Understanding Mortgage Amortizations and Why Longer Periods Can Cost More

Buying a home is one of the largest investments you will make in your life, and that's why so many people have longer mortgage amortization periods to pay down the principal. While it may seem appealing to have a longer amortization period, here's why an extended loan term can end up costing you more and may be less financially beneficial when it comes right down to it. About Mortgage Amortization Generally speaking, a 25-year mortgage amortization period can be typical, but there are many loan periods that a homebuyer can choose for amortization. While a longer-loan period may seem enticing…
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Looking to Pay Back Your Mortgage Faster? Three Reasons to Consider Switching to Bi-weekly Payments

While there are differing schools of thought when it comes to whether or not a person should pay off a mortgage before the loan term ends, there may be some benefits to making payments on a bi-weekly basis as opposed to monthly basis. What are some of the reasons why it may be beneficial to make two payments a month instead of one? Here are three reasons why you should ditch the monthly fees and make payments once every two weeks. You'll Make An Extra Payment Per Year If you're looking to pay off your mortgage ahead of schedule, making…
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Understanding the Differences Between ‘Prequalified’ And ‘Preapproved’ For a Mortgage

Are you in the market for a new home? If you are going to rely on mortgage financing to cover some of the purchase cost, you will need to start the application process as soon as possible. However, what if you just need to know how much you will be able to borrow so you can start finding homes in your price range? Let's take a quick look at the difference between being 'prequalified' and 'preapproved' for mortgage financing. The Process Starts With Prequalification The first step in obtaining mortgage financing is to speak with a mortgage professional to get…
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Legal Documents You Need When Buying a House

Buying a house can be an exciting but complex process that involves many legal requirements. You will need to provide several documents to your lender and the seller. The specific documents required may vary depending on the lender and the type of loan you are applying for, but here are some of the most common documents you may need: Proof of Income: This may include pay stubs, W-2 forms, and tax returns from the past two years. Bank Statements: You will need to provide bank statements for the past two to three months to show your savings and checking account…
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