Tag Archives: home loan programs

First-Time Homebuyer Advice

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Best advice I would give to first-time homebuyers
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I was once asked: We’re in the process of hopefully purchasing our first home, and I’m a little lost on everything that is going on. What’s the best advice you would give to first-time homebuyers?

Undoubtedly, your primary step in the home buying journey should involve securing your financing. While I acknowledge that this advice may appear biased, considering my involvement in the mortgage business, it’s a reality that the majority of today’s home buyers rely on mortgages, making this part of the process more intricate than before.

Despite the potential complexity, obtaining a mortgage today is not as insurmountable as some may portray. Recognizing your credit situation is pivotal. Lenders don’t demand perfection, but it’s crucial to be aware of your standing. Check your credit report on platforms like Free Credit Report.Com or Creditkarma for free and promptly address any errors, past-due accounts, or public records.

Collection agencies often settle for amounts less than what is reported. However, exercise caution when settling collections older than two years, as it might impact your credit score. Establishing a relationship with a reliable loan officer early on is crucial. Seek someone responsive, trustworthy, and capable of offering clear guidance.

Initiate the preapproval process with your chosen loan officer by submitting essential documents such as pay stubs, W2s, and bank statements. The Automated Underwriting System (AUS) will swiftly provide initial findings. Aim for “Approve/Eligible” or “Accept” results and inquire about a “TBD Approval” for added strength in your offer to sellers.

I hope you find this information helpful. Best of luck on your home-buying journey!

5 tips to refinance

The Resolution you Should Keep. Refinance.

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5 reasons to refinance

“Should I refinance my mortgage?”

This is one of the most common questions we help our clients answer. 

When you refinance your existing mortgage, you are essentially paying off the existing mortgage debt and replacing it with a new loan. Many of the same costs are involved in refinancing a loan as are in first−time financing.

There is an old adage in the mortgage business that states that if you can improve your interest rate by at least two percentage points, then it is a good time to refinance. While that may work as a general rule of thumb, the truth is that there are many reasons to refinance. Here are the top five we see.

1. Lower Interest Rate 

Securing a lower interest rate is one of the top reasons for refinancing. A lower rate can make a large different in your monthly payments, and save you money on the financing fees! 

 

2. Build Equity Faster 

If you’re in a position to make a higher monthly payment due to a salary increase or other good fortune, you may want to refinance from a 30-year loan to a short (15 or 20 year) term loan. Adjusting the term enables you to build equity faster and save a large amount of money on the interest paid over time! 

 

3. Change your Loan Program 

Some homeowners who start in an ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) discover they’d rather switch to a more stable Fixed Rate mortgage. While an ARM may have been the more attractive loan program when you first purchased, we can compare different Fixed Rate programs to find which would save you more money. 

 

4. Credit Score Improvement 

If you’ve increased your credit score since you first applied, you may be in position to refinance with a lower rate with your higher score! We’ll evaluate your current loan, then compare the rates with your new score to find you the best program that’ll lower your monthly payments! 

 

5. Getting Cash Out 

With a Cash Out Refi you’re able to tap into the equity that you’ve built in your home. You may want to put money towards home improvements, send a child to school, or pay off other debt with the equity you’ve accrued through your mortgage.  

 

Before you decide to refinance, think back to when you purchased your home.

  • Did you pay points to get a lower rate?
  • Has it been long enough that you’ve made your money back?
  • Is there a pre-payment penalty on your loan?
  • What is the purpose of this refinance? 

Refinances EMPOWER you to change

the terms of your original mortgage!

All of these factors are important to consider when you’re weighing if you should refinance your home. Give us a call at 952-405-2090 to set up your FREE initial consultation. We can help you determine if now is the right time for you to refinance. 

Are you ready to resolve your refi questions?

Refinance: refinance

 verb

re·​fi·​nance | \ ˌrē-fə-ˈnan(t)s  , (ˌ)rē-ˈfī-ˌnan(t)s, ˌrē-(ˌ)fī-ˈnan(t)s \

refinanced; refinancing; refinances

Definition of refinance

: to renew or reorganize the financing of something : to provide for (an outstanding indebtedness) by making or obtaining another loan or a larger loan on fresh terms refinance a mortgage

First Time Homebuyer?

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14 First Time Homebuyer Mistakes to Avoid!

#1. Failing to Budget for a Home Loan

Home ownership is a cheaper alternative to renting in the long run. But in the beginning, it can be much pricier. This is especially true if you intend to get a loan to purchase your dream house.

If you do acquire a loan, remember that you will be making monthly mortgage payments for a number of years.

Therefore, it is important to budget for a home loan, beforehand. You need to determine whether your income can accommodate an extra expense or not.

If you are unable to afford making monthly payments on your home loan, it would be a mistake to try to own a house at this time.

#2. Ignoring Your Credit Score

If you thought that finishing school meant being done with competitive scoring, think again!

Apparently, your creditworthiness can be summarized in just 3 digits. Those three numerals will draw the line between owning a house and renting one.

