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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? What are the different types of mortgages?

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15 Mortgage Questions to Ask Lenders Before Buying a House

HomeLight

Monthly income The very first thing you need to consider is your income. First, lenders will look at your annual gross income when they’re deciding how much money you can borrow. However, when you are trying to figure out how much house you can afford , you should also look at your monthly net income.

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Avoid Being House Poor With These 8 Critical Buyer Tips

HomeLight

When you’re house poor, too much of your income is tied up in your house , making it difficult to pay for the other necessities of life. Well, there are different measures, but financial experts commonly recommend you spend no more than 30% of your income on housing costs — and 28% is better. How being house poor holds you back.

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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. Among the many shifts in real estate, there’s arguably only one that can truly make the world a better place. So that’s the big picture.

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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. Also, to qualify for this type of loan, you can’t earn more than the USDA income limit for the area where you want to buy. is for sale. Talk to a few lenders.

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

HomeLight

Your income. We’re not trying to insult anyone’s intelligence here, but it’s worth giving a quick overview as to what exactly a house down payment is — and why lenders usually require one. A down payment is the cash you’ll provide at closing that applies directly to your purchase. The purchase price of the home.

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