So you made an offer, it was accepted, and now your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Oftentimes, agents make your offer contingent on a clean home inspection. This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you paid for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or even, in some cases, walk away. Your agent can advise you on the best course of action once the report is filed. How to Choose an Inspector Your agent will most likely have a short list of inspectors that they have worked with in the past that they can recommend to you. HGTV recommends that you consider the following 5 areas when choosing the right home inspector for you: Ask your inspector if it’s okay for you to tag along during the inspection, that way they can point out anything that should be addressed or fixed. Don’t be surprised to see your inspector climbing on the roof or crawling around in the attic and on the floors. The job of the inspector is to protect your investment and find any issues with the home, including but not limited to: the roof, plumbing, electrical components, appliances, heating & air conditioning systems, ventilation, windows, the fireplace and chimney, the foundation, and so much more! Bottom Line They say ‘ignorance is bliss,’ but not when investing your hard-earned money into a home of your own. Work with a professional who you can trust to give you the most information possible about your new home so that you can make the most educated decision about your purchase. Source: https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2018/05/08/home-inspections-what-to-expect/
Some homeowners have recently done a “cash out” refinance and have taken a portion of their increased equity from their houses. Others have sold their homes and purchased more expensive homes with larger mortgages. At the same time, first-time buyers have become homeowners and now have mortgage payments for the first time. These developments have caused concern that families might be reaching unsustainable levels of mortgage debt. Some are worried that we may be repeating a behavior that helped precipitate the housing crash ten years ago. Today, we want to assure everyone that this is not the case. Here is a graph created from data released by the Federal Reserve Board which shows the Household Debt Service Ratio for mortgages as a percentage of disposable personal income. The ratio is the total quarterly required mortgage payments divided by the total quarterly disposable personal income. In other words, the percentage of spendable income people are using to pay their mortgage. Today’s ratio of 4.44% is nowhere near the ratio of 7.21% during the peak of the housing bubble and is instead at the lowest rate since 1980 (4.38%). Bill McBride of Calculated Risk recently commented on the ratio: “The Debt Service Ratio for mortgages is near the low for the last 38 years. This ratio increased rapidly during the housing bubble and continued to increase until 2007. With falling interest rates, and less mortgage debt, the mortgage ratio has declined significantly.” Bottom Line Many families paid a heavy price because of questionable practices that led to last decade’s housing crash. It seems the American people have learned a lesson and are not repeating that same behavior regarding their mortgage debt. Source: https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2018/04/19/is-family-mortgage-debt-out-of-control/
Some Highlights: Source: https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2018/05/11/3-tips-for-making-your-dream-of-owning-a-home-a-reality-infographic/
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a social security number in order to secure a mortgage. You can qualify for a mortgage with an ITIN number as long as you meet the requirements for the loan. This means being able to prove that you have a solid credit history, stable employment, and US-based assets. Portfolio Lenders If you do need to apply for a mortgage without a social security number, you will not be able to secure a Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or FHA mortgage, but there are plenty of other options. It is not the law that requires you to have a social security number; it is the preference of these lending institutions. There are plenty of banks out there that offer loans to borrowers that are not citizens of the United States. Credit is Important Your credit shows a lender whether or not you are financially responsible. If you are not a citizen, yet you have established credit, you could secure a mortgage. ITINs allow aliens to secure many different types of accounts including credit card accounts. If you were able to secure a few credit card accounts or even a personal loan through the bank that you have a bank account through, then you have a credit score. If that credit score is good, then you could be eligible for a mortgage in the United States. Bank Accounts Help As you probably know, not every mortgage program requires that you have assets, but they definitely help. This is the case for mortgages for people with an ITIN number. A bank account is something you can obtain without a social security number, so if you have one and can show the lender the last 12 months’ worth of bank statements, it will make your position to get approved better. The more assets you have, the more likely it is that you will be able to pay your mortgage, which lowers your risk level as far as the lender is concerned. Assets also help when it comes to the down payment. Generally speaking, you can get a mortgage with as little as a 3 percent down payment, even if you are not a United States citizen, but many banks will prefer a larger down payment. The more money you put down, regardless of the program, the lower your risk becomes, which helps the lender want to approve you for a mortgage. Employment History Your employment history in the United States plays an important role in the approval of your loan with an ITIN as opposed to a social security number. You have to be a part of the United States Immigration System and/or be working on a US permit. You also have to have a 2-year history. Some programs allow a little leniency when it comes to the 2-year job history, but for aliens wanting a mortgage in the United States, the 2-year history is required. Alternative Credit Even if you do not have adequate credit reporting under your name, but you have alternative credit, such as utility bills, phone bills, or insurance payments that you can prove the timeliness of, you can use that as your alternative credit. The lender will ask for proof of at least 12 months’ worth of payments made on time in order to determine your level of risk, but this is a good alternative for those immigrants that do not have credit established here yet. Higher Interest Rates The one thing you should keep in mind with getting a mortgage with an ITIN number is the interest rate. Chances are the rate you will receive is going to be higher than the rates for citizens of the United States, simply because of the level of risk this loan poses. The lender is taking a chance on you even though you do not formally live in the US. Yes, you have factors that show that you qualify for the loan, including steady employment, but there is still a level of risk there that the lender has to take into account. If you have an ITIN number instead of a social security number, there are lenders out there willing to lend to you. It might take a little more searching and plenty of work, but in the end, you will get the loan you need to become a homeowner in the United States. web: October 24, 2016 By Justin McHood https://www.blownmortgage.com/can-qualify-mortgage-itin-number/
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