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Mastering Mortgage Basics: 10 Key Concepts Every Homebuyer Should Know

Redfin

A mortgage is a loan specifically designed for purchasing a property, commonly a home. You then make monthly payments, including principal and interest, over an agreed-upon term (usually 15 to 30 years) until the loan is fully repaid. What is a mortgage? How does a mortgage work?

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15 Mortgage Questions to Ask Lenders Before Buying a House

HomeLight

Debt-to-income ratio After looking at how much money is flowing into your household, you’ll want to write down your monthly debts. That’s because lenders will also look at your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI. That number will be your debt-to-income ratio.

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Avoid Being House Poor With These 8 Critical Buyer Tips

HomeLight

Not everyone realizes this right away, but a mortgage payment actually has several different components to it, known as PITI: principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Principal : The principal of the loan is the amount you borrowed to buy the house. Minimize your debt. You’ll also pay taxes with your mortgage.

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What’s My Home Shopping Budget with an FHA Loan? How to Figure it Out

HomeLight

In addition to your mortgage loan interest and principal, lenders also collect money each month that they put into escrow to pay your homeowners insurance. How much income do you earn relative to your debts? With FHA loans, your debt-to-income ratio will be taken into consideration.

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The Future of Real Estate is Sustainability

RIS Media

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) got ahead of this trend and offers its members a Green Designation. And the number of agents earning this designation grows annually. Therefore, not only are they good for business, but they are ethically sound endeavors.

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Here’s How to Apply for a USDA Loan in 9 Doable Steps

HomeLight

While the USDA does not designate a minimum credit score, lenders will have a minimum requirement of typically 640,” explains mortgage loan officer Jane Hammond. Candidates for USDA must adhere strictly to the housing-to-income and total debt-to- income ratios as well.

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Saving For a House Down Payment? 18 Tips on How to Get There Faster

HomeLight

The advantages of putting more money down include a smaller loan principal , a potentially lower interest rate , and a better chance of avoiding mortgage insurance (MI). Designate a down payment savings account (and automate!). Your checking account is probably tied to a generic savings account through your bank and credit union.

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