FAQs

From buying your first home to refinancing your current loan, we have your answers.

• How do I know how much I can afford?

  There are several factors that determine the home loan amount and purchase price that you can afford. For qualification purposes, lenders look at income, debt, assets (how much money you have for the down payment, closing fees, points, and other funds necessary to close your home loan), as well as credit. There are many different loan programs that offer different terms and rates, and some require lower down payments than others and offer more flexibility in credit and income. The best thing to do is use an affordability calculator to find out what your payments would be and determine what purchase price and loan amount is comfortable for you.

• What are points?

  A point is a percentage of the loan amount, or 1-point = 1% of the loan, so one point on a $100,000 loan is $1,000. Points are costs that need to be paid to a lender to get mortgage financing under specified terms. Discount points are fees used to lower the interest rate on a mortgage loan by paying some of this interest up-front. Lenders may refer to costs in terms of basic points in hundredths of a percent, 100 basis points = 1 point, or 1% of the loan amount.

• Should I pay points to lower my interest rate?

  Yes, if you plan to stay in the property for a least a few years. Paying discount points to lower the loan's interest rate is a good way to lower your required monthly loan payment, and possibly increase the loan amount that you can afford to borrow. However, if you plan to stay in the property for only a year or two, your monthly savings may not be enough to recoup the cost of the discount points that you paid up-front.

• What is APR?

  The annual percentage rate (APR) is an interest rate reflecting the cost of a mortgage as a yearly rate. This rate is likely to be higher than the stated note rate or advertised rate on the mortgage, because it takes into account points and other credit costs. The APR allows homebuyers to compare different types of mortgages based on the annual cost for each loan. The APR is designed to measure the "true cost of a loan." It creates a level playing field for lenders. It prevents lenders from advertising a low rate and hiding fees.

  The APR does not affect your monthly payments. Your monthly payments are strictly a function of the interest rate and the length of the loan.

  Because APR calculations are affected by the various different fees charged by lenders, a loan with a lower APR is not necessarily a better rate. The best way to compare loans is to ask lenders to provide you with a good-faith estimate of their costs on the same type of program (e.g. 30-year fixed) at the same interest rate. You can then delete the fees that are independent of the loan such as homeowners insurance, title fees, escrow fees, attorney fees, etc. Now add up all the loan fees. The lender that has lower loan fees has a cheaper loan than the lender with higher loan fees.

  The following fees are generally included in the APR:

  • Points - both discount points and origination points
  • Pre-paid interest. The interest paid from the date the loan closes to the end of the month.
  • Loan-processing fee
  • Underwriting fee
  • Document-preparation fee
  • Private mortgage-insurance
  • Escrow fee

  The following fees are normally not included in the APR:

  • Title or abstract fee
  • Borrower Attorney fee
  • Home-inspection fees
  • Recording fee
  • Transfer taxes
  • Credit report
  • Appraisal fee
• What does it mean to lock the interest rate?

  Mortgage rates can change from the day you apply for a loan to the day you close the transaction. If interest rates rise sharply during the application process it can increase the borrower's mortgage payment unexpectedly. Therefore, a lender can allow the borrower to "lock-in" the loan's interest rate guaranteeing that rate for a specified time period, often 30-60 days, sometimes for a fee.

• How much money do I need to buy a home?

  Traditional conventional financing may require a down payment of 10 to 20% of the purchase price of the home; however, there are other home loan programs available such as our FHA program that allows you to buy a home with as little as 3.5% down. In addition to the down payment, you should be aware that there are other fees associated with purchasing a home. For example, there are closing fees, pre-paid interest, and prorated items such as property taxes and homeowner's insurance. Call and speak with one of our home buying specialists to get a better idea of what you can expect.

  Get startedOr call to talk to a licensed lending officer (877) 572-2004

• Do I need a home inspection?

  Although a home inspection is not required, it is a good idea to obtain the services of a professional qualified inspector to help you determine the condition of the home you are looking to purchase. A professional inspector will look for any structural issues as well as mechanical problems that may exist in the home that could cause problems in the future. In addition to a structural review, an inspector will also check faucets, toilets, appliances, and other items in the home to make sure everything is in working order. If something needs to be addressed, you can address them with the seller prior to closing.

