Category: Interest Rates

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First-time Homebuyer Homebuying Homebuying Tips Interest Rates Mortgages Purchase Refinance

Mortgage Rate Locks: Everything You Need to Know

Interest rates are often on the move, which isn’t always great news for homebuyers or current homeowners. Luckily, a mortgage rate lock might help you bypass interest rate ups and downs when you want to make important mortgage decisions!

Mortgage Rate Lock: What Is It?

A mortgage rate lock, or lock-in, is a tool that will stop your interest rate from changing as you navigate the home-buying or refinance process. Your rate lock stays in place if you close within the specified lock period and your application has no changes. 

How Long Can You Lock in a Mortgage Rate?

Rate lock duration varies between lenders, but in most cases, a 30 or 60-day lock period is available. Rate-lock extensions are also a possibility.

Locking in a rate the moment you receive your loan approval is not always a requirement. A lender could allow you to lock your rate in at any time between signing a purchase agreement and closing on your mortgage. The length of the rate lock will affect how much interest you can expect to pay on your loan. 

Keep this in mind: MortgageRight’s Lock & Shop program allows you a 60-day lock period to find the home you want to buy. If you find a home within 60 days, a free 30-day extension will be granted. To start the rate-lock period, you will be charged a $1,500 flat fee to lock the loan. Once the loan is closed, we will issue a $1,500 credit toward your loan’s closing costs.

When to Lock in a Mortgage Rate

Knowing when to lock your mortgage rate can maximize how much you’ll benefit. The best time to get a rate lock will always depend on your financial situation, but you also need to consider the state of the housing market. Locking your interest rate mitigates the risk of interest rate volatility. If interest rates are predicted to rise during your home-buying process, a rate lock could be a worthwhile financial decision. However, if interest rates are likely to lower, getting a rate lock could keep you from saving money in the long term. 

When choosing to purchase or refinance with MortgageRight, you’ll have the opportunity to lock your loan after submitting a valid loan application.

Rate Locks for Homebuyers

When buying a new home, these rate-lock conditions may or may not apply: 

  • If your lender offers a lock-while-you-shop option, you will likely be able to lock your rate as soon as you’re pre-qualified or pre-approved. MortgageRight’s Lock & Shop program offers this option.
  • Borrowers must have a full application and selection of a property if the lender doesn’t offer a lock and shop program.
 Rate Locks for Refinancers

When refinancing, the following may affect how your rate lock is applied:

  • When considering a traditional refinance, ask yourself if the money you will save on your monthly payments will outweigh what you will pay in closing costs and interest on the new loan when the rate you’re attempting to lock is applied. If so, locking the rate might be a good idea. 
Change Can Happen

Even if you’ve managed to land a rate lock, your locked-in rate can still fluctuate if you make disqualifying decisions. Here are a few common reasons your interest rate lock may not be honored:

  • A change in your requested loan type or adjustment of your down payment amount can result in a different locked-in interest rate. 
  • Appraisal matters. If the appraisal on the home you’re buying is higher or lower than expected, your interest rate can change.
  • If your credit score changes, so can your interest rate while under a rate lock. 
  • Income issues can also affect your locked interest rate. 

Keep this in mind: Rate locks are not guaranteed and are subject to underwriting protocols. To secure and maintain a rate lock, you must meet all qualifying guidelines. A rate lock does not serve as a loan approval or commitment to lend from your lender.

Ready to Lock in a New Home?

Homeownership can be tricky in today’s market, but a rate lock can get you into the home of your dreams! Contact us today to get started with our Lock & Shop program!

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Budgeting Interest Rates Mortgages Purchase Refinance

Bring Home the Bacon: The Ins & Outs of a Cash-Out Refinance

Picture This: You come home from a hard day’s work only to find the paint chipping from your walls and high-interest debt chipping away at your bank account. With a sigh, you throw yourself down in your favorite recliner and stare up at the ceiling in defeat—until it hits you. There is a reason a home is considered one of the best investments you can make in your lifetime, and using the roof over your head to put cash in your pocket might be just what you need to get your life back on track.

