Home ownership is a big event in the lives of families and requires much thought and preparation. The process can sometimes be confusing, especially for someone who does not understand all the ins-and-outs of mortgages. Home buyers should not be afraid to sit down with a lender, notebook in hand €" asking him all of the mortgage questions they are unsure of before entering into a home mortgage loan.
How long for a loan approval? - Home buyers may be in a hurry to make an offer on a home, but first need to gain the mortgage loan officer's approval. Depending upon how busy the bank's loan department is, it make take from a few weeks to a few months to approve a mortgage loan. This includes the time it takes to verify all details on the mortgage loan application, along with scheduling all the necessary appraisals of the property. If the buyer has to lock in his loan, he needs the lender's best guest as to how long the loan approval process will take.
What type of loan is best for me? - With so many home mortgage loan types available, it is hard for home buyers to know which one may be right for them and their situation. A mortgage lender should provide information about all loan types available including the qualifications and rules of each. There are pros and cons to each type of mortgage loan and a lender should be able to explain these to potential borrowers.
What are the closing costs of the loan? - Of all the mortgage questions buyers may ask their lender, this is one of the most important ones. There are many fees that can be added to the cost of a mortgage loan. This information is important because many times the closing costs have to be paid by the borrower at the time of the loan closing. Depending on the lender and the provisions of the loan obtained, typical closing costs may include discount and loan origination points, application fees, appraisal fees, attorney's fees, title and insurance fees, and other various fees that may be included in closing costs.
Can I lock in the interest rate of my loan? - The real estate market fluctuates up and down and so do loan interest rates. Buyers may want the assurance of being able to lock in a favorable loan interest rate until they are able to close on their home mortgage loan. There may be points charged to lock in an interest rate but the money saved over the life of the loan may be worth the cost.
Do you guarantee the €good faith estimate?€ - A good faith estimate is an estimate of the costs of the loan including closing costs. The lender is required by the government to provide buyers with a good faith estimate of the loan within three days after applying for a loan. The lender should have no problem with a buyer asking them to guarantee this estimate. If the lender is not willing to stand behind this estimate, perhaps the home buyer would be better in finding another lender to handle their home mortgage loan.