Exploring Multigenerational Homes: They Are Becoming More Common

Exploring Multigenerational Homes: They Are Becoming More CommonPurchasing a house is expensive. Not everyone has the money to put down 20 percent. One of the ways to make it easier to afford a house is to live in a home with multiple generations. Some people decide to move back in with their parents because they might have a difficult time affording a mortgage and student loans. Some parents move in with their children because they have health-related issues that need to be addressed. Now, multi-generational homes are becoming more common.

An Overview Of Multigenerational Homes

First, it is important to define a multigenerational home. This is a home that has two or more generations of adults living in the same building. Parents raising children does not qualify as a multi-generational home; however, if you add grandparents to the mix, now this is a multi-generational home. It is important to take a closer look at some of the reasons why people are living in multigenerational homes. 

The Benefits Of This Lifestyle

There are a number of significant benefits that come with living in a multi-generational home. Of course, it improves the financial situation because there are multiple incomes being put toward homeownership expenses. There are a variety of other benefits as well. For example, living in a multi-generational home improves bonds with family members and makes it easier to care for individuals with health problems. This also makes it easier to help kids go through school, and it can have a positive impact on mental and physical health. 

The House Should Be Larger To Accommodate Everyone

Because there are more adults living under a single roof, it is important to make sure the house is large enough. Everyone deserves to have some level of privacy, and this might mean the house has to have more bedrooms and bathrooms. It might also be helpful to have a basement or a mother-in-law suite.

Consider Multigenerational Homes

In the end, these are just a few of the numerous benefits and considerations people need to think about if they are considering living in a multi-generational home. If you are looking for a way to make the cost of a home more affordable, this could be right for you as well. 

How To Qualify for Refinancing a House

How To Qualify for Refinancing a HouseIf you want to save money on your mortgage, now might be a great time to refinance. When you refinance your home loan, you replace the existing mortgage with a different one. You can refinance your home to withdraw cash, shorten the term of the loan, or reduce your interest rate. Not everyone can refinance the house, so take a look at a few key rules you need to follow to qualify for a refinance.

Have A Mortgage In Solid Standing

First, your mortgage must be in solid standing with your lender. If you are behind on your mortgage payments, the lender might not let you refinance. Try to stay on top of your monthly mortgage payments. As long as you haven’t owed any late fees or missed any payments entirely, your lender should consider letting you refinance your existing home loan.

Have Enough Equity In Your Home

You also need to have enough equity in your home. A lot of first time homebuyers my only put 3.5 percent down on their house. Even though this makes buying a house more affordable, it does not necessarily mean there’s enough equity for a refinance. If you have 20 percent equity or more in your home, your lender might allow you to refinance. Every lender is different, so be sure to talk to a loan officer about their specific requirements.

Have A High Credit Score

When you go through the refinance process, you are applying for another home loan. Therefore, the traditional rules will still apply. Your credit score must be high enough to qualify for a refinance. You can improve your credit score by collecting and accuracies on your credit report, paying your bills on time, and controlling your debt to income ratio. If you have a solid credit score, your lender should allow you to go through the refinancing process. Remember that you can check your credit score for free once per year.

Refinance And Save Money

These are the basic rules you need to follow if you want to refinance your home loan. Refinancing your home loan can help you save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. You might even pay off your mortgage more quickly.

The Pros and Cons of ‘Mortgage Before Marriage’ for Young Couples

The Pros and Cons of There was a time when a higher percentage of people were married before they committed to buying a home together, but it’s a lot more common to co-habit and invest in a home together. If you’re considering the commitment of a mortgage without being married, here are some things to be aware of before you start searching the market.

Relationship Status Won’t Affect Your Rates

It might seem like there are greater risks involved if two individuals purchasing a property are not legally bound, but it actually makes no difference to the mortgage lender. If two people are buying a home together, the lender is going to be assessing their credibility based on their individual credit reports and financial history, not on their relationship to each other. While it may seem like co-habiting will have an impact, the proof – as far as lenders are concerned – is in the numbers.

What’s Your Credit History?

