It is important to secure the best mortgage rate when you are trying to buy a new home or refinance. Wirefly simplifies the process of determining the most reasonable home loan rates in West Point, VA by providing helpful information and tools. By thoroughly researching and comparing mortgage interest rates, you can save money in the long run by ensuring that you are not paying a higher interest rate than you should be.
West Point, VA is an area where even people with the need to purchase low priced houses need home loans. Since the cheapest homes cost no less than fifty thousand dollars, a mortgage might be the only choice you have to getting the financing needed to buy a house. Getting a home loan is the best way to be able to afford a new home. Therefore, you have to find a mortgage with the lowest rates. In most cases, we as first time home buyers rely on insight from realtors, without knowing that they might direct you to a lender they have an acquaintance with so as to close a deal with you quickly. If you take such a path, you might end losing a lot of money in the long run. For the best results, you ought to take ample time and carry out thorough research to discover what is best for your needs. Using Wirefly's mortgage rate tool, take your time to compare and contrast how taking a loan from a small scale or large scale lender will affect your financial power. Since you do not want to get yourself a raw deal, ensure that your credit score is high enough. This way, you will land yourself the best interest rates.
Before a person considers applying for a mortgage in West Point, VA, he needs to be familiar with the types of mortgage options that are available. One of the things that borrowers need to decide is if they want a fixed-rate loan or an adjustable-rate loan. The most popular type of mortgage is a 30-year fixed-rate loan. With this mortgage, a person’s rate will stay fixed for the duration of the loan. Borrowers will always know what their monthly payment amount will be. For anyone who is a planner, this loan offers consistency and predictability. If a borrower gets a low interest rate and plans to stay in the home long-term, this is a good options. Some borrowers wish to shorten the life of their loan, so they choose a 20 or 15-year term. This will save money over the life of the loan. For some people, an adjustable-rate mortgage is the way to go. With this option, the rate will “adjust” every so often. Borrowers will start out with a low rate for several years. After the introductory period is over, the rate will increase or decrease; therefore, the monthly payment amount will change. If a person chooses this option, he needs to make sure he can make payments if they increase. The most common type of these “hybrid” loans are a 5/1 or a 7/1 adjustable rate mortgage. The rate will change annually after 5 or 7 years respectively.
There are other choices that you need to make rather than just a fixed-rate or an adjustable-rate. Government-backed loans, such as FHA, USDA or VA loans, are available, or you can obtain a conventional loan. A conventional loan is not backed by the federal government. The requirements for a conventional loan are different than those for FHA, VA, or USDA loans.
The Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, insures loans that are run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. This is a section of the federal government. All types of borrowers are eligible to apply for FHA loans in West Point, VA, not just first-time homebuyers. These loans are less risky for lenders because the government insures them if you default on the loan. Normally, the down payment amount only needs to be 3.5% of the cost of the loan. With this type of loan, you do need to pay mortgage insurance, so your monthly payment will be higher.
When interest rates drop, a homeowner in West Point, VA may want to consider refinancing their home loan. However, while a lower interest rate may save them a few dollars, they should also consider closing costs that would be due as this expense is tacked onto the process. If it is cost effective for them to refinance, they will have to make the decision of choosing a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage. This too could affect the interest rate. It probably would not make sense for a person who has a long period of time left on their mortgage to jump into an ARM.
Also, since a refinance is basically a new loan, a person's credit score will still indicate if they are eligible for a low interest rate. The criteria for each lender is slightly different but typically ranges in the region of 700 for a person to receive a low interest rate on their mortgage loan in West Point, VA. By keeping their credit clean and having a low debt to income ratio, a person will be in a better position to refinance their home at the lowest rate possible.
