NEED TO KNOW - MORTGAGE INFORMATION

Home Owners:



Additional Information:

Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered.

Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount-rather than just as the number of points-so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay.
Fees
A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or under-writing fees, broker fees, and transaction, settlement, and closing costs. Every lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing. In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they usually involve higher rates.

Advertising
Your first information about mortgages probably will come from newspaper advertisements placed by builders, real estate brokers, and lenders. Although this information can be helpful, keep in mind that the ads are designed to make the mortgage look as attractive as possible. These ads may play up low initial interest rates and monthly payments, without emphasizing that those rates and payments later could increase substantially. So get all the facts.
A federal law, the Truth in Lending Act, requires mortgage advertisers, once they begin advertising specific terms, to give further information on the loan. For example; if they want to show the interest rate or payment amount on the loan, they must also tell you the annual percentage rate (APR) and whether that rate may go up. The APR, the cost of your credit as a yearly rate, reflects more than just a low initial rate. It takes into account interest, points paid on the loan, any loan origination fee, and any mortgage insurance premiums you may have to pay.
Ads may play up low initial rates. Get all the facts.

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