10
Sep
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

What To Know About IRS Installment Agreements And Home Loans

What To Know About IRS Installment Agreements And Home LoansWhen applying for financing, lenders want to make sure the client is going to pay back the balance of the loan. Therefore, they will look into pre-existing debt including credit card debt, student loans, car payments, and back taxes. Sometimes, applicants have IRS installment agreements. This is an agreement consumers make with the IRS to pay taxes over an extended timeframe. How might this impact someone’s ability to apply for home financing? 

IRS Installment Agreements Count Against The Debt To Income Ratio

The IRS is going to calculate someone’s debt to income ratio when figuring out whether an applicant can apply for a home loan. Therefore, lenders will view IRS installment agreements as another form of debt along with medical debt, car loans, and student loans. As long as there is not too much debt, applicants should still be able to qualify for a home loan even if they have an installment agreement with the IRS. Even though having an IRS installment agreement may reduce the size of a loan someone may qualify for, applicants can still qualify for a home loan.

Lenders Will Look At Payment Histories

Lenders will take a look at how long the IRS installment agreement has been in place. Some mortgage programs may ask for proof of timely payment history. They know that if applicants have paid their installments on time, they should pay their mortgage on time as well. Some home lenders may require a payment history of up to 12 months. It is critical to discuss all financing options with the lender when looking for a home loan. 

Applicants Must Have Proper Documentation

To qualify for a home loan with an IRS installment agreement, applicants must produce proper documentation. Lenders will ask for a copy of the agreement. Then, they will verify the payment history of this debt. Keep in mind that federal tax debt holds first priority. This means that the lender will want to protect their own interests, asking the IRS installment agreement to give up their first position in favor of the mortgage. Typically, this is not an issue; however, this is something applicants need to discuss with the loan officer. That way, they can place their application in the best position possible to be successful. 

 

08
Sep
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

How To Find The Right Home Insurance Coverage For You And Your Family

How To Find The Right Home Insurance Coverage For You And Your FamilyThose who are taking out a loan for a home will probably be required by the lender to purchase home insurance. Even those who don’t need a loan will still need to make sure that they protect their property accordingly with a comprehensive home insurance policy. This is important for making sure homeowners have the money to replace their belongings and repair their property in the event of a disaster. At the same time, homeowners do not want to spend more than they must for a home insurance policy.

How can homeowners find the right home insurance policy to protect themselves?

Think About The Disasters In The Area

First, homeowners need to make sure the home insurance policy protects them against the right risks. If homeowners live in an area that is prone to floods or earthquakes, they need to find a policy that will protect them against these risks. If homeowners live in an area that gets a lot of hurricanes, they should make sure their home insurance policy protects them against hurricane damages. Not all policies include these as standard coverage, so homeowners should make sure they do not have to purchase a rider.

Make Sure There Is Money To Rebuild Your Home

Remember that the cost to rebuild a home could be more or less than the original purchase price. Lenders will want to make sure that all homeowners have a policy that gives them enough money to rebuild. Otherwise, the lender might not finance the mortgage. The local construction costs and the square footage of the structure will all play a role in the cost to rebuild. It might be prudent to work with a real estate agent to estimate this cost. The type of exterior, the style of the house, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and other properties on the premises will all play a role in the cost to rebuild a home.

Other Factors To Consider

Homeowners also need to think about whether their home is up to code. When the home is rebuilt, it needs to match new codes, which could increase the price. Homeowners also need to make sure their home insurance policy will cover valuable belongings in the home as well, such as furniture and electronics.

31
Aug
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

A Complete Guide: What Is A Credit Freeze And Why Is This Helpful?

A Complete Guide: What Is A Credit Freeze And Why Is This Helpful?Due to recent changes in federal regulations, consumers are now allowed to freeze their credit free of charge. Prior to changes in these regulations, credit bureaus would charge consumers for freezing their credit. What does this mean, and why might someone want to do this?

Freezing Credit Restricts Access To Confidential Information

There are certain situations where consumers may need to have access to their credit reports. For example, they may be applying for a home loan or a car loan. There are other situations where consumers may not need access to their credit reports for an extended amount of time. In this case, it is possible to freeze the credit report to restrict all access. This makes it harder for hackers to access confidential credit information, preventing them from opening an account in someone else’s name.

Who Can Freeze Their Credit Reports?

All consumers have the ability to freeze their credit reports. Even some children may have a credit history, so it is possible for parents to freeze the profile of a child for a certain amount of time. This prevents hackers from stealing credit information regarding children as well. 

How Can Consumers Freeze Their Credit Reports?

It is relatively easy to conduct a credit freeze at any of the three major credit bureaus including Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. All consumers need to do is request a credit freeze via a phone call,  letter, or an online request. The bureau has to comply, freezing someone’s credit report within one business day. Furthermore, consumers should be able to access free fraud alert services as well. That way, individuals will automatically be alerted if someone tries to open an account in their name. 

What Happens When Applying For A Loan?

If applying for a loan, consumers need to unfreeze their credit reports. Therefore, they should file a request with all three major credit bureaus. They will have to comply within one hour. Then, after the lender has the information he or she requires, consumers can simply request a credit freeze again. That way, they limit the opportunities of hackers who might be trying to steal confidential information and commit identity theft.