Do you have questions? We can help! You will find the answers to several frequently asked mortgage questions below.
The pre-approval process is much more complete than pre-qualification. For pre-qualification, the loan officer asks you some questions and provides you with an opinion based upon information you provide. Pre-approval includes verifying your information and all steps of a full approval, except for the appraisal and title search. Pre-approval can put you in a better negotiating position, much like a cash buyer, especially when the housing market is tight.
Usually people refinance to save money, either by obtaining a lower interest rate or by reducing the term of the loan. Refinancing is also a way to convert an adjustable loan to a fixed loan or to consolidate debts. The decision to refinance can be difficult, since there are several reasons to refinance. However, if you are refinancing solely to lower your payment and save money, try this calculation:
• Determine the total cost of the refinance
• Calculate your monthly savings
• Divide the total cost of the refinance (#1) by the monthly savings (#2). This is the "break-even" point. At the break-even point, the savings from refinancing equals the cost involved. If you own the house longer than this, you will save money by refinancing.
Since refinancing is a complex topic, consult a mortgage professional.
Both income and assets are disclosed and verified, and income is used in determining the applicant's ability to repay the mortgage. Formal verification requires the borrower's employer to verify employment and the borrower's bank to verify deposits. Alternative documentation, designed to save time, accepts copies of the borrower's original bank statements, W-2s and paycheck stubs.
A rate lock is a contractual agreement between the lender and buyer. There are four components to a rate lock: loan program, interest rate, points, and the length of the lock.
A fee paid to the lender at closing to obtain a lower interest rate on your mortgage. Each point is equal to 1% of the loan amount.
It is the written list of settlement charges the lender is obliged to provide the borrower within three business days of receiving the loan application. The estimate includes all costs expected to be incurred for services necessary to complete the transaction.
A loan eligible for purchase by the two major Federal agencies that buy mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The loan limits are currently $417,000 for a single family house.
The annual percentage rate refers to the cost of the loan, including interest rate and certain loan fees, stated as a yearly rate. This is not the same as your Note Rate which is the rate from which your payment is calculated. The APR is typically higher than the Note Rate because it considers costs a buyer would NOT incur if they were paying cash for the property, referred to as Prepaid Finance Charges. Federal Regulation Z, also known as the Truth-In-Lending Act, regulates which loan fees are considered to be ‘Prepaid Finance Charges’.
A mortgage amount larger than $417,000, which is the current conforming maximum loan amount.
A mortgage broker counsels you on the loans available from different wholesale lenders, takes your application and processes the loan. Processing involves verifying all informaion about your transaction including the credit report, verifications of employment and assests, and so on. When the file is complete, the broker submits to the lender for underwriting. The underwriter is responsible for reviewing the package and evaluating whether or not your loan meets the guidlines and is an acceptable risk.
Kings Mortgage Services is a full-service mortgage lender. This means we not only take the application and process it, but we also have onsite underwriters and funders to make decisions in-house and speed up your approval and funding times.