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What’s a Conventional Loan? Here’s What Buyers Need To Know

HomeLight

Fannie and Freddie set requirements that all buyers have to meet to get a conforming loan. Maximum debt-to-income ratio of 43% (this is known as DTI, and it looks at how much debt you pay each month versus how much income you bring in). Here’s a quick rundown of the three major government-backed loans.

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Buying a House in San Diego? Local Real Estate Agents Share 15 Tips First-Time Buyers Need to Know

Redfin

Get pre-approved for a mortgage My advice to first-time homebuyers is to find a good loan officer and get pre-approved, fully underwritten approval is best. Work with that loan officer and their agent to understand what timeframes they’re comfortable with in an offer.

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FHA Loans and Down Payment Assistance: Making Homebuying Affordable

HomeLight

The FHA backing lets lenders offer easier credit terms than non-FHA loans. FHA loans are especially important for first-time buyers. In 2020, only about 10% of all home loans were FHA-backed, according to the agency’s annual report. But more than 80% of those FHA borrowers were first-time homebuyers.

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Looking for a Mortgage Lender? Here Are 19 Questions to Ask Them Before You Commit

HomeLight

One of the first things you’ll want to know is just how much house you can afford , which is based on your income, credit score, debt-to-income ratio (DTI), and savings amount (including your down payment). I had some clients a few years ago that had trouble qualifying because they had a lot of debt. Conventional.

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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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51 Brilliant Real Estate Tips for Buyers to Edge Past the Competition

HomeLight

A lender with a local presence will likely know the ins and outs of your market better than a big bank, and they’ll have local relationships that will make closing your deal easier. Other features : Interest rates are low with USDA loans, but they do come with a 1% upfront fee, and a small monthly fee on top of that.

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What You Need to Buy a House in 2021

Redfin

Well, it’s not only the difference between getting a low-interest rate on a home loan versus a high one, but it will also directly impact how much a bank or lender will loan you. Banks like to see a healthy savings account and other investments or assets (i.e. Have a Healthy Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI).