Owning a home is a fundamental aspect of the American Dream, and yet, it has become more and more difficult to attain in recent years. Buying a home without a mortgage is basically completely unheard of, but at the same time, the mortgage itself can be an extremely difficult expense to manage. More than one person has been driven to ruin by bad mortgage rates, so it’s extremely important to do everything you can to get the best rates possible. Here are a few ways that you can get the best mortgage rates.
Maintain Your Credit Score
Few things have more of an impact on your rates for all kinds of loans than your credit score. Quite simply, if the better your credit is, the better a deal will you get on every loan you apply for, and that includes mortgages. If your credit isn’t great, know that there are some things you can do to make it better. Avoid maxing out cards, keeping them at a relatively low percentage of their credit limit. Don’t carry any credit card debt, and pay any credit card bills promptly. You are entitled to a free credit report every year, so make sure that you get yours, and you know where your credit is.
Stay Employed
When determining your suitability to take out a loan, one thing every bank will consider is your employment record. Past employment is indicative of future employment, and employment is necessary if you’re going to be able to keep up on your loan payments. That doesn’t mean you have to stay in jobs you hate, though; moving from one job to another is not an inherent bad thing. Having large amounts of time on your record where you aren’t working, however, is.
Make Down Payments
The more money that you can put down on a purchase, the lower that the loan payments will be, as well as the eventual interest on those payments. The more you can manage upfront, the less you will be paying overall. Of course, this isn’t an option for everyone, but the more that you can put into your home upfront, the better.
Don’t Settle
Capitalism is all about competition, and that competition should work for the consumer. Use it. Don’t assume the best mortgage rates in Raleigh, NC will be found in the first bank you set foot in; drive around to a few different banks, talk about rates at each one, and determine which is best for you in the end.
