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Important things to remember
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Good Credit? Check this out...
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about buying a home. Q. What is a fico score and what does it say about my credit? A. The term "fico" is a mathematical number invented by a man named Fair Isaac. His company Fair Isaac Company, thus F.I.C.O. was named. It is a tool for lenders to use in evaluating the risk associated with loaning you money. F.I.C.O scores range from 400 to a high of 900. 620-650 is low to fair and 690 is considered good. 740 and higher is A+ credit. Q. How can you raise your fico scores? A. Here are some examples of ways you can improve your FICO score.
Q. What is calculated into my score? A. The basic things that are calculated into your score are:
Q. What factors put me at higher risk for a low score? A. Any of the following reasons could increase your risk to have a low score.
Q. Why do different companies quote different scores on the same person? A. Each company has their own way of coming up with your score. Q. What factors cause my fico score to change? A. Here are a few examples that could cause your score to change.
Q. What is a debt ratio? A. Debt ratio is a number that compares what you have (income) available against the total of what you owe. Such as: Job vs. Bills; Income vs. Debts you currently owe. Q. What can I do if a lender turns me down? Should I just forget it? A. No, there are many reasons to think about speaking to another lender.
Q. What is an appraisal and why does the lender require it? Do I pick the appraiser? A. An appraisal is a calculated value "assessed" by a certified appraiser. They measure the size, location, and condition and average cost of other property nearby related as possible. They take all the data collected and compute their "best guess" at what value they determine. Q. What do we do when we get a lower appraisal than needed for the lender? A. The seller will have to find ways to "up" the value for the loan. There are some very simple ways to add value- paint, landscape, updates, and repairs. The lender usually contracts the appraiser. Q. How do you know how much down payment to make? A. The answer can vary, but here are some good example for you to think about.
Q. Where can I get the money for a down payment? A. You can find many options, but here are some options that many home buyers review.
Q. How much is Home Owners Insurance? A. The prices have several things that affect them:
Q. What does a homeowner's policy cover? A. It depends on the policy, but usually not things that wear out. It does cover:
Q. What is a home warranty, how much does it cost, and who pays for it? A. Anyone can pay for it, buyer or seller. A policy costs around $450 - $550. Policy repairs damaged or broken items in the home: appliances, plumbing, roof, heating and air, if it should become inoperable. A complete list comes with the policy. Q. How do you get the repairs done? A. Call an 800 number and tell them the address. They call the repairman for you. If you call the repairman, you're responsible for paying them. Q. How much does it cost me for the warranted items repaired? A. Between $50 - $100 per visit or call. Q. What is PIM (Private Mortgage Insurance) and why do I have to pay for it? A. It is an insurance policy that you're required to take out. But it doesn't protect you. It protects the lender from loss in the event you default on your loan. PMI is typically required on mortgage loans where there is no cash down payment, or where the down payment is less than 20 percent of the total loan. Many lenders allow you to drop PMI once your equity exceeds 20 percent. Typically PMI might add anywhere from $60 to $120 to your initial monthly housing payment. But the situation can be much worse if you have bad credit. Q. Do we pay PMI for the full term of the loan? A. No. As your equity builds, lenders will more than likely remove their requirements at the 80% equity. Q. Why is a legal description necessary when buying property? A. 1. The law only recognizes the certified designation from the county records of the property's address. The description usually says a part of the _____means that the township book is only a portion of it and not the total township area. Q. Do I have to be responsible for my recorded legal description? A. Yes and No. It is a way to be certain about what you are buying and the legality of owning a property. I always get tax records for all my clients to check for the right property and to check for tax paid or tax debts against the property. Always use a good closing company to help make sure the deed is written correctly. Q. Why is everybody so excited about the interest rates? What does it mean? A. Well there are many reasons that include.
Example: Q. What are discount points? A. In addition to the interest rate, lenders may charge for discount points, origination fees, the appraisal, title and credit reports, and other miscellaneous items. Discount points and origination fees are usually the largest fees lenders charge, so they make the most difference in determining which scenario is better. For this comparison, don't worry about the other miscellaneous fees, such as the appraisal, title and credit reports. These charges are much less significant than points. Each point paid equals 1 percent of the loan amount, so if $100,000 is borrowed and you have to pay three points, you are actually getting $97,000. However, you have to repay $100,000, and have to pay interest on that. The reason lenders charge discount points is to change the interest rate that is paid. The more points, the lower the rate, and vice versa. Q. What are closing fees and who has to pay for them? A. The charges from services performed by agents on your behalf to get your property ready to sell, get a clean title, title insurance, agents fees, and time fees for filing with the county to record taxes for your protection of new ownership. Who pays can sometimes be financed within the loan. Q. Can you give me some examples of closing fees? A. Sure, see the list below for some of the fees.
Low-Income Housing
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Call, email, fax me, facebook me, twitter, Yahoo Message me, face-to-face, whatever your favorite way is to communicate I'm here to help! American Dream Realty Cell: (479) 857-1041 |
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Cindy Walker is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® |
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