What Is a Cash-Out Refinance?

When refinancing a mortgage, you replace your existing loan with a new one for the same amount—usually at a lower interest rate to reduce mortgage payments. But with a cash-out refinance, you substitute your current home loan with a new mortgage that is higher than your outstanding loan balance. 

A cash-out refinance makes the most of the equity you have built over time by letting you pocket the difference between the two mortgages in cash. This lump sum opens the door for consolidating high-interest debt, making important purchases, or tackling large-scale home renovation projects.

The Equity of It All

Home equity is the backbone of a cash-out refinance, so let’s look at the numbers. 

Say you purchased a home at $250,000, and its value has risen to $300,000. Having lived in the home for five years, you have managed to pay your mortgage down to $215,000. 

The equity built in your home is simply the difference between your mortgage balance and your home’s value. Which, in this example, is $85,000.

*Though you might be itching to utilize the entire amount, lenders generally only allow you to withdraw a portion of it. Assuming you can only refinance 80% of the home’s value, you take out $17,000 in cash, while $68,000 remains in the home. 

Yays & Nays of a Cash-Out Refinance

Yays

The advantages of a cash-out refinance often outweigh those of other loan options. Here’s how a cash-out refinance can help your finances thrive:

  • Land a lower interest rate – Generally, a mortgage refinance is an opportunity to get a lower interest rate than you would if you opted for a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) or a home equity loan. This benefit also applies to a cash-out refinance with the added perk of pocketing some cash you might need. 
  • Fund home improvement projects – One of the easiest ways to add value to your home and boost your overall homeowning experience is to start home improvement projects. Renovating your bathroom or giving your kitchen a facelift can increase your home’s appeal and future selling potential. 
  • Consolidate high-interest debts and pay them off – Are you drowning in debt? Using a cash-out refinance to pay off high-interest credit cards (and other debt) can bring you back above water and save you thousands in future interest payments.  
  •  Pay for other expenses – Have a child going off to college soon? You can use your home’s equity to pay for your child’s tuition in the event of student loan interest rates being higher than the rate of your refinanced mortgage. Just want the money to splurge? Have at it! You can use the lump sum you receive from a cash-out refinance to purchase virtually anything.
Nays

Though beneficial for many homeowners, a cash-out refinance isn’t always the best choice for every situation. Here’s why you might want to consider alternatives:

  • Higher interest rate than expected – Getting a cash-out refinance might seem like a no-brainer, but be sure it is working in your favor. Generally, you want to refinance if the outcome will be a lower interest rate. If a cash-out refinance ends in an interest-rate spike, it might not be the route you want to take. 
  • You can’t avoid closing costs  – Because a cash-out refinance is still a refinance, you have to pay closing costs. Typically, the closing costs are deducted from the cash you are receiving and not out of pocket. It is always a good idea to consider the overall financial benefit of a cash-out refinance. If your potential savings are less than the costs, a cash-out refinance might not make sense for your situation. 
  • Taking a chance with your home – Though a cash-out refinance is yours to use however you choose, always be aware of the risk that comes with using your home as collateral. Be sure to take out no more than the amount you need, and put it toward a project that is guaranteed to benefit you financially.
  • Enabling unhealthy financial habits – As tempting as it may be to use your home as a cash cow, tapping your home’s equity to finance every expense could cause a sense of false security and, ultimately, lead to a resurfacing of the debts you initially paid off.  

Do You Qualify?

To reap the benefits of a cash-out refinance, you need to qualify. Much like getting a mortgage for a new home, if you are considering a cash-out refinance, your qualification for the loan will be based on your credit score, finances, and property. 

While requirements for a cash-out refinance differ between lenders and the type of loan, these are the general criteria: 

  • More than 20% equity in your home 
  • Verification of the home’s value with a new appraisal
  • A minimum credit score of 620
  • Debt-to-income ratio (including the new loan) of 43% or less
  • Employment and income verification

The Big Picture: Is a Cash-Out Refinance Your Best Option?

