Legal Documents You Need When Buying a House

Legal Documents You Need When Buying a HouseBuying a house can be an exciting but complex process that involves many legal requirements.

You will need to provide several documents to your lender and the seller. The specific documents required may vary depending on the lender and the type of loan you are applying for, but here are some of the most common documents you may need:

Proof of Income: This may include pay stubs, W-2 forms, and tax returns from the past two years.

Bank Statements: You will need to provide bank statements for the past two to three months to show your savings and checking account balances.

Credit Report: Your lender will obtain your credit report to assess your creditworthiness and determine your interest rate.

Employment Verification: Your lender may contact your employer to verify your employment and income.

Loan Application: This is the first step in the mortgage process, and it will require you to provide detailed information about your income, assets, and debts.

Pre-approval Letter: Once you have submitted your loan application, you may receive a pre-approval letter from your lender, which will state the amount of money you are qualified to borrow.

Loan Estimate: This document provides an estimate of the closing costs associated with your mortgage, as well as the interest rate, monthly payment, and other details about the loan.

Closing Disclosure: This document is provided to you three days before closing and includes a detailed breakdown of all the costs associated with your mortgage, including the interest rate, monthly payment, and closing costs.

Identification: You will need to provide a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.

Purchase Agreement: This is a legally binding contract between you and the seller that outlines the terms of the sale, including the purchase price, closing date, and contingencies.

Mortgage Documents: If you are financing your home purchase, you will need to sign several mortgage documents, including a promissory note and a mortgage.

Deed: The deed is a legal document that transfers ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer.

Title Report: A title report is a document that shows the history of ownership of the property and any liens or other encumbrances that may affect the title.

Homeowner’s Insurance Policy: You will need to purchase a homeowner’s insurance policy to protect your investment in the property.

It is important to compile and review these documents carefully before submitting them to your lender. It is also wise to seek the advice of a real estate attorney or other qualified professional if you have any questions or concerns.

ITIN Loans: Are These Loans Right For You?

ITIN Loans: Are These Loans Right For You?As you take a look at your mortgage options, you might find that a conventional mortgage presents a few qualification challenges. Fortunately, there are other options available, and you might be able to pursue an ITIN loan. This stands for Individual Tax Identification Number, and Individual Tax Identification Number loans could be beneficial for people cannot get approved for a qualified mortgage. What do you need to know about the process?

What Are The Requirements Of An ITIN Loan?

First, you need to get an Individual Tax Identification Number. While you do not need a Social Security Number, you might need to fill out Form W-7. Then, you need to provide supplemental documents, such as tax returns, that can confirm that you are not a citizen of the United States. They might ask you for other documents, such as your driver’s license or birth certificate.

With your Individual Tax Identification Number, you can apply for a home loan. Like any other mortgage, you should be expected to provide your proof of income, assets, or employment. Then, they will run a credit check before deciding whether to grant you a loan.

What Are The Benefits Of An ITIN Loan?

There are a few benefits of an Individual Tax Identification Number loan. This is a great way to build your credit score, and you can get this type of loan even if you are not a legal resident of the United States. You also do not need to have a Social Security Number to qualify for this type of loan. It opens the door to more flexibility and provides those without citizenship with the opportunity to buy property in the United States.

Consider Getting An ITIN Loan To Help You Buy A House

There are plenty of ways to qualify for homeowners, and an Individual Tax Identification Number loan could be right for you. Remember that there are plenty of loan options out there, and the right option for one buyer might not be the right option for someone else. Consider reaching out to an expert who can help you figure out if an ITIN loan is right for you. 

Do You Need Mortgage Insurance Even If It’s Not Required By Your Lender? Let’s Take A Look

Do You Need Mortgage Insurance Even if It's Not Required by Your Lender? Let's Take a LookFinding a proper mortgage loan and understanding the processing procedures behind the loan is the basis of good research. The down payment on a mortgage loan is typically significant when dealing with mortgage insurance.

Most loan applications with less than 20% down payment are required to include mortgage insurance with the loan. However, mortgage insurance may still be required even if it’s not typically required by your lender.

Underwriting Requirements

Most home mortgage applications undergo a strict set of standards for approval. These standards are known as underwriting and make up the bulk of time spent on a mortgage application. Unique situations in employment or credit history may require an additional down payment percentage to avoid PMI or private mortgage insurance.

Most underwriting requirements require adequate information on the borrower’s credit and employment history for complete application. Self-employed individuals or those with alternative forms of credit may need a few additional hoops to jump through when dealing with mortgage insurance requirements.

