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How Can I Keep Track Of All The Homes I See?
There are some great tips in this video, like:
if possible, take photographs of each house: the outside, the major rooms, the yard and extra features that you like or ones you see as potential problems.
Write things down as you go. And don't hesitate to return for a...
How Do I Begin The Process Of Buying A Home?
Remember these pointers from the video: start by thinking about your situation.
Are you ready to buy a home?
How much can you afford in a monthly mortgage payment?
How much space do you need?
What areas of town do you lik...
How Do Lenders Decide The Maximum Loan Amount That Buyers Can Afford?
As you’ll see in the video, the lenders consider your debt-to-income ratio, which is a comparison of your gross (pre-tax) income to housing and non-housing expenses.
Non-housing expenses include such long-term debts as car or student loan payments, alimony, or ch...
How Does Purchasing A Home Compare With Renting?
Like the guy in the video says, the two don't really compare at all.
The one advantage of renting is being generally free of most maintenance responsibilities. But by renting, you lose the chance to build equity take advantage of tax benefits and protect yourself a...
How Are Pre-Qualifying And Pre-Approval Different?
Watch this video and it’ll make sense.
Pre-qualification is an informal way to see how much you maybe able to borrow. You can be 'pre-qualified' over the phone with no paperwork by telling a lender your income, your long-term debts and how large a down payment you ...
What Is A Credit Bureau Score And How Do Lenders Use Them?
As we show you in this video, a credit bureau score, or “credit score” is a number based upon your credit history that represents the possibility that you will be unable to repay a loan.
Lenders use it to determine your ability to qualify for a mortgage loan.
Th...
How Can I Find Out Information About My Credit History?
Watch this video and take a few notes! There are three major credit reporting companies:
Equifax - www.equifax.com 1-800-685-1111
Experian - www.experian.com 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union - www.transunion.com 1-800-916-8800
...
What Is A Good Faith Estimate And How Does It Help Me?
You’ll see some pictures in this video to help you remember later, but a good faith estimate lists all fees paid before closing all closing costs, and any escrow costs you will encounter when purchasing a home.
The lender must supply it within three days of your ...
What Do I Get At Closing?
As we show you in this video:
The Settlement Statement, HUD-1 Form, which itemizes services provided and the fees charged; it is filled out by the closing agent and must be given to you at or before closing.
A Truth-in-Lending Statement***
...
What Are 203(B) And 203(K) Loans?
The video puts this in more visual terms, but 203(b) is the most commonly used FHA program. It offers a low down payment, flexible qualifying guidelines limited lender's fees, and a maximum loan amount.
203(k) loans enable homebuyers to finance both the purchase ...