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Mortgage News Matters

What are the Benefits of Working with a Real Estate Professional?

two home buyers shaking hands with a real estate agent

Working with a real estate professional can be extremely helpful – especially for first-time homebuyers with little to no experience. They can help save time, money, and the stress that can come with navigating the unknown of the real estate market.

To help, we’ve listed the 4 MAJOR BENEFITS of working with a Real Estate Professional:

  1. Paperwork. Real estate professionals provide assistance with all the necessary paperwork and disclosures required in today’s heavily regulated environment. Their expertise can help save time by avoiding common errors made by those who are unfamiliar with the laws and regulations.

  2. Experience. Highly educated and with years of real estate experience, a professional knows the ins and out of the entire sales process, saving you both time and unnecessary distress.

  3. Negotiations. Real estate professionals often act as “buffer” in negotiations with all parties throughout the entire transaction. Which can be helpful and even necessary when negotiations become more complex.

  4. Pricing. Lastly, real estate professionals can look to their understanding of today’s market when setting an offer price. Not only do they have the years of experience behind them, but they also have access to online tools and resources that are only available to industry professionals.


To learn more about the benefits of working with a Real Estate Agent and to speak with one of our referral partners, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!

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Mortgage News Matters

7 Questions to ask your Lender when Obtaining a Pre-Qualification Letter

Clipboard with prequalification letter

Pre-qualification is an essential first step in the home buying process. It determines how much money you can borrow and gives you insight into what your mortgage options are – allowing your lender to better identify your unique needs and goals.

To help you best get prepared, we’ve listed 7 important questions to ask your lender when starting the pre-qualification process.

  1. What is your pre-qualification process? Every lender has a different process. To help you best prepare and save yourself the most time and energy, ask your lender what documentation is required before starting the process.

  2. How long can I expect the process to take? There are many factors that go into the overall timeline, such as processing, underwriting, title search, appraisal, and other verification procedures.

    By asking how long the process will take up front, you can set realistic expectations for yourself. It can also be helpful to ask what factors could delay the home closing, so you can best prepare for any likely hurdles.

  3. Are my taxes and insurance included in the payment? This will determine how much your monthly payments will be, as well as how much money you will need to bring to the closing.

  4. Is there anything that could increase my interest rate or loan payment? If a borrower chooses a fixed interest rate loan, their payment will never increase throughout the life of the loan. However, if taxes and insurance are included, your payment could change over time due to increases in HOI premiums and property taxes.

  5. Can I lock in my interest rate? And if so, how long will my interest rate be locked? Typically, mortgage rates are priced with a 30-day lock, but you can choose to delay this if you are purchasing a foreclosure or short sale. A shorter lock period means a lower interest rate, while a longer lock period results in a higher interest rate.

  6. How will my credit score affect my interest rate? This is an important question to ask, especially if you have had any changes in your recent credit scenario.

  7. How much should I expect to pay at closing? There are many factors that go in to determining your closing costs, such as your earnest money deposit, appraisal fees and seller contributions. By getting this number up front, so you can properly budget for closing day.

To learn more about the pre-qualification process and get the answers to your questions, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!

Categories
Mortgage News Matters

What are the Benefits of Paying with Mortgage Points?

graphic of a house and dollar signs

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions one can make in their lifetime. Those home buyers who could use help with financing may want to consider using mortgage points.

What are Mortgage Points?

Mortgage points, or discount points, are fees paid to the lender at closing to reduce the borrower’s interest rate. Completely optional for homebuyers, paying for discount points can lower the monthly mortgage payments and is often referred to as “buying down the rate.”

How do they work?

Homebuyers buy points from their lender and each point costs 1% of the mortgage amount. For example, one point of a $400,000 mortgage would be $4,000. Each point lowers the rate by 0.25% and homebuyers can buy more than one point or fractions of a point.

What are the Benefits of paying with Mortgage Points?

  • Lowers interest rate for the buyer
  • Lowers monthly mortgage payments

    Keep in mind your monthly savings depend on the interest rate, the amount borrowed, and the length of the loan’s term.

To learn more about mortgage points and determine whether they are right for you, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!

Categories
Mortgage News Matters

What are the Benefits of Buying a Foreclosed Home?

Sold sign on a foreclosed home

Buying a foreclosed home can be beneficial to home buyers in a variety of ways. The main one being – it’s attractively low price. With most sold well below market value, foreclosed homes could be a great option for homebuyers on a budget!

What is a Foreclosed Home?

A foreclosed home is a property that has been repossessed by the bank or government after the homeowner stops making payments and defaults on their loan.

Types of foreclosures:

  • Pre-foreclosure
  • Short sale
  • Sheriff’s sale
  • Real estate owned

How to find a foreclosed home?

Potential homebuyers who are looking to purchase a foreclosed home can look to some government-backed websites or simply take a drive throughout different neighborhoods, as they would for any other home. Another option is speaking to a real estate agent who may be more knowledgeable of foreclosures in the buyer’s preferred neighborhood.

What are the benefits of purchasing a foreclosed home?

  • Lower than market value price
  • Lower down payments
  • Lower interest rates
  • Elimination of appraisal fees and some closing costs

A foreclosed home is typically set at a lower than market value price. This is a great option for those homebuyers who are looking to purchase but cannot afford many of the homes on the market. Along with this, foreclosed homes tend to have lower down payments and lower interest rates, making them even more affordable. Lastly, when purchasing a foreclosed home, buyers can eliminate appraisal fees and some closing costs, making the home buying process just that much simpler.

To learn more about foreclosures and the process of buying one, contact a VanDyk Loan Originator today!