Whether you want to revamp your basement or knockdown debt, a cash-out refinance can be an attractive option when it comes to meeting your financial goals. Are you still on the fence about a refinance? Reach out to MortgageRight, and we’ll help you down. 

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Credit Down Payment Government Loans Homebuying Homebuying Tips Interest Rates Loans Mortgages Purchase Refinance

Appreciating Our Veterans One VA Loan at a Time

What does it mean to be a Veteran? Being a veteran means fighting for the freedoms of those you have never met. It means having a willingness to give up everything while expecting nothing in return. Being a veteran means volunteering to leave the home you’ve always known, so others won’t have to. It means that you not only understand the concept of courage, but you embody it.

Most of all, being a veteran means taking off the uniform and rebuilding a civilian life when your service is complete. Here at MortgageRight, we understand how difficult it can be to make the transition from protector to private citizen. To show our appreciation for your sacrifice, we provide easy access to a mortgage made just for you—the VA home loan.  

What Is a VA Loan?

Homeownership can become a hassle if you’re not equipped with the financing option that is right for you. For the vast majority of military borrowers, the VA loan program is the most beneficial. These versatile, $0-down payment mortgages have made it possible for more than 24 million service members to achieve their dream of homeownership. 

Despite the program being designed to create a seamless homebuying experience for service members, much of our military population is left in the dark about the program’s unique benefits, and this leads them to choose less favorable loan options.

Who Qualifies? 

To be eligible for a VA loan, you must be a veteran or active service member who has satisfied at least one of these service requirements:

  • Served for 90 consecutive days during wartime 
  • Served for 181 days during peacetime 
  • Served in the National Guard or the Reserves for 6 years

Surviving spouses of service members may also qualify if the service member’s life was lost in the line of duty or if they sustained a service-related disability.

Before you can obtain a VA loan, you will need to present your lender with a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility, which is a document provided by The Department of Veteran’s Affairs as proof of your qualification. To prove previous military service, you must provide a Report of Separation (DD Form 214). If you are on active duty, you will need to provide a Statement of Service instead.

Though The Department of Veteran Affairs does not require a minimum credit score to qualify, it is best to maintain a credit score of 620 or higher to ensure third-party lender requirements are met. 

Backed by Benefits

  • Zero Down Payment

Other loan programs usually require at least a 3% down payment when purchasing a home. However, if you’re looking to buy a home with a VA loan, one of its most advantageous aspects is that the down payment requirement is no longer a burden. 

  • 90% Equity Cash Out

For homeowning service members and veterans, refinancing with a VA loan opens the door for a 90% equity cash out. This option replaces your existing mortgage with a new loan for more than you owe on your current mortgage and allows you to pocket the difference if your home has risen in value. This is especially beneficial if you are looking to save for higher education or retirement, pay off higher-interest debt, or make needed home improvements.

  • Say No to Mortgage Insurance Costs

Unlike other home loans on the market that require mortgage insurance premiums when the borrower has less than 20% equity in their home, VA loans do not come with any mortgage insurance premiums or private mortgage insurance costs—which helps borrowers save even more each month. 

 

Though a VA loan offers savings opportunities at every corner, it does require a VA Funding Fee (that is 2.3% of the amount borrowed with a VA loan, which increases to 3.6% if you are a previous VA loan borrower).

  • The IRRRL Deal

If you have an existing VA-backed home loan, the IRRRL (Interest rate reduction refinance loan) is another added perk. This program is perfect if you want to reduce your current monthly mortgage payments or increase payment stability. 

Let Us Appreciate You

As a Veteran owned and operated lender, MortgageRight always rises to the challenge of helping active and veteran service members navigate the VA-loan landscape and secure the mortgage that meets their unique homebuying needs.

Unsure if the VA loan is right for you? We can help! Get a quote or pre-approval letter or email us at contact@mortgageright.com for any questions.

Happy Military Appreciation Month & Thank You for Your Service!

