If you need assistance, please call 704-618-7184

Are You A Future Home Buyer? Here Are Some Tips On How Much Can You Really Afford

Wednesday, May 6, 2020   /   by Rick Devine

Are You A Future Home Buyer? Here Are Some Tips On How Much Can You Really Afford

 


Buying a new home is a big decision that involves a whole lot of smaller ones. Many people focus on the number of bedrooms or the quality of the kitchen appliances as they contemplate where they want to live.


Mortgage lenders use something called qualification ratios to determine how much they will lend to a borrower. Although each lender uses slightly different ratios, most are within the same range. Some lenders will lend a bit more, some a bit less.


Your debt to income ratio (DTI) is another way of calculating how much house you can afford and is a number your lender will take into consideration when evaluating your loan application.


To calculate your DTI, add up all your continuing monthly expenses, then divide that number by your MGI. Knowing this number is a good way for you to identify areas where you can reduce debt, such as paying down credit card balances.


The absolute minimum down payment you’ll need to purchase a home is 3% to 5% if you’re applying for a conventional loan and 3.5% if it’s an FHA loan. However, the ideal down payment is 20% of the home’s value. Less than this amount and you will have to add what is called private mortgage insurance (PMI).


Your credit score is an important component in your home buying journey. A higher credit score will qualify you for lower interest rates, so your first step is to check what your score is and see if there are ways of improving it. Check your score, and if it is close to a higher “bucket” see if you can improve it enough to qualify for a lower interest rate.


You have a certain amount of money to spend on a new home purchase, so figuring out how best to use that money is important.


Consider all financing options and how they will affect your mortgage over the long run and choose the one that gives you the biggest savings over time.


Once you’ve made all your financial calculations, you can start to search for properties. Experts recommend limiting the listings you look at to those that fit your preferred budget and let your real estate agent know you aren’t interested in seeing properties above your price range. This way you can avoid the temptation of falling in love with something you may not be able to comfortably afford.

Coldwell Banker Realty - Ballantyne Area
Rick Devine
3440 Toringdon Way Suite 100
Charlotte, NC 28277
704-618-7184
Featured real estate company is not a mortgage lender and so you should contact Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, L.L.C. directly to learn about its products and your eligibility for such products. All loans subject to income verification, credit approval and property appraisal. Not a commitment to lend. Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, L.L.C. NMLS #72043 (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Located at 600 Lynnhaven Parkway Suite 100 Virginia Beach, VA 23452.

Information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS.
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of 11/7/2024 6:42 AM CST. All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker of MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Some listings have been excluded from this website.
This site powered by CINC: www.cincpro.com