How Much Can You Afford?
Understanding how much you can afford is one of the most important rules of home buying. Depending on your individual situation, your budget can affect everything from the neighborhoods where you look, to the size of the house, and even what type of financing you choose.
Bear in mind, however, that lenders will look at more than just your income to determine the size of the loan. Likewise, you may find that there are some creative financing options that can help boost your purchasing power.
Loan prequalification vs. preapproval
One of the best ways to determine your budget is to have your real estate agent or lender prequalify you for a loan. Prequalification is different from preapproval, because it is only an estimate of what you’ll be able to afford. On the other hand, preapproval is a more formal process where a lender examines your finances and agrees in advance to loan you money up to a specified amount.
What factors are important to lenders?
Banks and lending institutions will use several criteria to determine how much money they’ll agree to lend. These include:
- Your gross monthly income
- Your credit history
- The amount of your outstanding debts
- Your savings–or the amount of money you have available for a down payment and closing costs
- Your choice of mortgage (i.e. 30-year, FHA, etc.)
- Current interest rates
Down payments make a difference
If you can make a large down payment, lenders may be more lenient with their qualifying ratios.
Other ways to improve your purchasing power
- Gifts – If you’re having trouble saving money, many lenders will allow you to use gift funds for the down payment and closing costs. However, most lenders require a “gift letter” stating the gift doesn’t have to be repaid, and will also require you to pay at least a portion of the down payment with your own cash.
- Negotiating Closing Costs – Through negotiation, some sellers may agree to pay all or most of your closing costs. If you choose to try this, make sure to ask your real estate agent for advice.
- Loan Programs – Many local governments have special loan programs designed to help first-time homebuyers. Loans may be available at reduced interest rates, or with little or no down payments.
- Loan Types – Some homebuyers choose Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) because of low initial interest rates. Others opt for 30-year loans because they have lower monthly payments than 15-year loans. Make sure to discuss the pros and cons of different loans with Brian Wolborsky before making a decision.
