A new year brings new goals!  If home-ownership is one of your aspirations in 2018, below are the top six mistakes you should avoid when getting a mortgage.

MISTAKE 1: FAILING TO CHECK YOUR CREDIT

There are so many things that that rank high in terms of importance, but realistically, having good credit is a big factor to obtaining a mortgage. Start by first educating carefully reviewing your credit report – you can get one free from each credit reporting agency annually. If your credit needs work, it’s best to take some time to whip it into shape so you’ll qualify for the lowest interest rate – which can save you a lot of dough over the life of your mortgage loan!

MISTAKE 2: NOT PLAYING THE COMPARISON GAME

When it comes to obtaining a mortgage, not all lenders are created equal. Each lender has different mortgage rates, so shopping around for the best deal can save you a big chunk of change. Also, you’ll have several different loan types to choose from – these vary widely and have a huge impact on the size of your monthly mortgage payment. I’m happy to discuss the various options that will work best for you.

MISTAKE 3: NOT LINING UP FINANCING FIRST

It’s so easy to find yourself casually browsing Zillow and falling in love with the “perfect” home. One of the biggest disservices you can do to yourself is to become attached to a home, only to realize during the mortgage application process that you can’t afford it. One of the smartest things you can do as a new homebuyer is to meet with mortgage lender first to see how much you can afford. Taking this step as a buyer paints a detailed picture of your finances, allowing your lender to tell you the specific amount you’re approved for and giving the seller peace of mind that you’ll be able to move forward with an offer.

MISTAKE 4: NOT SAVING ENOUGH FOR A DOWN PAYMENT

Perhaps your lender said you qualify for a $200,000 home, so you begin looking at homes right around that amount – but don’t forget to consider the down payment that you’ll need to have at closing. At a minimum, for a $200,000 FHA loan (with 3.5% down), you would need to bring $7,000 plus additional closing costs and fees in cash to the table in order to close on the home. If you don’t have that amount of money stashed away, take some time to build up your savings before you start your home search.  One way to plan savings for a down payment is to automatically deposit into your savings account- start by putting 20% of your paycheck into savings for a few months.

MISTAKE 5: NOT PREPARING FOR ADDITIONAL FEES

In addition to the cash you’ll need for a down payment, there are other fees you’ll be responsible for in order to close on your new home. Some of these fees may be negotiable, but many are fixed. Be prepared to shell out cash for the appraisal, title, insurance, up-front real estate taxes, lender fees, and more. Several days before closing, you’ll receive a closing disclosure, which breaks down the terms of your loan, all final costs expected at closing and the details of who pays and who receives money at closing.

MISTAKE 6: MAKING BIG PURCHASES BEFORE CLOSING DAY

You’re probably so excited about moving and planning how you’re going to decorate your new home – but before you go on a spending spree, put that credit card away!  Your finances will be thoroughly analyzed during the underwriting process, and your lender will expect your financial situation to remain largely the same until closing day. As hard as it may be, avoid spending money on things outside of your necessities (groceries, gas, utilities, etc.) until you’ve closed on your new home.

If you can avoid these big mistakes when buying a home, the mortgage process should be smooth sailing! Be sure to contact me to discuss your mortgage options-

Bill Duggan, Sr. Mortgage Banker, Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group  757-615-5172 email: billduggan@atlanticbay.com