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Budgeting Homebuying Homebuying Tips Interest Rates Loans Mortgages Purchase Refinance

Take Advantage of Unheard-Of Interest Rates

2020 is shaping up to be an interesting year for the US housing markets. The combination of a global pandemic and an election year has led to historically low-interest rates. Now is a great time to assess your financial situation and develop a plan to take advantage of this unprecedented time in the housing market. And these low-interest rates are no secret; applications to refinance have gone up by 80% to the highest level since the financial crisis of 2009. Even though this may be a stressful time in the stock market with uncertainty about the future, taking advantage of these low-interest rates is a concrete step you can take towards financial security in insecure times. Don’t get anxious, get proactive! We don’t know how long rates will stay this low, so now is the time to act!

 According to the Federal Reserve, the rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has been about 3.75% in early 2020, and recent events have taken it even lower. That means if your rate is above 4%, you could benefit from refinancing! If you currently have a VA, FHA, or USDA loan, we have even more good news. You don’t have to have an appraisal to refinance to a lower rate.  

Here are some ideas for ways to take advantage of low-interest rates:

  • Refinance your mortgage – lower your payments by thousands of dollars or cut your term in half!
  • Refinance other loans such as student loans 
  • Make large, one-time payments on other debt.
  • Consolidate and pay off your debt – pay off high-interest credit cards to save money.
  • Purchase a new or second home – whether you’ve been looking for a vacation house, an investment property, or an upgrade for your family, now is the time! 
  • Start a business – use your savings as a nest egg to finance your dream company.

Call (205) 776-8401 to speak to any of our Mortgage Loan Experts to discuss your financial goals and find out how we can help you save thousands with a refinance. Or, head on over to our website and click the Apply Now button for an online application. 

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Budgeting Credit Homebuying Tips Interest Rates Loans Mortgages

How Do Interest Rates Work?

Although we may not like it, loans come with interest, and that includes mortgages. While this is unavoidable when securing a mortgage loan, understanding how interest rates work can help you determine the type of loan that is best for your situation. 

Banks and lenders offer two primary types of loans: fixed-rate and adjustable-rate. Let’s explore the differences between the two. 

Fixed-Rate Mortgages

In a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate does not change. Therefore, the monthly payments will be the same over the entire life of the loan. Most loans have a 30-year repayment period, although shorter loan periods are available. Shorter loan terms come with higher monthly payments, but the interest rate and the total amount of your payments will be lower. 

Your annual loan interest rate will be divided by 12 to get your monthly interest payment. If your annual interest rate is 4%, your monthly interest rate is 0.3%. Take this example:

Loan Amount: $180,000

Loan Period: 30 years

Monthly Payment before Interest: $500 

Annual Interest: 4%

Monthly Interest: 0.3%

Monthly Mortgage Payment: $650

Part of your monthly payment goes toward paying off the principal, or mortgage balance, but a significant portion goes toward interest on the loan. With each passing month, the principal gets a little smaller, meaning the percentage of your payment that goes to interest gets smaller. 

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

With an adjustable-rate mortgage, the interest rate can fluctuate, allowing the monthly payment to change over time. While this inconsistency can cause hesitation, most adjustable-rate mortgages limit how high the interest rate can go and how often it can change. Your monthly payment will recalculate every time the rate goes up or down. 

These rates usually start significantly lower than rates on fixed-rate mortgages, and they are guaranteed to last for the first few years. This benefits individuals who do not plan to live in the home longer than the rate is guaranteed. 

What Affects Mortgage Interest Rates?

Several factors affect mortgage interest rates, including inflation and monetary policy. Inflation is an estimate of the change in the value of the dollar. $1 buys more today than it will ten years from now, so lenders charge interest to cover the cost of inflation while earning a profit. The Federal Reserve’s monetary policies also have effects throughout the economy, including interest rates. Mortgage lenders monitor these factors and adjust rates accordingly. 

Another factor that affects interest rates is supply and demand. Downward pressure on interest rates increases when demand for homes decreases as more people opt to rent. 

Those outside environmental factors affect the market rates, but your financial history and credit score significantly affect the individualized interest rate you will receive. 

