My first time attempting to buy a home was a lesson in humility. My parents had bought a home straight out of college. Back then houses were affordable for anyone who had a steady job. I thought it would be easy. So what if I had no credit? So what if I was still waiting tables looking for my lucky break? I was responsible. I came from good home owner genes. The joke would soon be on me.
Owning a Home
Anyone who has been through the home buying process knows that buying homes is not like buying a car. They are perhaps the most valued commodity available, and you typically are competing against other families looking to start their dreams in the same home. For me it would be another fifteen years till I actually owned a home with a wife and a child. I learned many valuable lessons along the way about saving money, building credit, and how to search for the right mortgage and loans to help fund owning a home.
- What is an adjustable rate mortgage and how does an adjustable rate mortgage work?
- What is a fixed mortgage rate?
- How should a first time home buyer decide between the two? What about owning a second home?
- What are the advantages of an FHA refinanced mortgage?
What are the differences?
First let's start by learning about the two most popular ways to finance a home. Both fixed mortgage rates and adjustable rate mortgages have their own advantages and disadvantages. For the first time home buyer it is essential to know the difference. An adjustable rate mortgage often requires less of a down payment. These are good for people who don't have a lot of money to invest immediately, but are expecting their income to grow substantially within the next ten years or so. The reason is because an adjustable rate mortgage interest rate goes up after a few years. Initially your month to month payments will be small, but eventually they will increase significantly.
As for a fixed rate mortgage, most first time home buyers consider this first if they can. It is more stable; however it requires a large down payment of between 20-35% of the principal value of the home. It is difficult to find this money sometimes, so being a good saver is usually the essential ingredient to owning a home. Still, a fixed rate mortgage is exactly how it sounds. The interest rate remains the same throughout the entire process. If you honor your side of the agreement and make your payments on time then the interest rates should remain the same for the life of the contract.
FHA Approval
Sometimes homes are FHA approved. This means that a bank or mortgage lender will often accept a lower down payment on a home because it has been inspected and is in great physical shape. It is a low risk high reward venture for everyone involved. A good real estate agent can find one's for you however they are often in high demand and will go to the best candidates.
For the best help available in finding a home or for any and all real estate questions visit www.real-estate-yogi.com. Speak with an agent directly by calling 1-800-987-1397.