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Know exactly what you can afford before you start searching for a home.

Home Purchase Qualifier

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Purchase Loan FAQ’s

What Information do I Need to Apply for a Mortgage?

You should have the following:
1.) Social security numbers of those applying for the loan
2) Copies of your bank statements for the past 6 months
3) Evidence of additional assets like stocks and bonds
4) Last two paycheck stubs
5) Previous two years of tax returns and W2s

What Happens at Closing?

You will meet with your closing agent who will have several documents for you and the seller to sign. While the closing agent will give you a basic explanation of each document, you may want to consult with your agent to make sure you know exactly what you’re signing.

How Large of a Loan Should I Apply for?

Lenders usually go by two rules of thumb when evaluating how much of a loan a borrower can realistically afford.

  1. Your maximum monthly mortgage payment should not be greater than 28% of your pre-tax income.
    2. Your maximum debt load (including your mortgage) should not be greater than 45% of your total pre-tax income.

These ratios are general rules of thumb on a traditional fixed-rate loan. Your lender can give you more information about other types of mortgages, such as FHA or VA loans, which have different qualification standards.

How Long Does it Take to Buy a Home?

You can expect the process to take anywhere from three to four weeks on average from the day you get pre-approved for your loan. This can obviously change depending on how well your home search goes and dealings with the seller. As a direct lender, Equinox Home Financing has a streamlined mortgage process that can get people funded much faster than your average big bank.

What’s the Difference from being Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved?

When making a purchase offer on a home (unless you are buying in cash) you need to have proof that you are qualified for the loan. To do this you need to show a letter to the seller and/or their agent.

Pre-qualification – This means you have spoken with a lender and the lender is willing to provide a written statement that they believe you will qualify for a loan. It only takes a few minutes and can be done over the phone. This is not as strong as pre-approval.

Pre-approval –You get pre-approved for a loan by submitting a formal loan application that is then verified by the lender. Pre-approval makes you look like a cash buyer in the eyes of a seller and gives you more negotiating power.

What is an Appraisal?

An appraisal is a detailed analysis by a licensed appraiser of the market value of the home you want to purchase. Lenders will require an appraisal as part of the loan approval process.

What are the Tax Benefits of Being a Homeowner?

In most cases you can deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes from your taxable income. In some cases this can make the after-tax cost of home ownership less expensive than renting. However, there may be tax implications if you later sell the home at a profit. Please consult your tax advisor for further information.

What is an Impound/Escrow Account?

An escrow impound account is an account that can be set up with your new home loan that will pay your property taxes and/or insurance for you by collecting 1/12th of the annual property taxes and/or insurance along with your mortgage payment. This account is set up at the loan closing and is designed to make sure that your property taxes are always paid on time and your insurance is always current.

Do I Qualify?

To qualify for a mortgage, lenders typically require that you have a debt-to-income ratio of “28/36.”  This means that no more than 28% of your total monthly income (from all sources, before taxes) can go toward housing, and no more than 36% of your monthly income can go toward your total monthly debt (including your mortgage payment).

  • Fixed Rates
  • Adjustable Rates (ARM)
  • Conforming Loans
  • Jumbo & Super Jumbo Loans
  • FHA, VA, & USDA Loans
  • Terms from 5 to 30 Years

Get Your FREE Pre-Approval Letter Now!

Home Purchase Qualifier
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