Purchase a Home
Owning your own home provides several benefits. In addition to the
satisfaction of being a homeowner, you can build equity, enjoy tax
deductions, say "good bye" to your landlord and take control of your
living environment.
Whether you are a first-time home buyer, renter, or are purchasing a new
or second home, we have an assortment of tools and loan programs to meet
your individual financing needs. Use our easy-to-navigate site, or
contact us by phone today.
We can help you realize your homeownership dreams by offering you all
the best advantages:
- Low Rates
- Easy Online Application
- All Types of Mortgage Programs
- Guidance and Advice From an Experienced Loan Professional
Refinance
Find out if now is the right time to refinance! You may be able to lower
your monthly payments or reduce the time it takes to pay off your loan.
You may also be able to save even more if you use your refinance
proceeds to pay off credit card or other installment debt, since
mortgage interest is usually 100% tax-deductible, and interest on
consumer debt is not.. Here are some important reasons to consider
refinancing:
- Get a lower mortgage rate and reduce interest costs.
- Convert an adjustable rate mortgage to a secure, fixed-rate mortgage.
- Consolidate your first and second mortgages into a mortgage with a
lower rate.
- Get cash for family wants and needs.
The advantages we offer you for your refinancing needs include:
- Low rates
- Easy online application
- All types of mortgage programs
- Guidance and advice from an experienced loan professional
New Construction
Construction / Perm Loans (CPs)
Construction / Perm financing allows you to obtain the funds to build
your new home and set your permanent loan terms in one transaction.
During the construction period, your builder will get periodic
disbursements and after the home is completed and all funds disbursed,
your permanent terms will take affect. During the construction period
the payments are interest only based on the amount disbursed.
First Time Buyer
Never owned a home? Our expert staff will walk you through every step of
the loan process.
No money down? No problem! With programs requiring only $500 of your own
funds and up to 6% seller assist towards closing costs, money is not an
issue.
If you're thinking about purchasing your first home, remember—it's a big
decision and several things should be taken into consideration. Here are
the top 5 questions you should ask yourself.
- How long do you plan on living in the home?
The national average for how long people live in their homes is
approximately seven to nine years. Reasons for leaving a home can vary
widely, but if you purchase a home and decide to move after only a short
time, you may end up paying money in order to sell it. Generally, the
shorter you're in your home, the less time your home has to appreciate
in value—perhaps not enough to recover what it cost to buy and sell the
home.
The amount of time it takes to recover those costs can depend on various
economic factors. In most parts of the country, homes appreciate at an
average of five percent per year. If this is the case in the area you
are looking to buy a home in, you should stay in your home at least
three to four years to recover buying and selling costs. If the area
where you buy your home experiences an economic upturn, it may take less
time to recover those costs. Conversely, if the local economy is not
doing well, it may take longer.
The amount of time you plan on living in your home will have an impact
on what home loan you choose. If you plan on staying there for more than
ten years, a long-term fixed-rate mortgage might be a sensible choice.
But if you know you're going to move within three to five years, an
adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), with its lower payment options, might be
a better choice.
- Can the home meet your future needs?
It's important to find a home and a home loan that satisfy your needs in
the present, as well as in the future. Do you plan to have kids in the
next few years? Do you plan on starting a business out of your home? Be
sure that the home has what you'll need now, and in the years to come,
so that you don't outgrow the home and have to leave it prematurely.
- What does your financial picture look like?
It's possible to find a lender for almost any financial situation.
However, if your past financial history is good, you will have better
home loan options to choose from. Generally, a couple of late payments
on a credit report won't affect you that much and you will be considered
a good credit risk, qualifying for lower interest rates . If you have
more issues on your credit report, lenders like Quicken Loans may still
provide you with a home loan, but because you're more of a risk to the
lender, you may have to pay a higher interest rate and fees.
Some people believe you should refrain from borrowing as much as you
qualify for so as not to stretch your financial boundaries. Others feel
you should stretch to buy as much home as you can afford because with
expected increases in your earning potential, a big payment today will
seem like less of a payment in the future. Only you can make this
decision.
A popular guideline is to follow the "28/36" rule. This rule says that
your monthly housing costs shouldn't exceed 28 percent of your monthly
income, and your total debt payments shouldn't exceed 36 percent of your
total monthly income. If your payments do not follow the 28/36 rule,
don't worry. Lenders offer mortgages customized to each borrower's
individual situation. Depending on your assets, credit history , job
potential and other factors, lenders can work with ratios 40-60% or
higher.
While we are not advocating that you should purchase a home utilizing
the higher ratios, it's important for you to know there are other
options available.
- Where will the money come from?
Typically, home buyers will need money for the down payment and closing
costs in order to close the loan. However, you don't always have to have
a lot of money for a down payment, as long as you're a good financial
risk to a lender. Several loan options today offer zero down and low
down payment home loans. Even if your credit isn't stellar but you have
managed to save 10-20% for a down payment, you will still have some very
good mortgage options.
- Have you considered the ongoing costs of home ownership?
Maintenance, improvements, taxes and insurance all add to the costs of
owning a home. And if you buy a condominium or a town home, some
communities require a monthly homeowner's association fee.
If you're concerned about these types of additional costs, you should
look for home loan options that minimize fees and lower your mortgage
payment relative to other home loan options. Be sure to make your
realtor and your lender aware of your concerns.
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