Home Financing -- Finding The Best Loan For Your Situation

By Hunter Fisher

When it comes to buying their dream houses, people often turn to financing. But it's not easy to look for a nice home, get a loan to buy it, then spending the next several years paying off the mortgage. Don't get swayed into a false sense of security even when banks and moneylenders give you very low interest rates -- you'll still need to do your homework.

It's best to ask around and see what loans are available for you. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all housing loan, and there are bound to be loans that suit your needs better than the others. You'll need to know what you're looking for in a home to find the right loan.

For Low-Income Individuals

If you're having problems getting a loan because your income doesn't qualify you for it, then maybe a temporary buydown is best for you. A temporary buydown is a loan that's meant for low-income people who are expecting an increase in income soon.

The most popular types of temporary buydowns are the 3-2-1 buydown loan and the two-to-one buydown mortgage. In a 3-2-1 buydown, the interest rate increases by one point each year for the period of three years. After that, the rate becomes fixed throughout the life of the loan. The same is the case for two-to-one buydowns except you lower the interest rates for a period of two years.

These types of loans need the borrower to spend a bit more money at the early part of the loan duration. These little sacrifices are needed for you to be awarded the credit.

Are you a move-in, move out type of buyer?

If you want to own a home, but you're not sure you'll be staying in any one place for good, then the best loan for you may be the delayed adjustable rate mortage (or delayed ARM). Delayed ARM's are suitable for individuals who move between cities frequently, or those who plan to sell their homes after paying for them completely.

In delayed ARMs, borrowers pay fixed monthly payments for a longer period of time before the loan starts to adjust. For example, if you take out a 5-1 ARM then the interest rate on your loan stays the same for the next five years. The interest rate starts to adjust on year six and every year after that for the rest of the term. How much your interest changes will depend on market conditions.

Are you looking for a home to spend the rest of your life in?

If you're planning to settle down somewhere for good, then a fixed-rate mortgage is best for you. Fixed-rate mortgages have interest rates that won't change for the lifetime of the loan, meaning you'll be paying a fixed amount every single month. Getting a fixed-rate mortgage with low interest rates is a great idea, since you won't have to pay more even when market rates rise.

You can either get a 30 year or 15 year fixed-rate mortgage. A 30 year mortgage will afford you lower monthly payments than a 15 year-fixed, but you end up paying for more, overall, on the former.

About the Author:

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Powered by Blogger