Most people are aware of their credit history, whether they’ve had financial hiccups in the past or are still paying off a significant amount of debt. However, it is more difficult for some to know the financial background of their partner, and this can be more common when it comes to co-habiting. Because the lender will be looking at both credit scores, if you or your partner have had financial issues in the past, it can have an adverse impact on your application. While you may have a nearly perfect credit history, if your partner does not this can make mortgage approval more difficult.

In The Event Of Separation

Home ownership can involve significant hurdles after a divorce, but there will still be some legal and financial issues to wade through if you’ve never been married. Since it’s likely that you won’t want to continue to co-habit, there’s the possibility that one party will have to buy the other out, which can be a sizeable financial burden. While this type of situation may never come to fruition, it’s important to be aware of what might occur so you can be prepared.

There can be a lot of complexities involved in co-habiting whether you’re married or not, but it’s important to have an awareness of your partner’s financial history and be prepared for financial hurdles. If you’re currently on the market for a new home, contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information.

Make One Extra Mortgage Payment Every Year To Save Big

Make One Extra Mortgage Payment Every Year To Save BigWhen you buy a home, you probably have a budget you will try to stick to. Many people choose a 30-year fixed mortgage, and by the time you pay off the home loan, you should own your home outright. At the same time, you might be thinking about paying off your mortgage more quickly to save money on interest. Even making one extra mortgage payment per year can provide a number of significant benefits.

You Can Build Up Equity Faster

One of the first benefits of making an extra mortgage payment every year is that you can build up equity faster. If you make an extra mortgage payment, that payment should go directly toward the principal. This means you don’t have to worry about paying down any interest with that extra mortgage payment, allowing you to build up equity in your home more quickly. 

You Save Money On Interest

If you make an extra mortgage payment, you pay down the principal more quickly. This means there is a lower remaining balance on which interest might accrue. Even making one extra mortgage payment every year can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in interest saved at the end of the loan. 

You Free Up Financial Resources Down The Road

If you make one extra mortgage payment every year, you could pay off your home loan years in advance. This means you don’t have to worry about making mortgage payments down the road, which can free up financial resources to cover other expenses. For example, you might be able to use the money you would have put toward your mortgage to put a child through college or retire early. Your savings will increase exponentially. 

Consider Making One Extra Mortgage Payment Per Year To Save Big

If you stay in your home for 30 years, there is a chance your income will go up even though your mortgage payments stay the same. Therefore, you may be able to afford to make an extra mortgage payment per year. Making only one extra mortgage payment every year can add up to big savings very quickly. 

Advice For Purchasing A House On A Single Income

Advice For Purchasing A House On A Single IncomeEven though a lot of people have two incomes they can use to purchase a house (theirs and their partner’s), this is not necessarily required. There are lots of people who want to take advantage of current interest rates to purchase a house, and some people are trying to do it on their own. Even though it can be a challenge to buy a house with only one income, it is certainly not impossible. There are several tips that can make it easier for everyone to afford a house with just a single income. 

Always Check Your Credit Score

If you want to buy a house on a single income, make sure you check your credit score first. Your credit score is a reflection of your financial health. The higher your credit score is, the better your chances of having your loan application approved. You can check your credit score for free once per year from any of the major credit bureaus. You need to know what your credit score is and you need to correct any inaccuracies on your credit report before you apply for a home loan. 

Explore Government Loan Programs

Next, if you are buying a home for the first time, you should explore government loan programs. For example, you might be able to apply for an FHA loan, which could allow you to purchase a home for as little as 3.5 percent down. That way, you do not necessarily need to save up a 20 percent down payment to buy a house. Depending on your location, there could be other government loan programs that can make it easier for you to buy a house.

Ask For a Co-Signer To Help 

Even if you plan on paying for the mortgage yourself, you may find it easier to buy a house if you have someone who can co-sign for your loan. This is particularly helpful if your credit score isn’t quite high enough to qualify for a loan. As long as your co-signer has a solid credit score, they might make it easier for you to get your loan application approved. Furthermore, you might be rewarded with a lower interest rate than you could otherwise get on your own. 

