so that they do not hit hard later.
One more thing to consider is how much mortgage can really be afforded. This would determine how much payment the homebuyer would be making per month. The payments should not go beyond the budget of the borrower. When all these decisions are made, only then should a meeting be scheduled with the lender. The lender would make a careful study of the borrowers credit history and then only decide how much mortgage they would give, and at what terms. This is where the borrower must decide whether the payments could be afforded or not.
Rents must not be taken as a parameter to decide how much loan payments can be afforded per month. Rents are for a short term, while mortgages tend to go on for as much as thirty years. Hence, the borrower must think on a broader perspective. Also, the person will have to pay taxes such as property taxes, which were not involved when living as a renter. Renters get several utilities for free, but the homebuyer would need to pay for them. Examples could be water, gas and electricity bills. With homes bought on mortgages, the resident would also need to conduct repairs and maintenance, which were not the responsibility while renting out a house.
An often neglected part of the mortgage is mortgage insurance. All lenders make it mandatory for borrowers to purchase mortgage insurance in case of any eventuality. If the mortgage is a high-ratio mortgage, then this amount could be very high.
So, the first time homebuyer should not just take the rent to compare with how much payments he/she could afford, but consider all other expenses as well. Only then would he/she not feel the pinch of the mortgage payments month after month.
The lender should also be sympathetic with first time homebuyers. You could find this out in the way they carry the preliminary discussions itself. If they are too highbrow to condescend to first-timers, then you are well off with another lender. Talk to them in detail about the packages they offer, and the features of the loan, so that there are no misunderstandings later. It is wisest to take copies of everything that is related to the loan.
Hardship Letter for Loan Modification – Tips On How to Write One Effectively
Most borrowers do not know that a hardship letter is required to process an application for loan modification. Even those who do, often do not understand what the bank needs to see in this letter.
The time and effort it takes to do a proper hardship letter will repay you with a successful loan modification that lets you keep your home. Even if you qualify, the hardship letter is necessary to prove that you do. It is like pleading your case in court. This document is essential to convince your bank that you are indeed suffering financial hardship. Writing this letter with the proper attention to detail proves to the bank that you deserve their serious consideration.
While the proper way to write a hardship letter varies, some elements always apply:
1. Before you even start, gather your financial records for the previous twelve months, just as you would in order to file your annual income tax statement. Put the most important records on top, within easy reach, so that you can refer to them as you write. The hardship letter must be detailed, in order for the bank not to pass over your loan modification request.
2. Make a separate list of your financial difficulties, going back for at least twelve months. Get the right dates written down, if you feel this information will be useful for your bank. Be as clear and efficient as you can, to prevent confusion and save your lender’s time.
3. Now calculate just how much you can pay on your monthly mortgage. List your complete household income, then deduct all expenses. If you are not sure about a particular amount, or if it varies widely, then do an average or at least make a guess. This shows your lender that you are a borrower who is conscious of money. In this way, they see that you are worth their effort.
With this, you are off to an excellent start. Next, keep in mind these points as you draft your hardship letter for loan modification:
– Be neither too detailed nor too vague. Yes, an emotional appeal may help, but your bank needs convincing evidence in order to support its granting of your request. Present the facts and show how they have impacted your budget.
– Even if you plan to sell your house, do not disclose this to your lender. The bank must believe that you intend to stick with them over the long haul, in order to go to the trouble of modifying your loan.
– Avoid too many specifics regarding your private life. The bank is not interested in your terrible divorce or your complicated student woes. Only give them the information they need to make a determination, by sticking to the financial facts.
– Be respectful and well-mannered in your hardship letter. Any frustration you may have experienced with your lending institution does not belong in this letter. The point is to get the help you need, as soon as possible.
– Provide any supporting documentation, including recent bank statements and all other official information that shows recent financial hardship.
With these points in mind, you are on the road to negotiating a successful loan modification agreement. Nowadays this help is being extended to more homeowners than ever, once they put in the time to prepare the appropriate information for their lender, and effectively state their case.