by Supreme Lending | Apr 16, 2024
A mortgage is more than just the home loan amount, so let’s breakdown what all goes into a monthly payment beginning with the short acronym, mortgage PITI—principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Understanding these factors can help you determine how much home you can afford and budget accordingly.
Principal (P):
Principal refers to the flat amount borrowed from a lender to purchase a home. It represents the initial loan amount, which is gradually paid down over the life of the mortgage through regular payments. Understanding the principal component of your mortgage payment is crucial for assessing the affordability of a home. A larger principal amount typically results in higher monthly mortgage payments, while a smaller principal amount may be more manageable depending on one’s budget.
Interest (I):
Interest is the rate percentage of how much you’ll pay each month as a fee for borrowing the funds. It is a fundamental component of mortgage payments. The interest rate on your mortgage directly impacts the total amount of interest paid over the life of the loan. A lower interest rate can reduce your monthly mortgage payments and lower the amount of interest you would pay over the life of the loan.
Taxes (T):
Taxes, specifically property taxes, are typically rolled into the monthly mortgage and vary by location and the appraised value of the home. These taxes fund various public services, such as schools, roads, and emergency services, within your community. Property tax rates fluctuate depending on the neighborhood and can have a significant impact on your overall housing expenses. Understanding property tax obligations associated with a prospective home is essential for accurate budgeting and planning.
Insurance (I):
Insurance, which can include both homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance, commonly have annual premiums that the lender can tie into your monthly payments. Homeowners insurance protects your investment by covering physical damages or loss to your property and belongings, such as fire, theft, or natural disasters. Mortgage insurance, which is typically required especially if you put less than 20% down, protects the lender if you default on the loan. Once you reach an agreed-upon equity threshold and loan-to-value ratio, it may be removed to lower your payments.
Practical Tips for Mortgage PITI
- Calculate Affordability. Using mortgage calculators and working with your Loan Officer can help provide an estimate for your monthly mortgage PITI payments based on your desired home price, down payment amount, interest rate, and other related terms.
- Factor in Additional Costs. In addition to PITI, consider other homeownership expenses, such as utilities, regular home maintenance, and homeowners association (HOA) fees, when establishing your housing budget.
- Build a Contingency Fund. Set aside savings for unexpected expenses or potential fluctuations in mortgage PITI payments, such as property tax increases or changes in insurance premiums.
- Reassess Periodically. Review your homeownership goals regularly and adjust as needed based on possible changes in income, expenses, interest rates, or market conditions.
Mortgage PITI—principal, interest, taxes, and insurance—serves as a fundamental framework for understanding the financial aspects of homeownership. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned homeowner, examining each component of PITI offers valuable insights into how much home you can afford and helps you achieve your homeownership goals with confidence. Embrace the power of PITI as you embark on the exciting journey to owning your dream home.
Contact your local Supreme Lending branch to get started.
by Supreme Lending | Apr 12, 2024
As anyone who has been through the homebuying process can tell you, there are several important documents that are typically involved. One of the single most vital, and one that all homebuyers will deal with eventually, is known as the mortgage closing disclosure.
While closing on your loan can be the most exciting step in the homebuying process, it’s important to carefully, completely review and understand what you’re agreeing to at the closing table—that’s where the official closing disclosure comes in to provide a transparent summary of all loan details. What is involved in a closing disclosure, when will it typically be sent to you, and why does it matter? Here’s everything you need to know about this important document.
Mortgage Closing Disclosure Basics
When we talk about the closing disclosure, we’re referring to a single document that lays out all the final terms and numbers associated with your mortgage so there are no surprises at the closing table, and you can close with confidence and clarity.
The closing disclosure is typically five pages in length, and includes the following details:
- Loan terms. This is where you’ll find specific information about the interest rate, monthly payments, and other important conditions of your loan agreement.
- Projected payments. Here, you’ll see a breakdown of all the different types of payments that you’ll be responsible for making over the life of the loan. This will include your principal and interest payments, as well as any taxes, insurance, or other fees that are required.
