How Low Can They Go: With Mortgage Interest Rates Low, Should You Refinance?

Do you have a mortgage? You've likely seen or heard a lot about mortgage refinancing as interest rates remained low in recent months. In today's blog post we'll explore the topic of mortgage refinancing, including when you should consider refinancing and how to take advantage of low interest rates. What is Mortgage Refinancing? In simple terms, refinancing refers to the practice of taking out a new mortgage and using the proceeds to pay off your old one in its entirety. You'll go through the full borrowing process with your chosen lender, including the credit check, financial history and employment history…
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Are You Applying for a Reverse Mortgage? Here Are 3 Considerations You’ll Need to Make

If you're a homeowner who is looking to tap in to the home equity that you've spent years building you may be interested in a "reverse mortgage" or "home equity conversion mortgage". While these unique financial tools aren't for everyone, if you qualify for a reverse mortgage you'll find that this might be the perfect financial solution which allows you to pay off your existing mortgage, or for some other regular expenses that you have. Let's take a closer look at how reverse mortgages work, including how to qualify, what happens to your existing mortgage and what a reverse mortgage…
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Be Prepared for Your Mortgage Pre-approval Interview by Having Answers to These 4 Questions

So – you've completed an initial mortgage pre-qualification and now you're ready to take the next step and meet with your lender or mortgage advisor for the pre-approval interview. Are you ready? At this stage of the application process your lender will dig into your financial background to ensure that you're fully capable of making your mortgage payments and that you don't present too high a risk. Let's take a quick look at a few questions you should know the answers to before you go in for a mortgage pre-approval. Do You Have a Specific Home in Mind? If you've…
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Understanding the Difference Between a Mortgage Pre-qualification and a Pre-approval

If you're in the market for a new home and you've been researching mortgages, you've likely come across the terms "pre-qualification" and "pre-approval". While these terms are self-explanatory in some circumstances, they are quite different in regards to mortgage financing. In today's blog post we'll explain the difference between a mortgage pre-qualification and a pre-approval. Pre-qualification: an Initial Look at Your Mortgage Options The first – and easiest – step on the way to receiving mortgage financing to buy a home is known as pre-qualification. During this process you'll meet with a mortgage advisor or lender who will assess your…
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Buying a Home? 4 Steps You Can Take to Ensure You Start out with a Low Monthly Mortgage Payment

Are you thinking about buying a new house or condo? If so, you've likely given some thought to your mortgage and as to how you can pay as little as possible in order to own your new home. Below we'll share four easy steps that you can take to ensure you start out with an affordable monthly mortgage payment. Make A Large Down Payment On Your Home The easiest way to reduce your monthly payment is to invest as much as possible in your down payment. The less you have to borrow, the less you'll be required to pay back.…
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Understanding Title Insurance and How It Impacts Your Mortgage Loan

When you buy a home, you will be given a title to your new property. A title is a legal document that proves you own the property, and in most cases the title excludes other parties from making an ownership claim. However, not all titles give you free and clear ownership of the property. Title insurance protects you and your lender from title disputes and other ownership issues that may arise. Here are just a few ways that title insurance can impact your mortgage. How Title Insurance Protects A Lender There are certain situations in which someone might put a…
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A Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Your Finances for the Mortgage Pre-Approval Process

Being pre-approved for a mortgage isn't just a way to get a step ahead, in many cases it's a necessity to buying a home. Many sellers don't want to go through the negotiation process of selling their home only to have the buyer drop out when they can't get approval for the mortgage they were relying on. The Difference Between Pre-Qualification And Pre-Approval Pre-qualification is a faster process than pre-approval and is usually a best estimate based on how the borrower answers certain questions about their financial history and status. Pre-approval is way more valuable to a borrower than pre-qualification…
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Speeding Up the Close: Five Tips on How to Close Your Mortgage Loan Faster So You Can Start Moving In

When a seller accepts an offer from a buyer, the process of obtaining the property has just begun. The buyer now has to conduct an inspection, get approval from an attorney and obtain a mortgage - all of which can be time consuming. Here are a few ways that you can speed up the mortgage process and close the deal sooner. Make Sure That You Have Money For Closing Costs Do you have the money needed for a down payment and to pay other closing and prepaid costs? If not, you won't be able to close until you find the…
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