 

How To Transfer The Funds To Buy A House

How to Transfer Funds to Buy a HouseIf you have made an offer on a house and gotten it accepted, congratulations! This is a major step, but you might be wondering how you actually pay for a house. The days of showing up to the closing table with a personal check are in the rearview mirror, as nobody wants a check for a house to bounce after the other person has already walked away with the keys. Furthermore, even if you are buying a house with cash, you certainly do not want to show up with a briefcase full of dollar bills. Here is how you will actually pay for the house. 

Wire Transfer To The Closing Attorney

When you purchase a house, you will send the funds for the down payment and the closing costs to your closing attorney. Typically, the seller has a preferred closing attorney they want to use, and you should be contacted by the closing attorney several weeks before the closing date. They will also give you a finalized document specifying exactly how much money you need to wire to the office to cover the down payment, any fees, and the closing costs. You will also need to go to your bank to arrange the wire transfer. The bank will also verify you have enough money in the account to cover the expenses. 

Monthly Mortgage Payment Gets Drafted Automatically

If you are financing the purchase of a house through another lender, you will need to set up an automatic draft payment with the lender. Even though there are some lenders who will allow you to send a physical check every month, most will encourage you to set up an automatic draft payment out of your checking account. After the sale closes, you will typically have at least one month before you need to make your first mortgage payment. The lender will help you arrange the mortgage draft payment prior to that time. 

Make Sure To Wire The Money Prior To Closing

You should try to wire the money to the closing attorney before the closing date. That way, you will offer any hiccups along the way. If you don’t wire the money in time, the sale could fall through, which can create complications you would rather avoid.

How Negative Closing Costs Work

Get Paid To Refinance: How Negative Closing Costs WorkIf you want to save money on your home loan, you might be thinking about refinancing your mortgage. You might be able to replace your existing mortgage with a home loan that has a lower interest rate. Even a single point reduction in your interest rates could save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Before you refinance, be sure to ask about closing costs. Because you are replacing your existing home loan with a new one, you may incur some closing expenses. On the other hand, you could also have negative closing costs. In this case, you might get paid to refinance. How does this work? 

The Lender Credit Exceeds The Loan Costs

If you receive a lender credit that is greater than the value of the closing costs, then you could get paid to refinance your home loan. For example, your closing costs could be $2,000. Then, your lender credit could be $2,500. In this case, you would get paid $500 for refinancing your home loan. Why would you receive a lender credit, and how can this exceed your closing expenses?

How To Qualify For Lender Credits

You receive lender credits if you refinance to a lower rate that offers a lender credit. For example, at the original home loan closing, you might have paid points to get a lower interest rate. With lender credits, the lender is paying you to refinance. 

If you qualify for a lender credit, there are several ways you might receive this money. The money could be used to prepay your mortgage interest, it could be placed in an escrow account to cover your homeowners’ insurance or property taxes, or could be directly applied to the principle of your home loan, reducing the amount of money you owe.

Always Look At Closing Costs During The Refinance Process

There are a lot of moving parts if you decide to refinance your house. Even though it may sound complicated, it could save you tens of thousands of dollars while freeing up additional cash. If you have owned your home for several years, it might be time to refinance. Reach out to a professional to learn more. 

What Are The Top Signs You Need To Refinance?

What Are The Top Signs You Need To Refinance?You might have heard that more people are refinancing these days. During the refinancing process, you essentially take your current home loan and replace it with a different one. You can reduce your mortgage payments, shorten the life of your loan, or withdraw cash you can use for other purposes. What are a few of the signs that indicate you should consider refinancing? 

You Can Secure A Lower Interest Rate

If you think you can secure a lower interest rate on your mortgage, it might be time to refinance. There are a number of reasons why you might be able to get a lower interest rate on your home loan. Your credit score may have improved, you may have paid off some of your other loans (which will improve your debt to income ratio), or the average home loan interest rate may have dropped. If you can get a lower interest rate on your home loan, you may want to refinance and save money. 