- Closing costs. All the different costs associated with acquiring and closing on your home loan will be itemized here. This can include fees for things like the appraisal, title insurance, or other third-party services.
- Transaction summary. For your reference, this section will provide a summary of all the different financial transactions that are taking place as part of your mortgage. This can include your down payment amount, as well as the total loan amount and any credits that may be applied.
- Other information. The closing disclosure may also include other helpful details about your loan, such as information about escrow accounts or potential prepayment penalties.
Timing of the Closing Disclosure
It’s required that lenders provide you with your closing disclosure no later than three days before your scheduled loan closing date. This is designed to give you sufficient time to review the document ahead of time and raise any questions or concerns that you may have. In practice, most lenders will provide the closing disclosure much earlier than this – often at least a week in advance, if not more.
Why Does the Mortgage Closing Disclosure Matter?
By now you can probably see why the closing disclosure is so important. It’s critical to review this document thoroughly before you close on your loan. This is your last chance to catch any errors or discrepancies in the loan terms or other information that’s been provided. If something doesn’t look right, be sure to bring it up with your loan officer so that it can be corrected quickly and to avoid any delays to your mortgage closing.
Even seemingly minor errors like a misspelled name or an incorrect address can cause major problems down the road. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so take the time to review your closing disclosure carefully before you sign on the dotted line.
The closing disclosure is also key because it provides you with a clear understanding of what you’re agreeing to when you close on your loan. There’s no such thing as a “standard” mortgage, and loan terms can vary widely from one lender or loan program to the next. By reviewing your closing disclosure, you can be sure that you’re getting the loan that you agreed to, with the terms and conditions that you expected.
How to Check the Closing Disclosure
Once you receive your closing disclosure ahead of your mortgage closing date, it should immediately become one of your top priorities. As noted above, it’s crucial to ensure the details of your loan are accurate, and that all parties involved in the transaction have the proper information.
Here are some basic steps for checking your mortgage closing disclosure:
- Details first. In most cases, it’s recommended to first move through the simple details of the closing disclosure to ensure they’re correct. Check to make sure no names have been misspelled and that the address of the home being purchased is listed correctly, including the zip code. As mentioned, even small errors in areas like these can have a large trickle-down effect during closing, so it’s important to confirm them – and if they’re wrong, quickly send the disclosure back to your lender so it can be corrected.
- Loan terms. Next up, you should review the entire section on your loan terms and confirm accuracy of each detail. Make sure your monthly payment amounts match prior agreed upon documents, for instance, and that your mortgage interest rate percentage is what you expected it to be. Do not let any errors here slide through the cracks.
- Closing costs. Be sure to oversee the closing costs as well, confirming they’re accurate. For example, the document should list the precise amount you’re paying for your down payment, plus any other fees involved in the closing of the home purchase.
- Sign and submit back. Once thoroughly assessed and any issues or errors have been fixed, it’s time to sign the closing disclosure and return it to your lender, which can be done either in-person or virtually. Congratulations, you’re ready for closing day!
For more on closing disclosures within your homebuying process, or to learn about our wide variety of home loan options, contact your local Supreme Lending branch.
by Supreme Lending | Apr 9, 2024
When considering buying a home and what your mortgage payment will look like, it’s important to be familiar with private mortgage insurance (PMI). All parties in the mortgage and homebuying process must be protected from certain risks, and this includes not only buyers and sellers, but also mortgage lenders. That’s where PMI comes in.
What exactly is private mortgage insurance, when is it required, what types are there, and when can it be removed? Here’s a breakdown of PMI and how it may impact your mortgage.
Private Mortgage Insurance Basics
PMI is an insurance that homebuyers are typically required to have when they pay less than 20 percent down payment for a home with a Conventional loan. The purpose of PMI is to protect the lender in case the borrower defaults on the loan and fails to make payments. This mitigates risk for the loan provider. If a property goes into foreclosure, PMI can reimburse the lender for a portion of their losses.
The cost for PMI is typically rolled into the monthly mortgage payment and funneled to the insurance provider—in the event the lender needs to make a claim.
