Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Four Tasks To Do When Buying a Home

By Tara Quinn Joanne Lyons Tom Quinn Carter Lyons Quinn Lyons

Buying a home will be one of the biggest financial purchases you may ever make. It is important that you make the right plans and do the correct research. Regardless of unique circumstances, there are 4 things you absolutely most plan for before buying a home.

1. Study the home buying process. This will allow you to make better decisions and act confidently. Home buying lingo is a big part of this, so be sure to read through a few home-buying glossaries before you get into the thick of things.

2. Fix credit errors quickly. If you find an error on your credit report, go to the company's website where the report came from (TransUnion, Equifax or Experian) to contest it. It can take time to clean up an erroneous credit report, so get started as soon as you spot the error.

3. Get pre-approved for a loan. During pre-approval, a mortgage lender will review your credit, finances, debt, etc. and conditionally qualify you for a certain amount of mortgage. Sellers will take you more seriously if you have a pre-approval letter, and the process also helps identify any problems with your credit or other qualifying factors.

4. Check your debt-to-income ratio. Mortgage lenders like to see a borrower's debt at (or below) 20% of net monthly income. If your debt exceeds 20% of your net monthly income, try to pay it down for applying for a mortgage loan. You'll have an easier qualification process and will likely qualify for a better rate.

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