Your Income Has Increased Significantly

If your income has gone up significantly since you purchased your house, you might want to pay off your house more quickly. Therefore, you might want to refinance and use larger payments to pay down your home loan more quickly. The bank might also give you better terms if you are willing to make larger payments.

You Are Concerned About Your ARM Mortgage

If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), you might be concerned that the interest rate on that mortgage could go up. Therefore, you can refinance your home and convert your ARM mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage. If you can lock in an interest rate with a fixed-rate mortgage, you do not have to worry about your interest rate increasing in the future. This could save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. 

Consider Refinancing Your Home

These are just a few of the signs that you should consider refinancing your mortgage. Everyone is in a slightly different financial situation, so you should work with a professional who can figure out if this is right for you. That way, you can secure the best possible terms for your home loan. 

How Can A Cash-Out Refinance Help You?

How Can A Cash-Out Refinance Help You?If you have been in your home for a while, you might be able to refinance. If your credit score has increased, your income has gone up, or the average home loan interest rate has gone down, you might be able to conduct a cash-out refinance. During this process, you can keep your mortgage payments the same, secure a lower interest rate, and withdraw the difference as cash. What can you do with this extra cash? 

You Can Make Improvements To Your Home

One of the most popular ways people use a cash-out refinance is to increase the value of their homes. For example, you may want to use the money from a refinance to upgrade the kitchen. Or, you might want to use a cash-out refinance to add an addition to your home. You can also use the proceeds from a refinance to handle expensive home repairs. If you want to increase the value of your home, you can tap into the equity in your home through a cash-out refinance.

You Can Pay Off Student Loans

Another popular way to use a cash-out refinance is to pay off existing debt. For example, you can use the cash from this refinance to pay off a car loan, credit card debt, or student loans. Some people have hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans, and it can take decades to pay them off. If your mortgage has a lower interest rate than your student loans, you may want to use a cash-out refinance to pay off your student loans. 

You Can Pay Expensive Medical Bills

Finally, you can also use a cash-out refinance to cover emergency expenses. If you have expensive medical bills, you might want to use a cash-out refinance to cover these costs. A cash-out refinance can help you in a pinch. 

Consider A Cash-Out Refinance For Your Home

These are just a few of the many ways you might be able to use a cash-out refinance to help you. If you are interested in refinancing your home loan, you should work with a professional who can point you in the right direction. You can secure the best terms possible, withdraw the maximum amount of cash, and ensure you still pay off your mortgage on time. 

How Long Does A Refinance Take?

How Long Does A Refinance Take?If you want to save money on your mortgage, refinancing your house could be a great move. As long as you have plenty of equity and a great credit score, you should be able to qualify for the refinance process. At the same time, you might be wondering, how long will it take you to refinance your house? There are several factors to keep in mind, so be sure to work with a professional who can walk you through the process.

It Usually Takes A Month Or Two

In general, refinancing your home loan will take a month or two. Most refinances will be completed in 30 to 45 days, but every lender is different. It depends on how complicated your mortgage is, the other refinancing applications the lender is processing, and the number of staff they have on hand. If you are in a hurry to refinance your mortgage, you may want to talk with the lender to see how quickly they can process your paperwork.

The Lender Has Several Tasks To Complete

There are several tasks the lender will need to complete before he or she can approve your refinance application. First, the lender needs to make sure you have enough equity in your home to complete a refinance. Then, the lender will also check your credit score to make sure it is high enough to qualify. The loan officer will also make sure your mortgage is not behind. Similar to the original mortgage application, the lender will also have to complete inspections and appraisals before your refinance can be approved. All of these tasks take time, which is why you should anticipate spending a month or two refinancing your home. 

Work With A Professional

Every lender is a bit different, so be sure to talk to the lender ahead of time to understand how long the process takes. If you have a deadline you need to meet, starting the process earlier is usually better. That way, you leave yourself time to address any hurdles that may develop along the way. Refinancing your home loan is a great way to draw cash from the equity in your home, lower the interest rate on your mortgage, and save money.