It’s important to note that PMI is not homeowners insurance, which protects against things like fire damage or theft. PMI is required by lenders, and it only covers the lender in case of default. It’s not used to protect homebuyers’ interests. However, having PMI may allow borrowers to buy a home sooner than later, without having to save up for a larger down payment.
Types of PMI
While private mortgage insurance plans have the same goals, there are a few different ways to structure the PMI payments applied to a mortgage depending on specific circumstances or preferences. These options include:
- Buyer-Paid PMI: By far the most common type of PMI, buyer-paid private mortgage insurance involves the homebuyer or borrower paying a monthly insurance premium, which is added on to the monthly loan payment and paid to the insurance provider, though the charge can sometimes be rolled into the mortgage itself if applicable.
- Lender-Paid PMI: A much less common option is when the lender pays the monthly premiums, however as a result, the borrower would pay a higher interest rate to make up for the lender’s investment.
- Single-Premium PMI: This type of private mortgage insurance consists of the borrower paying for the full PMI policy upfront in a single lump sum, often at closing. Once this is paid, it eliminates monthly PMI payments.
- Split-Premium PMI: Borrowers may also have the option to combine the PMI payment options listed above by paying an upfront lump sum at closing that doesn’t cover the entire insurance policy, so a lower monthly premium is still required in addition to the mortgage payment.
Benefits of PMI
When lenders have the appropriate protections in place to provide loans, like requiring PMI in certain cases, they can offer mortgages to more families and individuals than if they were faced with taking on more risk.
Similar to how car insurance can protect both the owner of the car and the lender in case of an accident, private mortgage insurance is just another way to ensure that things go smoothly for all parties involved in a home loan. It gives more people the opportunity to buy homes with lower down payment options, while also making sure that lenders have protection against borrowers defaulting on their loans.
When PMI Is Required and How to Get Rid of It?
As noted above, the most common PMI requirement is when a homebuyer puts down less than 20 percent for a Conventional loan. However, this isn’t a set-in-stone rule. There can be loan programs with lower down payment requirements that may not require PMI. Always discuss with your loan officer to go over your qualified options.
Additionally, in most cases, PMI can be removed at some point during the life of the loan. Generally, once the borrower reaches 22 percent equity built in the home through things like paying down the mortgage or appreciation of the home’s value, PMI can be removed. This is done by request so if you think you may have reached this point, it’s important to contact your lender and ask about removal of the insurance. In other situations, PMI may automatically be removed once the homeowner reaches a certain agreed upon equity threshold.
For more on private mortgage insurance or to learn about other home loan programs, contact the team at Supreme Lending today.
by Supreme Lending | Mar 1, 2024
The men and women who have served in America’s Armed Forces have sacrificed so much to protect our freedom and communities, including time away from their families. There’s no profession more deserving of having a home to call their own. Supreme Lending is honored to provide opportunities to help Veterans and active military personnel achieve their dreams of homeownership through affordable mortgage options, including VA loans that can offer 100% financing. Let’s dive into the benefits and eligibility of VA loan programs.
Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA loans are designed to help those who have served in the military and their eligible surviving spouses obtain homeownership with more flexible and favorable terms.
VA Loan Benefits
Two of the biggest benefits of VA loans are the no down payment or mortgage insurance premium requirements—making homeownership more accessible for those who may not qualify for a traditional loan. Other unique VA loan benefits and features include:
- Lower origination fees, appraisal fees, and closing costs.
- Purchase and refinance for primary homes.
- No prepayment penalties.
- Fixed- and adjustable-rate loan options available.
- Variety of eligible property types (single-family, townhomes, VA-approved condos, etc.).
- Available for qualified first-time and repeat homebuyers.
- 580 minimum credit score; 620 minimum credit score for loan amounts more than $ 766,550.
- At least 41% Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio.
- VA non-allowable fees can be paid by seller, up to 4% of the loan amount.
- Two year waiting period after foreclosure or bankruptcy after discharged.
- Some states may offer additional options for extra affordability.
