08
Mar
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Why Did My Application For A Refinance Get Turned Down?

Why Did My Application For A Refinance Get Turned Down?If you want to save money on your home loan, you might want to refinance. During the refinancing process, you could secure a better interest rate on your home loan. You could also withdraw cash from your home’s equity value to cover other expenses. Similar to a regular mortgage application, some refinance applications are denied. Why is this the case, and what should you do next? 

Your Debt To Income Ratio Is Off

One of the most common reasons why an application for a home refinance is turned down is that the applicant has too much debt. The lender will not want to refinance a homeowner who has too much existing debt. If you have credit card debt, car loans, or student loans, you may want to pay down some of this existing debt before you apply for a refinance. 

Your Credit Score Is Too Low

Your credit score is still going to play a significant role in your application for a refinance. If your credit score has gone down since you purchased the house, you may have a difficult time refinancing. You should always request a copy of your credit report and correct any issues on that report before you decide to apply for a refinance. 

Your Home Value Has Gone Down

The lender may also deny your application for a refinance if your home has gone down in value. Your home is used as collateral for the loan. If the home has gone down in value, the lender might be worried that the value of the home may not pay off the balance of the loan in the event you start missing payments. You may have to wait for the home’s value to go back up before you can refinance. 

Work With A Professional Team

If you want to refinance your home, it can be frustrating if your application gets denied. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you cannot apply again. You should work with a professional team that can take a look at your refinance application, figure out why the application was turned down, and rectify the situation. Sometimes, an application is turned down simply because the lender doesn’t have enough information or the application was not filled out properly. 

25
Feb
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

How Can You Secure A Better Interest Rate When Refinancing Your Home Loan?

How Can You Secure A Better Interest Rate When Refinancing Your Home Loan?If you want to save money on your home loan, you may want to consider refinancing. During the refinancing process, you will replace your existing home loan with a new one; however, you want to secure the lowest interest rate possible. How can you get a better rate on your mortgage during the refinancing process? 

Consider Refinancing Your Home Loan To A Shorter Term

If you can create less risk for the lender, you can get a lower interest rate. One of the ways to do so is to refinance your home loan to a shorter term. If the average interest rate has gone down, you might be able to keep your monthly payments the same while paying off your home loan more quickly. If you can refinance to a shorter loan term, your lender might reward you with a lower interest rate. 

Consider Paying Off Your Existing Debt

You can also secure a better interest rate on your home loan by paying off your existing debt. This includes student loans, car loans, and credit card debt. You might want to use the proceeds from a cash-out refinance to pay off your existing debt. The lender might give you a lower interest rate if you have a better debt-to-income ratio. 

Always Check Your Credit Report Before Refinancing

Your credit score will also play a significant role in your interest rate. Before you refinance, you should request a free copy of your credit report. There might be inaccuracies in the report that you need to correct before you apply for a refinance. Furthermore, if your credit score has gone up since you purchased the home, you might be able to secure a lower interest rate from the lender. 

Secure A Better Mortgage Rate When Refinancing

One of the many benefits of refinancing an existing home loan is that you may be able to secure a lower interest rate. You want to get the lowest interest rate possible, so consider working with a professional who can help you put these tips will work for you. Getting a lower interest rate on your home loan could save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. 

 

23
Feb
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Everything Homeowners Need To Know About Down Payments

Everything Homeowners Need To Know About Down PaymentsBuying a house is an exciting time, but homeowners also need to make the best financial decision to meet their needs. One of the biggest decisions potential homeowners will face is how much money to put down.

A down payment is the amount of money that homeowners pay upfront when they purchase a home. Many homeowners believe they need to put down 20 percent; however, this is not always the case. What do homeowners need to know about putting a down payment on a house? 

20 Percent Is Not Always Required

The reason why homeowners often believe they need to put down 20 percent is that lenders will often require a 20 percent down payment to avoid paying PMI. PMI stands for private mortgage insurance. If a homeowner puts down less than 20 percent, the lender takes on significant risk if the homeowner defaults. Therefore, the lender may require the homeowner to purchase PMI to protect the lender against the risk of default.

Homeowners might be able to secure a loan with 10 percent down if they are willing to pay PMI. First-time home buyers might be able to secure a home loan with as little as 3.5 percent down if they go with an FHA loan.

The Relationship Between Down Payments And Interest Rates

Homeowners might want to put down more money to earn a lower interest rate. Securing a lower interest rate could save homeowners tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. If homeowners put down more money, the lender doesn’t take on as big of a risk. Therefore, the lender might be willing to charge a lower interest rate. 

Work With A Professional 

Ultimately, the size of the down payment is one of the biggest decisions potential homeowners have to make. It can take a long time to save up 20 percent for a home, but this is not always required. Homeowners need to know whether they need to pay PMI if they do not put 20 percent down, and they need to understand how the size of the down payment will impact the interest rate on a loan. It is a prudent idea to consult with a professional when deciding how much money to put down for a house.