Mortgage

Online Mortgage Calculators

An online mortgage calculator can be one of the best and easiest ways to help you calculate your various mortgage expenses. It will help you determine what combination of elements must come together in order for you to get the best home loan for your financial situation.

When using a mortgage calculator, keep an eye on the interest rate and the term length you enter as these will greatly influence your results.

Also keep in mind that while a mortgage loan calculator gives you a quick overview and is great for comparing lenders, there are several other factors that will affect your quotes, such as your credit score. So don’t be surprised if you are quoted a slightly higher amount after talking to your lender.

A lender will always provide you more accurate information after considering your current financial situation, including up-to-date interest rates and loan programs. So don’t rely on a mortgage calculator by itself.

First, Pay Off Old Debts

If you are looking into purchasing your first home, you might be tempted to start saving every penny you can for your down payment. But in reality, there are some other payments you should be making first…

If you have any outstanding debt, the time to pay it off is now. Not only will a reduced debt load make it easier for you to qualify for a mortgage, but you will find that the costs of homeownership will quickly eat into any money you had planned on putting aside for paying old bills. Old debts also collect interest, which means the longer you hold on to them, the more they cost you.

But as far as homeownership goes, the biggest problem with old debt is the approval for a mortgage. Less debt and smaller debt payments will mean a mortgage company will trust you with a larger amount to purchase your home with. A higher debt load may limit the size of your mortgage, forcing you to look at smaller homes than you were hoping to see, or look in neighborhoods that you had hoped to avoid.

Either way, you should adjust your savings to unload some debt, and still have some savings left for the down payment.

Are You Eligible for a VA Mortgage?

If you or your spouse is a veteran, getting a VA mortgage is a great option to know more about, and it guarantees the lender 25% of the home loan (up to $104,250 of a maximum loan of $417,000) if you default. This guarantee makes it easier for you to find attractive financing with no down payment, longer repayment plans, and no prepayment penalty based on qualifying.

How They Got Started

The VA Mortgage started in 1944 with the GI Bill of Rights, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which provided veterans a federally guaranteed home with no down payment. It was designed to provide housing assistance for veterans and their families, and the dream of owning a home became a reality for millions of veterans returning from the war. Historically the GI Bill has contributed to the growth of the nation’s economy and the welfare of veterans more than any other program.

More than 25.5 million veterans and service personnel are eligible for VA financing. Eligibility changed after September 7, 1980 where a two-year service requirement was put into place for veterans enlisted, or if the veteran was an officer and began service after October 16, 1981. There is a six-year requirement for National guards and reservists with certain rules and criteria concerning eligibility of surviving spouses.

How They Work

VA Mortgages are home loans, made by private lenders to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home for their own personal occupancy. The home does have to pass certain inspections to qualify. The value of the home or the purchase price – whichever is less – plus the funding fees may be borrowed. Veterans must still qualify with debt to income ratios; it is not a guaranteed approval just because you are a Veteran.

Funding fees average 2.15%-3% depending on eligibility and veterans. Veterans receiving VA compensation for service disabilities, veterans that would be eligible to receive service connected pay if not for retirement benefits, and surviving spouses of veterans who died in service are exempt from the funding fee.

Closing costs can average 3%-5% but can be included in negotiations with the seller to pay, assuming the house appraises for the increased price. Additional costs associated with your VA mortgage would be appraisal costs, recording fees, credit report, prepaid taxes, and insurance and title examination in addition to the funding fees.

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