Mortgage Loans

Mortgage Loans

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Loan Process for Purchase

John Thomas July 13, 2010 Tags: ,

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Loan Process for Home Purchase

Here is a Step-by-Step Guide to the Loan Process for purchasing a home from start to finish:

1. Pre-approval – Get pre-approved for a mortgage and know in advance exactly how much house you can afford. Completing this step will also increase your negotiating power since you’ll be viewed as a “cash buyer”.  This includes having a credit report pulled to verify you credit qualify for a loan.

2. Loan Search – Put yourself in the hands of an experienced mortgage professional, someone who will help you to determine which financing options best suit your needs today and in the future. You can also explore down payment assistance options. Keep Reading...

Delaware Mortgage Rates for Week of July 12, 2010

John Thomas July 12, 2010 Tags:

This week brings us the release of six important economic reports for the bond market to digest in addition to the minutes from the last FOMC meeting and two relevant Treasury auctions. Several of the economic reports are considered to be of high importance, meaning we will likely see volatility in the financial markets and mortgage pricing over the next several days. There are also some heavily watched corporate earnings releases scheduled for the stock markets this week that can influence bond trading and therefore, mortgage pricing. Keep Reading...

Delaware VA IRRRL Guidelines – (VA Streamline Refinance)

John Thomas July 9, 2010 Tags: , ,
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Delaware Veterans Administration IRRRL Refinance Loan Guidelines (VA Streamline Refinance)

If you currently have a Veterans Administration Home Loan, commonly called a VA Loan, then you have the option to do a streamline refinance to lower your interest rate called a Delaware VA IRRRL.  This is called a Delaware VA IRRRL Refinance, which stands for Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan.  You must currently have a VA loan on the property you want to refinance in order to qualify for a VA IRRL.

VA doesn’t require an appraisal on the property or any kind of credit check but most lenders will require a credit check to verify a minimum of 600 middle FICO score.  Some lenders may also require a conventional exterior appraisal on form 2055 but this is NOT a requirement of the Department of Veteran Affairs, it is a lender overlay. Keep Reading...

Delaware Mortgage Rates – Wednesday July 7, 2010

John Thomas July 7, 2010 Tags: ,

I have issued an alert to lock your Delaware Mortgage Interest Rate before rates move higher. The stock market has rallied causing money to move out of the Bond Market causing Mortgage Lenders to reprice their rates for the worse. This is the second day the stock market has continued to rally. Rates have been at all-time lows so really have nowhere to go but up.

So if you are planning on refinancing your Delaware Mortgage Loan, now is the time. Call me to lock in a rate ASAP on your Delaware FHA Loan Refinance, your Delaware VA Loan Refinance, or even on a Delaware Conventional Loan Refinance. Keep Reading...

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Credit Tips

John Thomas July 7, 2010 Tags: ,

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Credit Tips That Will Score Lower Interest Rates

A good credit score translates into lower interest rates for home-shopping borrowers. In a mortgage lender’s eyes, the higher your score is, the less risk you are, and the more likely it is you will pay off your debt. For this reason, borrowers with lower scores usually end up paying higher interest rates on their loans.

If this is you, don’t panic. There are a number of things you can do to adjust your credit score to receive a favorable review from the underwriter. Here are a few suggestions: Keep Reading...

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Moving Checklist

John Thomas July 4, 2010 Tags: ,

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Getting Ready to Move – Here is the checklist

4 WEEKS PRIOR TO MOVE:

__ Set up a “move” file or folder

__ Set up a “move” calendar.

__ Have a garage sale.

__ Collect financial, tax and employment documentation needed for your loan.

__ Donate un-needed furniture to charity.

__ Contact insurance company to transfer policies (life, auto, homeowners).

__ Contact doctors, dentists for copies of medical records.

__ Contact schools for copies of student records. Keep Reading...

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Negotiating Price

John Thomas July 3, 2010 Tags:

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – The Art of Home Purchase Negotiation

There is much give and take involved in negotiating a property purchase. That’s why it’s important to have a checklist of what you want to get out of the deal as a buyer. Bear in mind, the home must be appraised and the lender will be looking at the fair market value on a given property. Since property values fluctuate, your Real Estate Agent should do a comparative market analysis so you are aware of what the trends are for the area in which you are shopping. This will give you an idea as to whether the seller’s asking price is realistic. You will also want to know how long the property has been on the market, and if any price reductions have occurred during that time. Keep Reading...

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Home Appraisal

John Thomas July 2, 2010 Tags: ,

Delaware First Time Home Buyer Tips – Understanding the Home Appraisal Process

Consumers are often baffled by the home appraisal process. They may feel their home is worth a certain amount of money, and therefore, the appraised value doesn’t make sense to them. It is important to know that appraisal guidelines are dictated by the lenders. In many states, the lenders must disclose the purpose of the appraisal, as each situation carries its own set of rules.

In essence, lender guidelines force appraisers to put a fair market value on a home based upon comparable sales in the area where the home is located, as the home must be bracketed according to size and value. For example, there is no set amount associated with a great view, pool, spa, bathroom upgrades, etc. If a homeowner installs a custom pool that cost them $30,000, and the local marketplace supports the value of a pool at $15,000, that item will be bracketed as [$15,000] on the appraisal. Keep Reading...