A competitive interest rate can feel like a fickle thing. Chasing after great rates on your mortgage loan or car financing can seem like a never-ending odyssey, but there are better ways to bag a great interest rate than simply waiting for one to come to you. Planning and a long vision for the future will help you lock in favorable rates on all the things you borrow for.
Understand Your Credit Score
In order to learn how to manage your money, it’s important to understand how credit scores work either for or against you. Keeping track of your spending and saving habits is one piece of the puzzle, but the borrowed cash that you utilize on a regular basis makes up the primary concern when it comes to keeping a tight lid on your finances. The average American owes more than $6,000 in credit card debt, and revolving debt all around the world is rising at an alarming rate among consumers. This trend in poor spending habits is truly a global phenomenon that isn’t solely contained to the United States.
Your credit score is a generalized measure of spending habits on credit cards, overall commitment to repaying these debts, and a measure of your overall creditworthiness based upon a variety of factors. In a nutshell, a credit score is a measure of how likely you are to pay back your debts. This is why so much of a credit score is made up of payment history and the amount owed.
In order to increase this metric, the best way is to continually increase the limits on your credit cards and other revolving borrower balances without utilizing the additional funding. Credit cards are designed to get you spending, though, so refraining from making purchases with the help of this line of credit is easier said than done.
The best way to keep yourself on track here is to simply take the credit card out of your wallet and keep it somewhere safe. If you can’t easily use the card, you are more likely to force yourself to rely on your bank account and cash flow for purchases. Beginning to think about your credit history in the year that precedes a buying opportunity is the best way to snag a favorable interest rate on your new home purchase. It all starts with credit and financing history, so get smart about your money situation now.
Shop around for mortgage rates before searching for properties.
Once you have committed to getting your finances in order and are ready to seek out a new home that meets all of your family’s needs, you should start looking into financing options that fit your circumstances. Utilizing a mortgage calculator is a great way to understand what you can afford and what you are likely to owe back over the life of the loan.
This also takes into account the down payment that you are prepared to pay as a soon to be a homeowner. Fine-tuning your committed down payment is often sage advice for those looking for tips for building a house from scratch. This process often gives you the home of your dreams, but runaway costs are something that home builders must contend with, so getting the down payment on the property right is crucial to finding success as you work to create the perfect space for your family.
Alternatively, those looking to find the history of a property that is already constructed will find daylight in a variety of online research tools. The down payment on a prebuilt home is essential as well when it comes to getting the best deal. Typically, mortgage lenders want to see a 15-20% deposit, and anything over 20% will help you save on mortgage insurance payments, too.
This is a great way to help you build up your emergency fund or other savings pool. By increasing your down payment you can reduce the long-term payments that you will owe on any home that you choose to buy, and you can take advantage of discounted interest rate offers. Banks and private money lenders typically look favorably on those who offer higher down payments and are more than happy to give you a better rate in return for your commitment to a larger upfront payment.
Factor in Renovation Costs
Homeowners love renovations. The builder in each of us is constantly looking to improve upon the living space that exists within and around our homes. However, many new homeowners forget to factor these quality-of-life improvements into their initial mortgage loan and have to re-tile bathrooms, put up drywall, or finish a bedroom with their own capital rather than the low-interest borrowed cash from the bank.
For example, repair jobs for homeowners in Florida are no joke with the annual hurricane season. Residents have to be prepared in order to avoid costs like roof repairs, sink replacement, as well as light fixtures and floor plan changes. So, taking these into consideration when filling out your loan application is crucial to getting the home you want and a rate that matches your needs and desires.
Locking in a great finance rate for your home loan is all about planning, start early in order to take advantage of the best rates available.
