Many people dream of building a brand new home to their exact specifications. However, home development is complicated and challenging if you need to get a loan to pay for it. A construction loan is usually a short-term, interim loan necessary to pay for building a house. As work on the home progresses, the lender pays out money in stages. …

If you are 62 years of age or older and need money to pay off your mortgage, supplement your income or pay for your healthcare expenses, you may be interested in a reverse mortgage. This type of mortgage allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or pay any …

A loan originator can provide valuable advice, identify the loan program that perfectly fits your needs and help you get a lower rate. The originator works with borrowers to evaluate different loan programs to make sure the loan gets funded. They will find the best programs to match the borrower’s particular situation and guide them through the process, gather the …

A credit score is a number that lenders use to determine what the risk is if they decide to lend you money. It is how credit card companies, banks and other financial institutions assess whether you can or will be able to pay off your debts. Accordingly, the higher the score, the better the likelihood that you are able to …

Turn on the TV and you might find several programs devoted to flipping houses. However, flipping houses in real life is not as easy as it looks on TV. Although it has become more popular in recent years and rising home prices make it more attractive to investors, flipping houses is not always profitable and can cost an investor a …

Most lenders recommend that when buying a home, a 20 percent down payment is recommended. Down payments can be as low as 3 percent in some cases, but a low down payment will result in the need for private mortgage insurance (PMI). This type of insurance may be required to pay for if you get a conventional home loan. Lenders …

If you are lucky enough to be considering the purchase of a second home, there are a few ways to fund your new property. When making an important decision that will change your life, you must consider the benefits and costs. It should make financial sense to buy a second home. Although there are costs up front, a second home …

A reverse mortgage converts the equity in your home into cash. Depending upon your particular situation, you can receive a large sum all at once, establish a line of credit to draw on, or receive payments in monthly installments. Paying the loan back would proceed the same as with any other type of loan. If you choose to receive monthly …

Lenders will not approve a mortgage without first conducting their own due diligence. A mortgage underwriter reviews, confirms and analyzes every loan application to minimize risk to the lender. Some mortgage applications get approved almost immediately while others may face denials and suspensions that can prolong the approval process for weeks or even months. Generally speaking, larger mortgage companies can …

For most of us, a home is the most expensive purchase we will ever make and consequently, the biggest debt we will ever carry. Therefore, it is imperative that you make the best decisions for you and your family before and during the loan process. Mistakes can cause you to pay more than is necessary, stop your loan from closing …