Looking for the Best Mortgage?    

Shop, Compare and Negotiate     
Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A
mortgage...whether it’s a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan, is a product,
just like a car.. So the price and terms may be negotiable. You’ll want to compare all the
costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you
thousands of dollars.

Obtain Information from Several Lenders
Home loans are available from several types of lenders: thrift institutions, commercial
banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions. Different lenders may quote you different
prices, so you should contact several lenders to make sure you’re getting the best price. You
can also get a home loan through a mortgage broker. Brokers arrange transactions rather
than lending money directly; in other words, they find a lender for you. A broker’s access to
several lenders can mean a wider selection of loan products and terms from which you can
choose. Brokers will generally contact several lenders regarding your application, but they
are not obligated to find the best deal for you unless they have contracted with you to act as
your agent. Consequently, you should consider contacting more than one broker, just as you
should with banks or thrift institutions.

Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear. Some financial
institutions operate as both lenders and brokers. And most brokers’ advertisements do not
use the word "broker." Therefore, be sure to ask whether a broker is involved. This
information is important because brokers are usually paid a fee for their services that may
be separate from and in addition to the lender’s origination or other fees. A broker’s
compensation may be in the form of "points" paid at closing or as an add-on to your interest
rate, or both. You should ask each broker you work with how he or she will be compensated
so that you can compare the different fees. Be prepared to negotiate with the brokers as
well as the lenders.


Obtain All Important Cost Information
Be sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how
much of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan.
Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for
information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can
compare the information. The following information is important to get from each lender and
broker:

Rates
Ask each lender and broker for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the
rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week.

Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable. Keep in mind that when interest rates for
adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment.

If the rate quoted is for an adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will
vary, including whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go down.

Ask about the loan’s annual percentage rate (APR). The APR takes into account not only the
interest rate but also points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that you may be
required to pay, expressed as a yearly rate.

Points
Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan and are often linked to the interest
rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the rate.

Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered.
Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount--rather than just as the number of
points--so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay.

Fees
A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or underwriting fees, broker
fees, and transaction, settlement, and closing costs. Every lender or broker should be able to
give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when
you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing.
In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will
increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they
usually involve higher rates.

Ask what each fee includes. Several items may be lumped into one fee.
Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Some common fees associated with
a home loan closing are listed on the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet in this brochure.

Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance
Some lenders require 20 percent of the home’s purchase price as a down payment.
However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down. Sometimes
as little as 5 percent on conventional loans. If a 20 percent down payment is not made,
lenders usually require the home buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to
protect the lender in case the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs
such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or Rural
Development Services are available, the down payment requirements may be substantially
smaller.

Ask about the lender’s requirements for a down payment, including what you need to do to
verify that funds for your down payment are available.
Ask your lender about special programs it may offer.

If PMI is required for your loan:
Ask what the total cost of the insurance will be.
Ask how much your monthly payment will be when including the PMI premium.
Ask how long you will be required to carry PMI.


Obtain the Best Deal That You Can
Once you know what each lender has to offer, negotiate for the best deal that you can. On
any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different prices for the same loan terms to
different consumers, even if those consumers have the same loan qualifications. The most
likely reason for this difference in price is that loan officers and brokers are often allowed to
keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Generally, the difference between
the lowest available price for a loan product and any higher price that the borrower agrees
to pay is an overage. When overages occur, they are built into the prices quoted to
consumers. They can occur in both fixed and variable-rate loans and can be in the form of
points, fees, or the interest rate. Whether quoted to you by a loan officer or a broker, the
price of any loan may contain overages.

Have the lender or broker write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the
lender or broker will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate or
fewer points. You’ll want to make sure that the lender or broker is not agreeing to lower one
fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising points. There’s no harm in asking
lenders or brokers if they can give better terms than the original ones they quoted or than
those you have found elsewhere.

Once you are satisfied with the terms you have negotiated, you may want to obtain a
written lock-in from the lender or broker. The lock-in should include the rate that you have
agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and the number of points to be paid. A fee may be
charged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may be refundable at closing. Lock-ins can
protect you from rate increases while your loan is being processed; if rates fall, however,
you could end up with a less favorable rate. Should that happen, try to negotiate a
compromise with the lender or broker.

Remember: Shop, Compare, Negotiate
When buying a home, remember to shop around, to compare costs and terms, and to
negotiate for the best deal. Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start
shopping for a loan. You can usually find information both on interest rates and on points for
several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, you’ll want to check your
newspaper often when shopping for a home loan. But the newspaper does not list the fees,
so be sure to ask the lenders about them.

The Mortgage Shopping Worksheet that follows may also help you. Take it with you when
you speak to each lender or broker and write down the information you obtain. Don’t be
afraid to make lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by letting
them know that you are shopping for the best deal.

Fair Lending Is Required by Law
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against credit
applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant’s income comes from a
public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under
the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor
be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics.

Credit Problems? Still Shop, Compare, and Negotiate
Don’t assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances,
such as illness or temporary loss of income, will limit your loan choices to only high-cost
lenders. If your credit report contains negative information that is accurate, but there are
good reasons for trusting you to repay a loan, be sure to explain your situation to the lender
or broker. If your credit problems cannot be explained, you will probably have to pay more
than borrowers who have good credit histories. But don’t assume that the only way to get
credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan
and what you would need to do to get a better price. Take the time to shop around and
negotiate the best deal that you can.

Whether you have credit problems or not, it’s a good idea to review your credit report for
accuracy and completeness before you apply for a loan. To order a copy of your credit
report, contact:

Equifax: (800) 685-1111
TransUnion: (800) 888-4213
Experian: (888) 397-3742

Glossary
Adjustable-rate loans, also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial
interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based
on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates.
When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall,
your monthly payments may be lowered.

Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR
includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the
borrower is required to pay.

Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a
government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans
Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home
Administration, or FmHA).

Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can
also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for
taxes and insurance.

Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest
rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of
the loan.

The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest
rates can change because of market conditions.

Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often
expressed as a percentage of the loan amount.

Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on
a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90
days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing.

A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the
lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off the loan.

Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that
the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to
keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation.

Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan
amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay
points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs.

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults
on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20
percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80
percent of the appraised value.

Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations.

Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination,
abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds,
mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys’ fees; recording fees; and notary,
appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the
borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within
three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an
amount or a range.
Below I have provided some observations and suggestions when looking for a mortgage. It
is important that you feel comfortable with your mortgage company, lender and mortgage
broker. Consider someone that is local to the real estate market where you are looking to
buy. As you move through the process of buying a home, remember that it is typically your
lender that controls closing escrow on time.
If you would like a recommendation from me, please call 916-787-1212, and I will direct
you to someone that I know will take good care of you.
© 2006 - 2007 Roseville Real Estate™ All Rights Reserved.
Mortgage Information
916-787-1212
916-787-1212
Roseville Real Estate
Dennis Stettner
Your site for Real Estate in Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Folsom,
Fair Oaks,Sacramento and surrounding communities. Including
information and homes for sale in Placer County, Sacramento
County and El Dorado County.