Even if you have an impeccable sense of financial responsibility right now, your credit past can haunt you.

You could have a hard time getting a home loan if your past record shows problems with payments, or if there’s an error in your credit report.

If you go ahead and apply for a mortgage loan without checking your credit score, you could end up paying a lot more than you expected.

It’s best to perform a credit check beforehand.  This way, you will be allowed to get loans without being obligated to pay hefty amounts in interest.

#3. Disregarding Housing Marketing Trends

Just like other financial markets, the housing market fluctuates from time to time. Sometimes it favors the buyers, and sometimes it favors the sellers.

There are a number of factors that affect housing marketing trends. This includes the ratio between supply and demand, interest rates and the overall condition of the economy.

It’s also imperative that you consider how the housing market changes in your ideal location, as home prices vary from one location to another.

If you disregard housing marketing trends when hunting for a house for sale, you might end up signing for a deal that favors the seller.

#4. Lack of a Preapproved Home Loan

Some people are anxious to shop for a house and want to do it quickly, before they are financially able to afford it.

If you have already started talking to sellers before having a hard talk with home loan lenders, you are making a mistake. In fact, not many sellers will want to work with you if you promise them a certain amount and then can’t fulfill that promise.

To avoid any disappointments, it’s wise to have your home loan pre-approved first, then go ahead and look for a house to buy.

#5. Overlooking the Home Resale Value

Another huge mistake you can make when buying a house is not considering the fact that you may need to resell the house you intend to buy.

There are lots of unexpected changes that can occur, such as job transfers, financial problems, or falling in love with another bigger or prettier house.

When this happens, you might find the need to sell your house, obviously at a profit. You should never overlook the resale value of the home you intend to purchase.

What you need to do is to ask yourself several questions such as: Will it be easy to sell this house? Will buyers be interested in buying it? Will this house fetch me a good amount if I decide to buy another one? Is it situated in a preferred neighborhood?

#6. Trusting an Unprepared Agent, not getting a Good One

Involving an agent is highly recommended in the home buying process.

There are pros and cons to dealing with real estate agents. A real estate agent can take a huge burden off your shoulders when it comes to looking for the right house.

An unprepared agent can cost you money and set the deal back.

Also, if you talk to the seller’s agent, he will be representing the seller and he may not be truthful about the negative aspects of the house.

If you trust this kind of agent blindly, you may have regrets later on. Make sure your agent is prepared and well versed.

#7. Settling on a Verbal Agreement

Double crosses are bound to happen when agreements are made verbally. It would be difficult for you to prove in court that a promise was made or a handshake was made.

Therefore, it’s best that you and the seller get everything down in writing to avoid future miscommunications.

This way, you will have something to present in court should the seller fail to keep their word.

#8. Disregarding Hidden Costs

This is another common mistake that many first-time homebuyers often make.

If you neglect to prepare for hidden fees, you might be in for a big surprise. Closing costs are a good example of hidden fees, which usually include a number of fees that cover final housekeeping matters.

Before signing the homebuyer’s agreement, it would be wise on your part to determine what hidden fees are there.

#9. Ignoring Professional Home Inspection

You will be making a costly mistake if you rely on the seller to inform you about the house problems you should expect.

Before you make any payment towards the purchase of the house, it’s imperative that you first hire a professional home inspector to ascertain that the house is in good condition.

#10. Following your “Love-at-First-Sight” Gut

Not everyone or everything that you fall in love with at first sight ends up being your one true love. A house may appear to be everything you ever dreamed of, but it might not live up to your expectations.

Before following a dream house blindly, be sure to check it out thoroughly. Make sure it has all the right qualities that make it a perfect home for you and your loved ones.

#11. Being Indecisive

As unwise as it is to rush into making a purchase, it is equally dumb to take too long without making up your mind. If you take too long to make a decision, another home buyer will take advantage of your indecisiveness and buy your dream house.

Since market trends change from time to time, you could also find out that the house you took too long to buy has a new (and higher) price tag attached to it.

#12. Relying on Online Services Only

Now that many services are obtainable at the click of the mouse, most people have become too dependent on them. It’s true that loans can be obtained online and houses can be bought online as well. But failure to establish personal touch with lenders or home sellers could present a huge and costly misunderstanding in future.

#13. Forgetting the Costs Associated with Owning a Home

Just like a car, a home requires money to maintain. The pain of parting with your hard-earned cash will not end on the day you finish your last mortgage payment.

You have to brace yourself for other costs for maintaining a safe, secure, and environmentally friendly home. You have to also be ready to meet certain costs such as association fees, insurance, taxes, utilities, maintenance and major/minor repairs.

#14. Entering into Multiple Agreements

While it’s a smart thing to compare different houses before buying, you might end up biting off a lot more than you can chew.

This is especially true if you meet up with sellers and make offers or promises that you don’t intend to honor.

Before entering into any agreement with a seller or an agent, it’s imperative you ensure that you are ready to honor your end of the deal.