VA Loan Eligibility
A requirement of VA loans is that the homeowner lives in the home as their primary residence. A valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) must be presented at the time of application, which includes military eligibility such as length of service or service commitment, duty status, and character of service.
VA Funding Fee
While there is no down payment requirement, VA loans do require a one-time funding fee to cover administrative or processing costs. The fee is 2.15% for first-time use of the program with zero down payment, still much lower than a traditional down payment! Additionally, the funding fee decreases to 1.5% with 5% or more down payment and to 1.25% with more than 10% down payment.
VA Loan Refinancing
Veterans Affairs also offers options for refinancing. A VA streamline refinance, also known as an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), could be a great option for military homeowners looking to potentially reduce their interest rate and monthly payments of a current VA loan. A VA cash-out refinance allows borrowers to leverage the equity they’ve built in their home and could help homeowners fund renovations or other large expenses.
For more information on VA loans and other mortgage options, reach out to your local Supreme Lending Loan Officer or contact us today.
by Supreme Lending | Feb 28, 2024
If you’re looking for a home with acreage in the country, to build the homestead of your dreams outside the city, or to embrace nature’s beauty of rural living, a USDA loan could be a great mortgage option with it’s no down payment requirement and flexible guidelines.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guarantees the loan for homebuyers in rural areas, including designated small towns and eligible suburbs outside of large cities. USDA loans help encourage rural development across America by offering affordable home financing to those with lower to moderate income. USDA loans may be one of the least-known government mortgage programs available, so let’s go over the loan features and potential benefits.
Why choose a USDA loan? If you’re located in an eligible area, there are several features USDA loans:
- No down payment requirement.
- Lower closing costs and interest rates.
- 100% financing with a one-time guarantee fee that can be rolled into the loan.
- Lower credit score minimums.
- Gift funds and grants permitted from family or government assistance agencies.
- Eligible properties include single-family homes, new construction, modular homes, planned unit developments (PUDs), and eligible condominiums.
- Mortgage insurance is required.
- Borrower’s income can’t exceed the USDA Rural Development limits for the area.
You can check to see if a property’s location is eligible for a rural development loan on the USDA’s website using the property eligibility maps and income limit calculator.
Ready to say goodbye to city life and hello to wide open spaces? Realize your dream of rural living with the possibility of a USDA loan.
For more mortgage information, reach out to your local Supreme Lending branch today.
by Supreme Lending | Feb 21, 2024
New year, new décor? Interior design can turn a house into a home with the combination of modern or traditional flare and personal style. Whether you’re planning to sell your current home in 2024 and need to attract potential buyers with stage-worthy features or looking to renovate or elevate your space, here are a few interior design trends to enhance the appeal of your home and leave a lasting impression.
Neutral Elegance
Using a neutral color palette creates a timeless and refined look. In keeping up with 2024 interior trends, design expert Ashely Childers suggests embracing natural colors and textures to foster a warm, clean, and sophisticated environment. Neutral tones and materials also show potential buyers a blank canvas to envision their own style in the space.
Nature’s Charm
Bringing nature indoors can not only elevate the space, but also has been known to enhance people’s energy, creativity, and mood. Consider adding statement greenery and plants, natural materials like wood or stone, and large windows that let in ample natural light.
Tech Chic
Incorporating modern smart home technology offers convenient features, such as controlling the thermostat with a mobile device or automating room lighting, but it also helps create a modern, elevated environment. Replace any old or outdated technology that may be visually unappealing and opt for the latest line of home electronics and appliances.
Bold Move
While neutrals are essential, that doesn’t mean you have to shy away from making bold, playful statements. Introduce pops of color, vibrant patterns, rich textures, or eclectic decor pieces to add personality to a room. While pastels have been popular, designers featured in Architectural Digest predict that colors in 2024 will be taken up a notch with more vibrant, saturated hues, such as deep blues, browns, burgundy, and plum. Bold moves can help enrich a space and create a memorable and visually striking impression.
While you visualize your home’s interior design or staging, Supreme Lending is here to help with your home financing needs. Contact us to learn about our wide variety of mortgage options and refinancing.