The good news is that mortgage rates are some of the lowest they have ever been, although they won’t stay that way forever. 

How Will Interest Rates Affect My Mortgage Payment?

To get an idea of how much your payment will be each month, try our free mortgage calculator! While many factors affect your monthly payment, this tool will give you the insight you need to get started.

If you’re ready for a quote or preapproval, visit our homepage for thee resources, or email us at contact@MortgageRight.com to lock in a low mortgage rate today! 

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Budgeting Credit Down Payment First-time Homebuyer Home Inspections Homebuying Homebuying Tips Interest Rates Loans Mortgages Purchase

Mortgages 101: Everything You Need to Know About This Home Buying Process

Purchasing a home is an exciting process. However, it can be intimidating when you consider all the decisions and details leading up to closing day. 

We want to help make the process just a little easier. To do so, we put together some of the most frequently asked questions about mortgages and the mortgage process – a Mortgage 101, if you will. By the end of this blog, you’ll be even closer to getting your dream home!

  1. How do I start the mortgage process?

Before submitting your mortgage application, you’ll need to have an idea of the type of mortgage loan you want, ensure your credit report is error-free, choose your lender, get pre-approved, and assemble your loan paperwork. 

If that sounds like a lot — just hold tight. We are going to break each of these down further in the following questions. 

  1. How do I know which type of mortgage loan is right for me?

There are many types of mortgages available to choose from based on requirements, interest rates, and availability. Some of the most common are conventional mortgages, government-insured mortgages, fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and jumbo mortgages. 

To help you get an idea of the mortgage that’s right for you, we wrote a blog on each of these types (and more!) and broke them down into their characteristics and benefits. Read about them here!

  1. Can I get a mortgage loan without a credit score?

It is more challenging to get a mortgage loan without a credit score, but it’s not impossible. As we mentioned in the previous question, you can get an FHA loan with low or no credit. However, this can incur greater costs in the long run with fees and insurance. 

If you don’t have a credit score — the best process for you is finding a lender who does manual underwriting. Manual underwriting is a hands-on process that reviews your proof of income, rental history, and other documents to evaluate your ability to pay debts. In addition to documentation, you’ll need to have a sizable downpayment (20% if possible), allowing you to get a mortgage loan — suggest going for the 15-year conventional. 

  1. How should I choose a mortgage lender?

First and foremost, do your research. What are your options? Should you check out a credit union, mortgage banker, or smaller financial institution?

Come with the right questions. The more you know beforehand, the more you are positioned to ask the relevant questions to help you make your decisions. This guide can help! Start by figuring out what type of loan(s) you are interested in and what you can afford. 

  1. What is pre-approval? How do I get pre-approved?

A pre-approval determines how much money you can borrow to purchase your home. Lenders will analyze your income, assets, and credit score to determine the type of loan you can get approved for, how much you can borrow, and what the interest rate will be. 

Pre-approval is a practical step in the mortgage process, as you can show sellers that a lender is willing to loan you the money. It makes the searching process more straightforward and can make your offer on a home stronger. 

  1. Are pre-qualification and pre-approval the same?

While they ultimately aim to reach the same goal, a pre-qualification is not as accurate as a pre-approval because it is less in-depth. A prequalification is more of an estimate because you do not have to provide as much information, such as your credit report. However, both are beneficial in giving insight into your loan opportunities. 

  1. What information should I have available when applying for a loan?

You’re getting closer and closer to locking down that mortgage loan! First, you’ll need to submit the official mortgage application through your lender. You’ll also need your ID, proof of income, tax returns, bank statements, retirement or investment account statements, rent history, credit report, and possibly a few others if specified by your lender. You may even have most of these nearby if you have gone through the pre-approval process! 

  1. Do I need to do a home appraisal and inspection? Why?

Yes! Lenders require a home appraisal before issuing a mortgage. Although it’s a worst-case scenario, they want to make sure the home is valued high enough to recover the cost of the loan if the buyer defaults on the mortgage. 

Inspections, however, are optional — but highly beneficial. It can often be the deciding factor in finding the home right for you. Here are 10 things buyers should know about home inspections!

