Advise For First Time Home Buyers

By Jackie Smith

Whether you are buying a home, considering refinancing an existing mortgage, or investigating a second mortgage in the form of a home equity loan, there are a number of steps involved in the process.

As for purchasing a new home, this is the best time to do so, especially if you are a first time buyer. Currently the prices of homes are lower than normal, and the interest mortgage rates are comparatively low as well. First time buyers are also eligible for an $8,000 homeowner credit, which is offered by the federal government. Since these circumstances are unprecedented you should really consider starting the process to buying your first home, even if you had wanted to wait a few more years. As long as you have the finances, there is truly no better time than the present to purchase that first home you have always dreamed of.

While you are looking for your new home, it is also important to shop around for a mortgage at the same time. You will want to look into mortgage quotes from various lenders, and then compare them to each other. When receiving quotes, always try to get as close to the bottom line price as possible. In order to do this you must take into account any additional fees, taxes and costs involved with the closing of your mortgage. This will then give you a good idea of what monetary needs are requires, and assist you in finding a mortgage that is suitable for your budget. You can find mortgage rates through newspaper ads, by contacting banks, utilizing a broker, or logging onto one of the many internet sites that provide you with numerous quotes from various lenders.

If it is a home equity loan that you are seeking you should first be aware that this is a second mortgage on your home, therefore you will not only be required to pay your regular mortgage each month, but your equity loan as well. If this is still the choice that you have made you will also want to receive several quotes, as you would with a regular mortgage. The rates for equity loans tend to be higher than those for a mortgage, and they also included many additional fees. You will be able to find some that do not charge theses fees upfront and add them to the total of your monthly payments.

Researching various mortgage rates is not the only research that will need to be conducted prior to purchasing your new home. While you are searching for the best mortgage rate you will also need to be shopping for the best home owners insurance that you can get. Home owners insurance is required, prior to finalizing your mortgage, and you also need to be sure that the mortgage lender is listed as the first party to be paid in case of loss. If you are taking out a home equity loan, you will need to add this lender as the second party to be paid on your loan in the case of serious loss. If these parties are not included on your homeowners insurance then they will not finalize any paperwork until they are.

Although purchasing a new home can be a very challenging time in a family's life, you will probably look back on it as a good experience that provided you with newly acquired knowledge. Because there are so many things to be learned when purchasing a home for the first time, it is often a good idea to take a course for first time home buyers. Many are offered at local community colleges or real estate offices. These courses can be very informative and may provide you with information that could result in a substantial savings when purchasing your home. - 31387

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