What Kind Of House Loan Can I Get

How To Estimate Affordability

There is a rule of thumb about how much you can afford, based on the calculations your mortgage provider will make. The rule of thumb is you can afford a mortgage where your monthly housing costs are no more than 32% of your gross household income, and where your total debt load is no more than 40% of your gross houshold income. This rule is based on your debt service ratios.

Lenders look at two ratios when determining the mortgage amount you qualify for, which generally indicate how much you can afford. These ratios are called the Gross Debt Service ratio and Total Debt Service ratio. They take into account your income, monthly housing costs, and overall debt load.

The first affordability guideline, as set out by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation , is that your monthly housing costs â mortgage principal and interest, taxes, and heating expenses – should not exceed 32% of your gross household monthly income. For condominiums, P.I.T.H. also includes half of your monthly condominium fees. The sum of these housing costs as a percentage of your gross monthly income is your GDS ratio.

Gross Debt Service Ratio

Loans Through A Tiny House Builder

Tiny houses may be financed through a lender that partners with a builder. These loans are either unsecured or secured by the tiny house, according to Kernohan.

The potential benefits include low starting rates and longer loan terms than personal loans.

But this option may require a down payment of up to 20% of the purchase price, and if the loan is secured, you can lose the tiny house if you cant make payments.

Tiny homes on wheels may qualify for RV loans, but only if the vehicle is certified as an RV by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.

How To Choose A Home Loan

The good news is, youre not alone when it comes to choosing the right type of mortgage. Your loan officer or mortgage broker will provide expertise and guidance to help you make the best choice.

However, you should keep in mind that not every mortgage lender or broker offers every type of loan.

For instance, you might be qualified for a zerodown USDA loan but if the lender youre applying with doesnt offer USDA mortgages, they might not bring this up.

Thats why its important to understand your options and come to the table prepared to discuss them.

Pick a few of the loan types from the list above that seem like they might be best for you. Then your loan adviser can help you compare rates, requirements, upfront fees, and longterm costs to find the absolute best fit.

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What To Provide To Your Lender Or Mortgage Broker

Before preapproving you, a lender or mortgage broker will look at:

• your assets
• your income

Youll need to provide the following:

• identification
• proof you can pay for the down payment and closing costs
• information about your other assets, such as a car, cottage or boat
• information about your debts or financial obligations

For proof of employment, you may have to provide:

• a proof of your current salary or hourly pay rate (for example, a recent pay stub
• your position and length of time with the employer
• notices of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the past 2 years, if youre self-employed

Your lender or mortgage broker may ask you to provide recent financial statements from bank accounts or investments. This will help them determine if you have the down payment.

Your debts or financial obligations may include your monthly payments for:

What Is The Average Down Payment For A House

Historically, average down payments for home mortgages have fluctuated in step with home prices, interest rates, and other factors. For decades, the national average for a down payment on a home hovered somewhere around 20%. But down payment averages have dropped over the past decade. As of 2019, the average down payment for first-time buyers is roughly 7%, and is higher for repeat buyers.

Remember that the borrowers financial situation affects their down payment. For example, a first-time home buyer with little or no money in their bank account might choose a zero-down USDA loan. However, this loan option comes with upfront and monthly fees that drive up the monthly payment.

Another first-time buyer with adequate savings might choose to put 20% down or more, to keep monthly payments low.

In any case, buyers shouldnt follow the crowd when it comes to down payments. They should look at their own situation and discover whats best for them. Fortunately, todays mortgage market lets them choose 0% down, 20%, 50%, or any other amount.

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Hard Money Vs Conventional Loans

Lucas Machado, president of House Heroes, a group of real estate investors that flips houses in Florida and finances hard money loans, says hard money loans are easy in another way: The lack of bureaucratic red tape. Unlike conventional banks, lenders arent bound by guidelines regarding the shape of the real estate. Properties in poor condition dont satisfy guidelines for traditional mortgage financing. Hard money lenders, on the other hand, expect to lend on houses in disrepair, Machado says.

Rather, hard money lenders decide whether to make the loan by evaluating the strength of the deal and the reliability of the home flipper, Machado says. If the purchase and repair cost vs. the resale value makes sense and the home flipper is trustworthy, a hard money lender will make the loan.

In evaluating the flipper, hard money lenders aren’t usually worried by borrower qualifications such as debt-to-income ratios and . In some cases, they may want to see an applicant’s documents such as tax returns, bank statements, and credit reports. Nor do they care if down payment funds are borrowed . After all, Should the flipper default, the hard money lender can foreclose, take ownership of the house, and sell it profitably on their own, Machado notes.

How To Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying For A Mortgage

While a FICO® Score of 650 may be sufficient to get you a mortgage, you may be able to improve your credit profile as preparation for a mortgage application within as little as six months to a year. Taking steps to increase your credit scores could help you qualify for lower interest rates, saving you many thousands of dollars over the life of a mortgage loan.

Measures to consider for improving your credit score include:

A 650 credit score can be a solid platform for getting the house you need. It can help you qualify for a mortgage, but it’ll likely be one that carries a fairly steep interest rate. It’s also a score you can build on to help you get a more affordable loan, today or in the future, when you refinance or buy a new home.

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Freddie Mac Choicereno Express Loan

For smaller fixer-upper projects, Freddie Macs CHOICEReno eXPress loan is a streamlined version of its renovation mortgage. The renovation cost must be below 10% or 15% of the value of the home, depending on where you live, and down payments can be as low as 3%. While the CHOICERenovation loan requires preapproval from Freddie Mac, the eXPress loan does not making it easier for lenders to approve you for the mortgage.

Youll need a minimum 620 credit score to qualify for a Freddie Mac mortgage.

Use A Piggyback Loan To Put 20% Down

Another strategy that could help increase your budget is to finance your home with two different home loans simultaneously. This strategy is known as an 801010 loan or piggyback loan.

An 801010 mortgage means youd get:

• A first mortgage for 80% of the homes cost
• A second mortgage for 10%
• A cash down payment of 10%

This gives you the benefit of having a bigger home buying budget . It also eliminates the need for private mortgage insurance , which is usually required on conventional loans with less than 20% down.

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What Else Do Mortgage Lenders Consider

Your credit score is a key factor in determining whether you qualify for a mortgage. But its not the only one lenders consider.

Income: Lenders will also look at your income. They want to make sure you make enough money each month to afford your payments.

Debt-to-income ratio: Lenders also look at your monthly debts. Lenders vary, but they generally want your total monthly debts, including your estimated new mortgage payment, to consume no more than 43% of your gross monthly income. If your debt-to-income ratio is higher, you might struggle to qualify for a mortgage.

Down payment: The bigger your down payment, the more likely it is that youll qualify for a mortgage with a lower interest rate. Thats because lenders think you are less likely to stop making your payments if youve already invested a significant amount of your money into your loan. A higher down payment makes your loan less risky for lenders.

Savings: Lenders want to make sure that you have funds available to make your mortgage payment if your income should unexpectedly dry up. Because of this, most will want to see that you have enough money saved to cover at least two months of mortgage payments.

Employment history: Lenders vary, but they usually like to see that youve worked at the same job, or in the same industry, for at least 2 years. They believe youre less likely to lose that job, and that stream of income, if youve built up a longer work history.

Home Affordability By Down Payment

Your down payment amount also has a big impact on what you can afford. Most lowdownpayment mortgage loans require at least 3% down. But the more you pay up front, the more youre allowed to borrow.

For example, heres how much a home buyer making $50,000 a year might afford depending on their down payment savings:

The examples above assume a 3.75% fixed interest rate on a 30-year loan, and $200 in monthly debts outside the mortgage. Your own rate and monthly payment will vary.

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Approving The Building Plans

Once youve chosen a builder, you will need to work with them to get the design plans and budget drawn up. The lender will require a comprehensive plan that includes the floor plans, materials used, and construction cost estimates before they will sign off on the loan.

The lender will also require an appraisal be done to verify the value of the home once it is built. You need to consider the location and type of house you will be building. If you want to build a 6,000 square foot mansion in the middle of a neighborhood of 1,200 square foot houses, it may be difficult to obtain an appraisal that will meet the construction costs of the house. The appraiser will need to use comparable homes to determine your new homes value. If its less than the construction costs, youll either have to come up with more cash or find a way to reduce the construction budget.

Small Credit Changes Matter For Your Interest Rate

Is having a credit score of 820 significantly better than having a score of 780 when it comes to how mortgage lenders look at someone? Not necessarily.

Because of how credit scores are grouped by lenders, some changes in credit arent going to affect your eligibility or rates. While a score of 820 is certainly better than 780, lenders will look at the two qualifying home buyers as credit equals because they fall in the same credit score range.

In many cases, the size of the down payment is the only thing that is going to determine a difference in available mortgage rates for home buyers with comparable creditworthiness.

However, keeping a high credit score is still important.

Each grouping of credit scores has specific mortgage rates assigned by different lenders. This means that you will be offered a lower mortgage rate if you are in a better credit score group. But this grouping method can frustrate some home buyers.

A credit score of 779 is going to be grouped differently than a credit score of 780. Even though they are just one point away, the credit score of 779 is going to be offered higher interest rates while the score of 780 will get the same mortgage rates as a score of 820 would.

This means that raising your credit score by one or two points can make a huge difference.

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How Can I Qualify To Borrow More

If youre disappointed by the how much can I borrow results, remember that there are many factors at work. Small improvements in one or more can make a substantial difference:

How To Use The Mortgage Affordability Calculator

To use our mortgage affordability calculator, simply enter you and your partnerâs income , as well as your living costs and debt payments. The calculator can estimate your living expenses if you donât know them.

With these numbers, youâll be able to calculate how much you can afford to borrow. You can change your amortization period and mortgage rate, to see how that would affect your mortgage affordability and your monthly payments.

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Types Of Mortgage Loans For Home Buyers

The US real estate is showing strong signs of revival. Analysts and experts alike concur in the conclusion that the sector is slowly but steadily gaining momentum and that this is a trend that will hold for the rest of the year. For prospective home buyers, this means that this is the time to do homework on home mortgage loan options and to make a move sooner rather than later.

With such positive and definite signs of the market becoming more vibrant like national home value rising, higher house prices and higher demand for turn key houses, time is of the essence. As the market becomes more brisk, every moment one waits before making a move is a moment in which home prices will be appreciating.

Choosing the right mortgage loan is very important. A home owner is more likely to be able to stay with their repayment if they choose a home and a mortgage that they can afford. There are different kinds of mortgages and an understanding of the different types of them will guide one to choosing the one that is most suitable.

Here are four types of mortgage loans for home buyers today: fixed rate, FHA mortgages, VA mortgages and interest-only loans.

Find Out How Much Mortgage You Can Afford

Weâll help you figure out what home price you may be able to afford.

Ready to start looking for your dream home? Donât just dream about it â let the TD Mortgage Affordability Calculator help you begin your search. Enter a few key details and the calculator will guide you in determining, with confidence, what house price may be within reach.

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So What Actually Goes Into Your Mortgage

Instead of thinking of the price tag of a home as affordable, look at whether you can afford to borrow the money it will cost and can repay the loan in monthly payments.

First, lets figure out what your ideal mortgage payment will be also known as what youll essentially be paying instead of rent. Aside from the actual mortgage, there are some key expenses that will impact your monthly payments.

Other Funding Sources For New Construction

If you have equity in your current home, your lender may offer a bridge loan to use while your new home is being built and youre waiting for your current one to sell. This can be an expensive, somewhat risky situation since youre planning on your home to sell, but it can help you get through a timing squeeze.

Another approach is to sell your current home and rent a temporary home while waiting for your new one to be built. While this requires you to move twice, it frees up the equity in your home to use toward your new property.

There are a few extra steps involved in financing the building of a home. When you consider all the pros and cons, you may find that the advantages of a brand-new home outweigh the complexities. Happy building!

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What Additional Factors Affect Your Mortgage Rates

Other factors that influence the interest rates lenders charge include:

• Debt-to-income ratio: Mortgage lenders typically require proof of income in the form of pay stubs or tax returns, and they also pay close attention to your outstanding debts and the amount you pay creditors each month. Debt-to-income ratio, the percentage of your monthly pretax income that goes toward debt payments, is an important gauge of your ability to cover new debts. As your DTI ratio increases, so does your perceived risk higher DTI ratios may therefore bring higher interest charges.
• Down payment: Conventional mortgage lenders prefer a down payment of 20% of the home’s purchase price, but many lenders allow you to make a lower down payment. They typically charge higher interest rates as a tradeoff, and also require you to purchase private mortgage insurance to protect them against financial loss in case you fail to repay the loan. Conversely, if you can put down more than 20% of the purchase price up front, you may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate.
• Loan term: In general, you can get a lower interest rate if you seek a loan with a shorter repayment terma 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year one, for instance. For any given loan amount, a shorter-term loan will bring higher monthly payments but lower total interest costs.