How to Build a Strong Financial House with Housing Counseling

For most Americans, buying a home is the largest purchase they will make in their lifetime. But it’s not enough to know what neighborhood, style of house, or square footage you want. Consumers also need to have their financial affairs in order prior to considering homeownership.

A consumer’s financial history and credit rating are two of the biggest factors affecting mortgage loan rates. The general rule of thumb is the better the financial history and credit score, the better the loan rate.

If you are one of the millions of Americans thinking of purchasing a home for the first – or fourth – time, Advantage Credit Counseling Service offers the following home buying tips:

Develop a plan to buy a house –

Carefully examine your current financial situation to determine how much of a mortgage you can afford. Be sure to take into account ALL of your monthly expenses including your family cell phones, Internet access fees, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, food, transportation costs, as well as all of your other expenses. Carefully examine how much savings you can put down while still keeping a rainy day fund on hand, and be sure to budget for anticipated homeownership expenses.

Learn & follow the 3 C’s –

Location may be the buzzword in real estate, but Capacity, Character, and Collateral are the buzzwords with mortgage financing:

• Capacity – Your financial ability to repay your loan.
• Character – An examination of your credit history and history in paying previous debts.
• Collateral – The value of the home must appraise for at least the amount of the loan.

Establish a stable employment history –

Lenders also consider your capacity to repay your debt and your employment history and stability when evaluating your mortgage application. A good rule of thumb is to have at least two years of employment with the same employer or in a related field.

Build a savings account –

There are a lot of upfront costs associated with buying a home. A down payment is almost always requested and can range anywhere from 5-30 percent of the total cost of the home. Closing costs can vary by state and for first-time buyers, but usually are about 2-7 percent of the mortgage loan. Moving and settling-in costs can quickly add up as well. It is better to overestimate these costs than to underestimate them.

Know what’s on your credit report –

Obtain a copy of your credit report, and diligently correct erroneous listings as well as repair damage caused by late and negligent payments. Take a careful look at your debt-to-income ratio since lenders will look at this to determine how much of a loan you can afford, and consider purchasing your credit score (for a minimal fee) if you can’t get if for free from one of your credit card lenders. Americans are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once every 12 months.

The following website or toll-free line can be contacted to obtain a free credit report from each agency:

• annualcreditreport.com or call toll-free 1-877-322-8228

Consider getting pre-approved for a loan –

Knowing how much of a mortgage you can afford will save the emotional heartache of falling in love with a house that is out of your price range. Getting pre-approved will also save you the potential embarrassment of being turned down for a loan during the often competitive process of bidding on a house.

Appraise and inspect the property –

Be sure to obtain an independent certified appraisal report to capture the market value of the property. The County Clerk’s Office and the local library may have resources available to help determine the market value of homes in that neighborhood. Additionally, obtain an independently certified home inspection to uncover any hidden home horrors like leaky roofs, plumbing problems, etc. While neither of these reports can be obtained free of charge, these upfront costs are minimal compared to what could turn into expensive, and unbudgeted, major home renovations.

Sign up for a Homeownership course –

Buying a home is a life-changing action. Just as Americans enroll in driving and parenting courses, Advantage CCS recommends enrolling in a homeownership course also known as a Housing Counseling session. We offer a free homeownership workshop that teaches consumers about creating a budget for home ownership, how to search for the right mortgage, fair housing laws, closing costs, home insurance costs, and other homeowner considerations.

What happens during a Housing Counseling session –

With your housing counselor, or during a housing counseling session, you will learn how you can finance housing, and how much housing you can afford. You will learn which price brackets you should be looking in, and how to raise your credit score so you can qualify for the best mortgage package possible. Supplementing your housing counseling sessions with online credit counseling is a great way to get your finances under control, so that home ownership is a hassle-free experience rather than a chore. Housing counseling at Advantage CCS will also help you to decode the complex terminology associated with buying a home, such as HUD Settlement Statements, PMI, or Title Insurance.

About Advantage CCS –

You can get ahead financially before you start your home search. Whether you are currently overwhelmed with a financial crisis or simply in need of financial review, Advantage Credit Counseling Service can help. We have trained and certified housing counselors who offer financial management and even debt reduction services. We’re a reputable non-profit, community-based organization that’s been in business since 1968.

For more information, call 1-866-699-2227 or visit www.advantageccs.org.