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Purchase Loan
Buying a single-family home is a great way to start your biggest
investment in your life. Why should you go with a single-family residence?
Because they are generally the properties in most demand, which in turn makes
them the easiest properties to sell. The basic steps for obtaining financing are
much the same with any type of lender.
Five step financing process involves: -Qualifying
the borrower -Qualifying the property -Approving and processing the
loan -Closing the loan -Servicing the loan
Lenders
first ask prospective borrowers to complete an application form. Most
applications are similar and ask borrower for employment record, credit
references, financial statements and so on. To very the accuracy of the
information, the loan officer or loan processor checks with past
employer's, requests verification of deposits from the bank(s), and
contacts references. In addition most lenders use three Cs - chanter, capacity
and collateral as screening device to determine if the borrower meets the
qualifications set by the lender.
Character. Lender considers the
attitude toward financial obligations as evidenced by their track record of
borrowing and repaying loans evidenced by credit reports. Lenders also try to
ascertain whether borrowers are honest in their dealings.
To desire to pay is very difficult measure. There
are methods used by a lender to determine the borrower's desire to make timely
payments such as FICO score. Fair Issac Corporation developed this scoring model
system, used by most lenders today. Scores of 660 or more are very desirable
although scores of 620 to 660 are acceptable. Scores below 620 generally mean
institutional lenders will not make the loan. The applicant's credit report will
show if the borrowers have any late payments. If the borrower has a number of
late payments, this usually means the borrower does not a desire or cannot
afford to make timely payments.
Capacity. In considering
borrower's capacity, lenders want to know their ability to repay the debt.
Capacity is strengthened by an occupation that ensures a steady income. The
level of present debts and obligations also is a factor; too much debt may
prevent a borrower from discharging a new obligation.
Lenders will consider second job income if the
applicant has a history of second job.
Lending institutions sometimes take overtime
wages into consideration. Other lenders will consider both spouses' wages in
computing the gross income (income before taxes) of the borrower, even if only
one spouse is applying for the loan. Occasionally, a lender will require a
cosigner - a person with additional capital who agrees to share liability for
the loan to strengthen the borrower's loan application. Lenders also might
reduce down payment requirements with a cosigner.
When a lender qualifies a borrower, the lender is
attempting to answer few questions: -Can the borrower afford the
payments? Will the borrower make the payments on time?
To determine whether the borrower has the
capacity to make the monthly payments, the lender needs to answer few
questions?
- Does the borrower earn enough money to
make the payments? - Will the income be a steady source of
income? - Does the borrower have the down payment? - Can the
borrower make the payments on time?
The lender is going to verify the applicant's
ability to make the timely monthly payments and his or her employment history.
The lender will want to know the down payment amount before determining the loan
amount.
Once the lender knows the loan amount, lender can
calculate the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI) on the loan. This
is the first step in the qualification process.
To qualify borrower's lenders use two ratios. The
front end ratio, also called top ratio (mortgage payment ratio), is the mortgage
payment (PITI) dived by the borrower's gross income. Most loans require that the
ratio is around 28 percent or less.
The other ratio is called the back-end ratio, or
bottom ratio (total obligation ratio). This ratio should be approximately 36
percent or less to qualify for a home loan.
From the verification of employment and other
financial information, the lender determines the borrower's gross income.
Lenders require a signed statement from the borrower to permit a check with the
borrower's employer to verify wages and length of employment. Gross Income is
defined as the income made by the borrower before taxes and deductions. For
husband and wife the gross income for loan is generally the total gross income
of the husband plus the toil gross income of the wife. Employment usually must
be verified for two years.
The lender also needs to determine the monthly
long term credit bills owed by the borrower. These include car payments, credit
cards, furniture payments, student loans etc. If a credit will be paid in less
than ten months, it is not included.
Collateral. After the loan is
granted, the lender has to rely for a long time on the value of the security of
the loan for the safety of the investment (home), should the borrower default.
For this reason, lenders consider it important to qualify the property as well
as the borrower.
Because the security is the home, lenders require
a careful valuation of the property, the collateral. The value depends on the
property's location, age, architecture, physical condition, zoning, floor plan
and general appearance. The lender will have an appraisal done by the appraiser.
When an appraisal is less that the purchase
price, it requires the seller to lower the price or the buyer to come up with a
larger down payment as the amount of loan will be reduced. The purchaser often
does not have the resources for the large down payment. In addition, many offers
include a contingency that the appraisal will be at least the amount of the
purchase price. This provides an escape for the buyers.
Man mortgage loan officers are paid by
commission. They don't get paid when a loan cannot be funded.
Approving and Processing. Processing involves
drawing up (preparing) documents and disclosures regarding loan fees, and
issuing instructions for the escrow and title companies, Loan papers include the
promissory not (the evidence of debt) and the security instruments (the trust
deed or mortgage).
Closing the Loan. Closing the
loan involves signing the loan papers and preparing closing statements.
Servicing the Loan. After the
title has been transferred and the escrow closed, the loan servicing portion of
the transaction begins. This refers to the record keeping process once the loan
has been placed. The goal of loan servicing is to see that the borrower makes
the timely payments so that the lender makes the expected yield on the loan,
which keeps the cost of the entire package at a minimum.
Borrower has a wide choice of loan types from
fixed loans to adjustable loan, the special features of the loans vary by
lender. A buyer must analyze his or her needs and the importance of down
payment, loan cost, interest, assumability, loan terms and so on.
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