  1. What homes can I afford, and what will my mortgage payments cost?

One of the most important factors to consider before beginning the search for a new home is your budget. You have to consider the down payment necessary for your new home and the monthly cost of the mortgage. Your mortgage payment is affected by a few factors, including your credit, DTI (debt-to-income ratio), and current assets. It also depends on how many years you want to spread the payment over. 

Once you have an idea of how much your home will cost, try our mortgage calculator! It will provide a helpful estimate of what your mortgage payment will be each month. 

  1. What does a lender look for when approving my mortgage loan?

As we have mentioned, your mortgage loan approval is affected significantly by your credit history, debt-to-income ratio, and current assets. When checking your credit history, lenders will look for:

  • Few to no recent credit applications
  • Positive payment history
  • Credit utilization (only using around 30% of your credit limit at once)
  • Being an authorized user on another account (their activity can reflect your credit)
  • Bankruptcies or other negative marks (delinquent account, charge-offs, etc.)

In addition to making sure you have a stable income, your lender will also assess how much of your current income goes to pay off debts. If this is a significant amount, the lender may determine that you are not well-suited to take on more debt, or your interest rate may be higher. 

Lastly, lenders will often want to see any bank statements or investments, as high-value assets will reflect positively on your ability to make a sizable down payment or pay your mortgage on time each month. 

Bonus Question: Can I Start Now?

Absolutely! At MortgageRight, we help people like you find the mortgage that’s right for you by securing your pre-approval letter and low rates. To start your home buying journey today, head over to our home page and click the quote or pre-approval button in the top right-hand corner. Just a few clicks will get you that much closer to the long-awaited move-in day! Do you have a question that’s not on this list? Feel free to email us at contact@mortgageright.com or give us a call at (205) 776-8401, and we will be happy to answer it for you!

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Homebuying Tips Interest Rates Loans Market Analysis Mortgages

What Does This Market Analysis Say About Mortgage Rates?

Mortgage rates are down, which can be an incentive for those looking to purchase or refinance a home. In fact, they’re some of the lowest rates we’ve seen in years! We talked to our resident expert employee, Jeff Angew, who provided some insight into how the current climate has impacted these opportunities for homeowners and homebuyers. 

Why Have Mortgage Rates Fallen?

With the onset of COVID-19 in March, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was to allow consumers to skip or lower mortgage payments for up to six months, a concept called mortgage forbearance. While beneficial for consumers, this component of the CARES Act incited something close to panic in the mortgage market. 

Because many in the market believed that a reduction in mortgage payments meant a significantly lower return for investors, mortgage rates began to skyrocket and investors in mortgage-backed securities began to exit the space. 

Enter the Federal Reserve, which, to help financial markets, lowered the federal funds rate to 0%-.25%, causing interest to fall significantly. However, this still did not help liquidity in the markets. 

In April, the Federal Reserve again stepped in, this time to purchase mortgage-backed securities; thus, causing them to be the largest holder of these securities and return a level of security to the market. This resulted in the lowest rates seen in the mortgage market to-date, causing something of a refinance boom. 

What are the Current Rates?

The current 30-year rate, as reported by Bankrate, is at 3.08%. The last time it was this low was in September 2016, at 3.32%. 

Learn more about the rates and APR in your state here! 

What Will Future Mortgage Rates Look Like?

The Federal Reserve plans to keep the federal funds rate at or near 0% through 2021 and will continue to purchase mortgage-backed securities. However, the presidential election in November could cause a change in the market, depending on who is elected. 

Currently, there are an estimated 19 million highly qualified refinance candidates who could lower their rate by at least .75%, adding to the strain on mortgage originators and causing rates to stay in this range. 

How Can You Take Advantage of These Low Rates!

While these rates are near historic lows, they won’t last forever. Whether you’re looking to purchase a house or refinance your current home, we’re here to help! Call us at 205.776.8401 to lock in your low rate today!

If you’re ready for a quote or a pre-approval, click the buttons in the top right corner of our home page.