Lender-paid Mortgage Insurance

Lender-paid mortgage insurance is a popular option with potential homeowners that seek to avoid the cost of a PMI or FHA-backed insurance on a home loan. Most lenders incorporate payment of private mortgage insurance in exchange for a slightly higher interest rate.

This is one example of the points system on a mortgage application that eliminates the cost of PMI. The increase in interest rate may or may not warrant the need for a lender-paid mortgage insurance arrangement.

What’s Involved With Risk Assessment?

Strict lending requirements and banking policy now limit the number of mortgages with zero down payment options. Conventional mortgages and FHA both require private mortgage insurance if it is less than 20% down payment. However, FHA loans can be more flexible with the initial down payment requirements with adequate credit. FHA mortgage costs are now for the life of the loan. Lenders will look at mortgage insurance as risk protection.

The risk protection process may or may not require mortgage insurance in your home loan. For example, VA and USDA loans do not usually require mortgage insurance if the borrower’s credit and employment history are adequate.

Conventional loans have a reduction in risk once there is at least 20% equity in the home compared to the principal of the mortgage. Don’t hesitate to contact your trusted mortgage professional about potentially dropping mortgage insurance in the future to reduce overall loan costs.

You May Need More Than You Think To Buy Your First Home

You May Need More Than You Think To Buy Your First HomeThose who are thinking about buying their first home soon are likely saving up for a down payment. This can be a challenging process because, for many people, this is the largest amount of money they have ever saved in their lives. Sadly, the amount that people might need to buy their first home is more than they think.

There are numerous other costs that go along with buying and maintaining a home. As a result, people need to save up more than they think. Even for starter homes that are usually less expensive than family homes, there are numerous costs that need to be included.

Think about a home that is $250,000. A 20 percent down payment is $50,000. That is already a lot of money. Even for those who might try to get away with a 10 percent down payment, that is still $25,000. That is enough money to buy a very nice car. Where do these other expenses come from?

Buying A Home Has Other Costs

There are other costs that go along with buying a home. For example, there are closing costs that accompany this process. This could be thousands of dollars. In addition, there might be points due at signing and origination fees that accompany the process of taking out a loan. Of course, people could avoid these costs by buying the house in cash; however, for most people, this is simply not realistic.

Furnishing A New Home

On top of this, there are costs that come with furnishing a new home. Think about how much money coffee tables, dressers, desks, beds, and wardrobes cost. This might also include new kitchen appliances, a washer, a dryer, and more. All of these need to be included when trying to figure out the cost of a new home.

Take Advantage Of Low Mortgage Rates

It is possible for people to save up enough money to buy their first home. They simply need to keep a few tips in mind. First, take advantage of low mortgage rates. Use this to avoid PMI, origination fees, and points. Then, find ways to reduce moving costs. Bring old furniture to the new home and try to make sure that all appliances are up to date to avoid repair bills. This will make a new home more affordable.

The Top 3 Reasons To Invest In A Reverse Mortgage

The Top 3 Reasons To Invest In A Reverse MortgageFor seniors who have equity built up in their home, they might have heard about something called a reverse mortgage. There are plenty of TV commercials for reverse mortgages; however, there is still a lot of confusion regarding what they are.

Simply put, many seniors have already paid off their homes completely. With a reverse mortgage, people can access the equity they have in their home and use this as a quick source of cash. Then, they can pay back this loan when they can without giving up ownership of their home. Who should use this tool? There are a few reasons to note.

A Quick Source Of Cash Without Great Credit

For those who don’t have a strong credit score but need a quick source of cash, a reverse mortgage might be a great option. Many people stop paying attention to their credit score in their later years, thinking they will not need to take out a loan again; however, life can throw surprises at people and a reverse mortgage can help people access cash quickly without having to apply for a formal loan.

A Flexible Source Of Money

There are many people who think that a reverse mortgage can only be used for housing expenses. This is not the case. In reality, people can use a reverse mortgage to pay for just about anything. One of the most common uses of a reverse mortgage is to cover medical bills. Medical bills are among the most common unexpected expenses and if a medical bill comes up, then a reverse mortgage can be used to pay it off.

A Loan With Flexible Repayment Terms

Finally, a reverse mortgage is a loan that provides flexible repayment terms. With a reverse mortgage, there is no need to pay the loan off in full until the home is sold, the owners move out, or the owners pass away. In this case, when the home is sold, some of the money is used to pay back the reverse mortgage.

Consider A Reverse Mortgage

For some people, a reverse mortgage can be an effective financial tool. It is critical for everyone to evaluate all of their financial options and choose the one that is right for them.