There are many important steps involved when looking at purchasing a home. From shopping available homes to touring properties, submitting offers to sellers, and signing contracts, there is no shortage of tasks for a potential homebuyer to check off their list.

Buying a home is likely the single biggest purchase most of us will make in our lifetimes, and often requires years of both planning and saving. A big part of that planning and saving has to do with setting aside a sufficient down payment, which is put toward a home purchase in most instances.

If you’re tired of your high monthly mortgage payments, now is the perfect time to refinance. Whether you want to take advantage of low market rates or have experienced a boost to your credit standing, you can potentially save a lot of money on your monthly payments by refinancing to a lower APR (annual percentage rate). And with the economy bouncing back in the wake of the pandemic, interest rates could start rising at any time.

When people think of insurance, it’s typically as something they pay that protects their interests and assets. In the case of mortgage insurance, however, that’s not how it works. While the borrower on a mortgage pays for the insurance, it is the lender who is being protected.

For many Americans with dreams of buying a home, certain financial hurdles can make it seem impossible. For example, many cannot afford to cover high down payments or simply don’t have the credit profile that lenders are looking for in a mortgage applicant.

For young Americans looking to buy their first home, the process can be pretty daunting. Aside from the baseline financial requirements, there is a lot that goes into finding the right real estate agent, deciding what type of house and neighborhood you want, and of course, applying for a mortgage.  With a mortgage specifically, the process goes hand in hand with closing on the purchase of the home, so it’s important you’re attune to every pertinent detail along the way. Moreso, there are steps to take way ahead of applying for a mortgage, to ensure you’re in the best financial position to manage every cost that comes with buying a home. 

When buying a home, the type of mortgage you choose will be imperative, as far as how you plan to pay back the loan, the type of financing you need, and what your ultimate plans are for the property in question. Do you need outside assistance? Are you planning to live in the home for a long time? Will you eventually need to refinance? All these questions should be considered at the onset of your mortgage journey.

When taking out a mortgage, or refinancing an existing loan, one of the goals should be trying to obtain the lowest interest rate possible. Of course, accomplishing that will depend on multiple factors, including the amount of the mortgage, the down payment, and the applicant’s financial details.