Applying for Your First Mortgage

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You might feel excited to buy your first house, but you might also have some feelings of nervousness or anxiety. After all, when you buy your first house, you must get your first mortgage. You might be able to minimize these feelings if you learn what lenders look for when approving loan applications before you apply. By learning these things, you can make the necessary changes to your financial situation before you apply. Here are some of the top things you should understand about what lenders look for in loan applications.

Your Credit

While your credit score is just a number, it means a lot to lenders. Lenders do not analyze all the details on your credit report or your past history of why you have the score you have. Instead, they simply look at your credit score, and they assess you based on that number. A low credit score causes a lender to proceed with caution. A higher score leads a lender to feel less nervous issuing you a loan. If you want to impress a lender and have fewer hurdles to jump over, work on increasing your score. If possible, aim to have a score of at least 680 or so. You will have better odds of getting a loan if you do.

Your Debt

Lenders also look at a person's debts when they analyze a loan application. If you have a lot of debt, it might be harder for you to afford a mortgage loan. Therefore, one of the best things you can do is to pay off your debt. If possible, pay off your credit card balances and work on decreasing your loan amounts. Your lender will view your application more favorably if you do not owe a lot of money to creditors.

Your Income and Job

The other major factor to consider is your income and job. Lenders look closely at these things, and they primarily want to know two main things:

  1. How much money do you earn monthly?
  2. How long have you been at the same job?

Your job history shows consistency, and your income reveals how much you can afford. A lender will evaluate these things when you apply for a loan.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, you might have some questions about the loan application process. If so, contact a lender to learn more about a first-time homebuyer loan and the preapproval process.

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26 October 2021

Know Your Options when Financing a New Business

When I began my first business selling sports equipment locally, I knew the sports-world well, and I knew how to run a business. One thing I did not know a lot about was the financial world. I had never applied for a loan in my life other than when I financed my car with the dealership in-house financing. My first application at a large bank was denied. I began looking into my other options, and I found that there were more lenders for new businesses than I realized. I applied at local credit unions, local banks, and other business lending services. I was able to secure more funding than I even expected, and my credit is just average. I created this blog to help other new business owners realize that there is funding out there. You just have to find it and apply! Don't give up on your dream.