FHA Mortgage: What's the Best Way to Show an Underwriter that You're Ready to Buy a House?
Mortgage underwriters can be a suspicious bunch. If you have bruised or even bad credit, you have your work cut out for you. Many loan programs have guidelines that set a minimum FICO score of 620. FHA does not allow lenders to reject a loan based solely on FICO scores, but if yours is less than ... more...

10 Questions To Ask Your Mortgage Rep or Banke
This post is a must read for anyone considering purchasing a home be it today, tomorrow or next year. It is sound advice.1. What is the loan's Interest Rate and Annual Percentage Rate?Find out what the interest rate will be on your loan and the annual percentage rate (APR). The APR is a combination ... more...

Home Buying 101 -- The Different Types of Mortgages
When it comes to buying a home, there's a lot to learn about mortgages and credit. The terminology comes at you pretty fast, and when the terminology is new to you, it can all seem overwhelming. This article will help you make sense of it all.Fixed Rate Mortgage A fixed-rate mortgage offers an ... more...

Real Estate Financing - Ten Ways
Do you remember when real estate financing meant you saved up enough to put 20% down on a house, and then you got a mortgage loan for the other 80%? Well, you can still do that, but there are many more options now. Here are ten of them.1. Gifting programs. In some parts of the country, builders ... more...

Some Mortgage Loans are Available with Absolutely no Money Needed From You
Today, FHA will loan up to 97 percent of the purchase price of a home, meaning a borrower only needs 3 percent. The three percent down payment can come in the form of a gift, and closing costs can be financed into the loan, making this a true no money out of pocket purchase transaction.Now, you may ... more...

Honey, I Shrunk The Mortgage Interest Deduction Plan 1
The political landscape this year has been nothing but ugly. It promises to come to full boil with the proposed tax reform eliminating or reducing the mortgage interest deduction.Tax Reform or Raising TaxesThere is an old saying about the two political parties. Democrats raise taxes while ... more...

Zero Down Payment Mortgage Can It Be Done?
Ive been renting for years now; Ive always paid my rent on time. Ill start a savings account soon, so I can buy a house: sound familiar? How much is in that savings account now? Just as I thought, not enough, you went on vacation, found a car you had to have, or WOW; look at the flat panel T.V. ... more...

A Career in Mortgage Banking
Do you want a rewarding career that will make some descent money? Are you good with numbers? Are you good with paperwork? Do you like anything that has to do with money? If you answered yes, you may be interested in a career in mortgage banking. The best place to get an education on mortgage ... more...

Do You Speak Real Estate?
Anyone interested in real estate should be able to talk the talk. Here is a list of common phrases and words with a short explanation. Use it as a reference:Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). A type of mortgage loan whose interest rate changes periodically up or down, usually once or twice a year ... more...