With the myriad of laws pertaining to real estate in the country today, you may find that securing a mortgage loan is an intimidating process. Add in the various costs in the transaction from the broker’s commissions to the closing costs and you may want to just rent a house instead of buying one. Fortunately, mortgage loans can be simplified into something you can well understand mainly by doing away with the technical terms frequently used by real estate agents.

Mortgage Calculators

When looking at houses, one of your first questions will be about the financial aspects of the mortgage. You should ask about mortgage interest rates, down payments and monthly amortizations, which can be confusing to pin down after so many options outlined by the mortgage company.

To make choosing easier, you can use a mortgage calculator. You will then be able to calculate your monthly amortizations by varying the interest rates and the down payments, the latter of which you may have limited funds in the first place. At the very least, you can make calculations on your own for the perfect mortgage package where your present and future finances are concerned.

Keep in mind, however, that your credit rating and debt-to-income ratios have significant effect on your mortgage package. The general rule is that the lower your credit rating and debt-to-income ratio, the higher your interest rates and mortgage down payments will be. So, take a look at these two aspects first before assuming that you can dictate them.

Mortgage Down Payment

Many real estate contracts will peg the mortgage down payment at 30 percent of the total contract although it can vary depending on the credit checks, the value of the property and the current market conditions. The only constants with a mortgage down payment are that you have to pay the amount and that it will affect your mortgage monthly amortizations.

In the case of the latter, the general rule is that the higher your mortgage down payment, the lower your monthly payments. But as with general rules, there are exceptions, one of the most common being that an adjustable rate will result to high monthly amortizations even when you have plunked down a sizable down payment. Thus, most homeowners are advised to seek fixed interest rates in the long-run.

Mortgage Monthly Payments

More often than not, the most important aspect of the mortgage contract is the monthly amortization. You might be paying said amortizations anywhere from 5 years to 25 years depending on many factors. Your ability to pay the mortgage company on a regular basis will determine if you can still continue to live in your home or you will become part of a tent city.

You may think that becoming homeless is a worst-case scenario but with the recession in the past few years, it is a scenario that you are well advised to consider when choosing from among many options. You should try to secure as low monthly payments as possible so that you still have a budget for the basic things in life like food, clothing and a decent education for the kids.

Mortgages can become your friend if only you will take the time to get acquainted with them before signing the contract.

Author Bio: Article by Hank Ericson, a Realtor that focuses on Lansdale Pa Real Estate & North Wales PA Real Estate.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: real estate investing,real estate mortgages,information on mortgages,mortgage loans,down payment