• What type of documentation do I need for a purchase home loan?

  Standard documentation collected for a purchase transaction includes information regarding your income such as paystubs covering the most recent 30 days and W-2s for the last two years, asset information such as bank or mutual fund stock statements covering the last 60 days showing source of funds for your down payment, closing fees, points, pre-paid items, and other funds needed to close your home loan.

• How long is the home purchase process?

  A typical escrow period is 30, 45, or 60 days. The escrow period, defined on the purchase contract and agreed upon by both buyer and seller, is usually what dictates when your loan closes.

• What happens at the loan closing?

  Typically, you will sign your loan documents at a designated settlement office such as an escrow office or attorney's office. In the presence of the signing authority, you will review and sign all your loan documents and then present a certified or cashier's check to pay the remaining down payment, closing fees and other applicable closing funds. You may also wire your funds directly into escrow. Your loan processor will guide you through the process and will advise you on what needs to be done when. Once the loan documents are signed and delivered back to us, you will get the keys to your brand new home! For more details, please visit our Home purchase process.

• Should I refinance?

  To determine whether or not it is a good idea for you to refinance, you should look at your specific situation and your motivation for refinancing. The most common reasons are lower refinance rates and/or payment, convert from an adjustable to a fixed rate, or a cash out refinance to consolidate debt or improve your home. If your objective is to reduce your rate and payment, you should review your current interest rate and see how much you can save with a 0 point loan and then determine if it makes sense to pay points to reduce your rate further. If you are converting your adjustable rate into a fixed rate, you may actually see an increase in your rate and payment, but you'll get peace of mind knowing your rate will never increase again. If you are using the equity in your home to consolidate debt, your overall loan balance and payment may go up, but you will save monthly because you will eliminate the monthly obligations that you are paying off. Your mortgage lending officer can run some numbers for you and help you determine whether or not refinancing makes sense for you.

• How much can I save if I refinance?

  Every situation is different. It depends on what your current interest is and what your motivation is for refinancing. If your current rate is higher than what is available in the market, it probably makes sense to refinance. To get an idea of what you could save by refinancing, check out our mortgage calculator page and input numbers specific to your situation or call one of our licensed lending officers for some expert advice.

  Get startedOr call to talk to a licensed lending officer (877) 572-2004

• What if I have a second mortgage on my home? Can I still refinance?

  Typically, any second mortgages are paid off through the refinance. We will consolidate both loans into one new first mortgage and you will only have one payment each month. If you'd prefer to keep your second mortgage intact, we may be able to ask your second mortgage lender to remain in second position and allow us to refinance the first loan. This process is called subordination and there is typically a fee charged by the second mortgage lender.

• Am I allowed to refinance if my property value is less than what I owe?

  There are options that may allow you to refinance your loan even if the value of your home is less than what you owe. Call and speak with one of our licensed lending officers to see if you qualify for one of our programs.

• What are the costs associated with refinancing?

  Fees associated with refinancing vary from lender to lender but there are standard fees that are typical across the board. These fees include 3rd party fees such as credit report, title, escrow, notary, and recording fees. Other fees include the appraisal fee and lender fees such as processing and underwriting. If you are paying points to lower the rate, the cost of each point that you pay equals 1% of your new loan amount. Aside from the closing fees, there will be prorated pre-paid costs for items such as property taxes, interest, and homeowner's insurance (if applicable). If you have enough equity in your home, you can add all fees and pre-paid items into your new loan.

• What type of documentation do I need for refinance?

  Standard documentation collected for a refinance transaction includes information regarding your income such as pay stubs covering the most recent 30 days and W-2s for the last two years, asset information such as bank or mutual fund/stock statements covering the last 60 days and current loan information such as your most recent mortgage statement and homeowner's insurance declarations page.

• Can I refinance with bad credit?

  Depending on the reasons why your credit is imperfect, there are great loan options available including our government programs. Call and speak with one of our licensed lending officers to determine whether or not you qualify for one of our programs.

• How long is the refinance process?

  Most refinance transactions could take up to 30 to 60 days based on the complexity of the loan.

  Get startedOr call to talk to a licensed lending officer (877) 572-2004

Take your first step today and get pre-approved for a loan.