Selecting the right mortgage package as a first time home buyer can be a confusing process, and working with a mortgage loan officer isn’t always the best way to get the mortgage loan that you can afford. One of the biggest mistakes that first time is to sign on the loan that they qualify for, instead of taking a smaller loan that they can actually afford.
After the loan officer had assessed your qualifications based from your income ratio, evaluate first your readiness in terms of your monthly payment or budget. People who fall into the trap of borrowing the entire loan amount they qualified for may find their monthly budget exhausted and can end up regretful.
To prevent yourself from borrowing up to the limit that the loan officer presented, you can set your own loan amount limit. This can help you effectively manage your housing expenses based from your income bracket. There are several ways to find the right mortgage for your newly-purchased home:
1. Know your tax benefits. When selecting the right mortgage for your home, you can ask about the tax benefits. Some loans are ‘interest only’ loans that allows you to subtract the entire cost on your taxes intended for that year. But loans with negative amortization scale won’t permit deduction of interest on the monthly payment.
2. Evaluate the long-term advantages. Whether you’re planning to live in your home for 30 years and more or not, it is still advisable to know the pros and cons of your mortgage package. A fixed interest rate loan is somewhat higher in amount but unlike ARM and other loan products, it can safeguard you from changing market conditions. But a fixed interest loan also has its limitations. Smart Consumer’s Guide to Home Buying’s author, Barron, proposes that the fixed interest rate may increase your payments because of the demands of the escrow account linked with it.
3. Know the payment options. With a flexible payment option, you can maximize your funds and avoid yourself of possible debts in the future. There are mortgage loans wherein you can make extra payments towards your principal loan without a penalty. This is good because as soon as you have some extra funds in your hands, you can begin to easily pay your mortgage.
4. Find ways to keep your payments manageable. Keep your payments affordable by setting a limit on your loan amount even if you have been offered a huge amount by the lender. As much as possible, find a low interest rate, long loan term, and the ability to make interest-only payments.
5. Avail yourself of mortgage insurance. Not all first time homebuyers have available funds to serve as down payment, though it can create a difference to your monthly payments and loan amount. When you have mortgage insurance, you can have funds for your down payment. In some instances, mortgage insurance can help you apply for an attractive product minus any down payment.
