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Which Mortgage Do I Choose? Key Questions to Ask Yourself and
Lenders When Shopping for a Mortgage!
Traditional Fixed Rate Mortgage? Graduated-Payment Mortgage? Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
FHA Mortgage? Two-Step Mortgage?
You are wondering which kind of mortgage is best. The answer: There is no one
correct answer. Deciding which type of mortgage will best fulfill your needs can
be difficult. There are so many types of loans and different term lengths. Your
choice is extremely important and can take some time and effort to research. While
often neglected by homebuyers, a little research before choosing your mortgage
can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
There are several elements of a loan that should be analyzed. While one of these
elements may suggest one type of loan, another may call for a different type.
You must weigh each ingredient separately and collectively. You will find that
your answers to the questions below will ultimately determine the type of mortgage
that best fit your needs.
How long do you plan to stay in this home? Five years? Ten years? Thirty
years? The length of time you will be in the home will certainly play a part in
determining which loan to apply for. If you only plan to be in the home for 5
– 7 years or less, you should seriously consider an adjustable rate loan.
If you intend on staying 20 – 30 years, a fixed rate mortgage may be right
for you.
How much risk are you willing to accept? If you are the type of buyer that
needs to know exactly what you will be paying each month for the term of the mortgage,
a fixed rate mortgage will fulfill this need. The fixed rate loan, however, will
also net a higher interest rate. If you are willing to take some risk of fluctuations
in the interest rate, may receive a lower interest rate.
What are your income expectations? Plan for the future. Do you anticipate
a gradual or dramatic increase in your income in the next few years? If you expect
a big increase, a graduated payment mortgage may be best for you.
How much cash do you have available for upfront costs? If you have the
resources, you may want to make a larger down payment to lower your monthly payment.
By keeping a higher monthly payment however, you might be able to shorten the
term of the loan to a 15-year loan in order to pay it off quicker.
Keep in mind that you’ll have closing costs and fees to pay in addition to
your down payment. If you don’t have much cash saved for your upfront costs,
don’t despair. You may be forced to accept a higher monthly payment or could
even lower your monthly obligation by choosing an adjustable rate mortgage.
In addition to choosing a type of loan, you must also consider which lender to
use. Once again, several factors of a loan will influence your decision.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) This most likely is the best way to make an
"apples-to-apples" comparison of lenders. The APR reflects the cost
of credit on a yearly rate and includes any points and fees in addition to the
interest rate.
Interest Rate Find out the rate the lender will commit and how long the
lender will guarantee it. Get any commitments in writing. As with any transaction,
if it isn’t in writing it doesn’t exist.
Points and fees These factors will vary greatly. Look out for hidden fees.
Make sure the lenders disclose all fees; ask what they charge and what is included
and what is not.
Loan Approval Both approval and funding time should be considered. You
don’t want to lose a prospective home because your lender takes weeks to
fund your loan. A lender should be able to fund the loan within ten days.
Lender Reputation Don’t rely on solely someone else’s recommendation.
You, not your friend, must feel comfortable with your lender. If you do feel good
about your lender and trust him , it will be much easier to trust his advice on
what kind of mortgage will best suit your needs.
We sincerely hope these tips and ideas will be of value to you. The types of loans
mentioned above are only a few of the multitude of loan types available. If we
may be of any further service please contact our office.
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your Real Estate Specialist, our job is to help you..... help you find a
home that meets your lifestyle, location and budget requirements within
the time frame that you need to purchase and occupy the home. 
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