If you can avoid the above mentioned mistakes that are commonly made by first-time buyers, you will be more like a pro homebuyer instead of a rookie.

Avoiding these mistakes can help you make the right choices when it comes to finding a home you and your family can take pride in. Keeping in mind the resale value will also help you avoid problems moving on in the future. 

Be a pro!

cash back refinance

Cash out and rate-and-term will save you money

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How can a cash out refinance save me money?

There are 2 categories of refinance

1.“rate-and-term” 

2.“cash out”

Both will save you money

rate-and-term

The First type, rate-and-term, replaces your existing loan with one that has a better rate and/or terms. You might replace an ARM or balloon loan with a fixed-rate loan, for example. Or you may decide to lower your rate AND shorten your term. Some borrowers have been able to refinance from a 30-year loan into a 15 or 20-year loan, reducing the term, without appreciably raising their payments.

A borrower does not receive any significant amount of cash in a rate-and-term refinance; lenders generally consider that any cash proceeds above $2,000 pushes the loan into a cash out category.

There are always certain costs involved in any mortgage transaction; there will always be fees for title, escrow, underwriting and document preparation, for example. Borrowers can add these fees to their new loan to avoid having to pay them in cash. Financing these items is not considered cash out.

When you are deciding whether to do a rate-and-term refinance, you should evaluate it in two primary ways: first, how long will it take to recover the cost of doing the loan? For example, if the closing costs amount to $3,000 and the reduction in rate gives a saving of $1,500 per year in the first year.” For most people, this time frame is more than satisfactory, but you should make your own decision. The second criterion is net savings over some time, say five years, ten years or more. 

Homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) may decide to refinance into a fixed rate loan, even though their rate may initially be higher, they might feel more secure knowing that their rate will never change. This is more of a defensive strategy to guard against the possibility of a higher rate in the future, but it may not “save money.”

cash out

The other type of refinance, a “cash out,” the borrower receives cash of more than $2,000 at closing. This is accomplished by getting a new loan that is larger than the balance of the old one plus closing costs. Borrowers can use that money for anything. Homeowners have used cash out refinances to pay off consumer debt, like car loans, student loans, and credit cards. Using home equity to pay off credit cards can drop the payment dramatically! But paying down installment loans can create a false economy. A $30,000 car loan with an interest rate of 6% will have a payment of $500. Paying off that loan with the proceeds of a home refinance will effectively drop the payment to $150. It does NOT make sense to finance a car for 30 years. 

Contact Us. We can help you get pre-approved for a mortgage and determine how much house you can buy this next time around.  Rainbow Mortgage, Inc. is a broker so we have access to many different lenders and their loan programs which translates into more options for you!

 

The Different Types of Home Mortgage Loans and Which is Right for You

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Did you know there are many varieties of home loans, and that not every mortgage is the same? Rainbow Mortgage Inc. is a local mortgage broker with has access to more loan programs than the big banks, ensuring you get the best mortgage loan for your situation. Even though there are many different types of loans, the majority will fall into these categories:

Conventional Loans:

The standard home mortgage loan is a conventional loan. Many people believe you need a 20% down payment when applying for a conventional loan however, this is not true. Rainbow Mortgage Inc. is proud to be one of the few mortgage companies in Minnesota to offer a 1% down payment program.

FHA Loans:

FHA Loans are backed by the US Federal Housing Administration and carry mortgage insurance throughout the life of the loan. FHA Loans have a minimum down payment requirement of 3.5% which can be from a savings account or gifted monies. Not every property qualifies for an FHA loan, but FHA home loans are available to those who have lower credit scores.

VA Loans:

Active duty military members and veterans of all military branches are eligible for a VA Home Loan. Two of the best perks of a VA Loan are the lower rates and that there is no down payment required! In addition, a VA Loan provides the option of a cash-out-refinance for up to 100% of the home’s value for any reason.

Jumbo Loans:

In most counties, a home mortgage larger than $453,100 is considered jumbo! These loans typically require higher rates than conventional and FHA loans.  However, Rainbow Mortgage Inc. is now able to offer a high balance loan option (loan amount from $453,100-$679,650) while still keeping the loan “conventional”.  This option allows for lower rates, easier guidelines, and fewer documents than a jumbo loan.

USDA Loans:

For those looking for a home in a rural area, the home may qualify for a USDA Home Loan. This government loan program is designed to improve the economy and quality of life in rural areas. Although there are income limitations with this program, the loans have lower rates and don’t require a down payment.

Specialty Home Loans:

As a Twin Cities mortgage broker, our team has access to more lenders with more loan products than the big or local banks do. If you have a unique situation (self-employed, unemployed, need down payment assistance, or have had credit issues), we can help find the best home loan program for your scenario. At Rainbow Mortgage Inc. we never say “no”, we say “not now” as we’ll work with you create a plan to help you achieve your housing goals.

 

Ready to Learn More?

Contact the experienced mortgage brokers at Rainbow Mortgage Inc. to learn more about any of these programs and get started today!