When you purchase a home, you most likely intend to own it for years to come. You could easily have a mortgage payment that you could be paying on for the next 20 or 30 years. Before you commit to a monthly mortgage payment, it is best to shop around to find the best possible mortgage lender. Picking the wrong company could cause you to pay too much for your loan and put you in serious financial trouble.
Credit Score
You can compare and negotiate mortgages until you are blue in the face, but if your credit score is not where it needs to be, then you will not be able to get a good interest rate on a mortgage loan. You have to meet certain criteria in order to purchase a home and must have relatively descent credit. It is crucial that you try and pay off any high interest debts that you have, which could significantly raise your credit score quickly. Anything you can do to raise your score will ultimately help to get you a lower interest rate.
Landscape of Lending
Mortgage lending can be extremely complex, so it can be difficult to shop for a mortgage loan. You have to remember that there are credit unions, mortgage bankers, correspondent lenders, and mutual savings banks that all offer mortgage loans. Understanding the difference between all of these lenders will help you to make the right decision on where to go to try and obtain your loan. This should be your very first priority.
Your best bet is to use a mortgage calculator. If you are looking for a mortgage calculator in Jacksonville area, then check out the one on the Mortgage Brokers Carbon Capital website. It is best to get a good idea of your lending options before you are in deep water.