Nassau County (Long Island), New York Mortgages

Mortgages Introduction

There are several different sources out there (banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, Internet services, etc.) and you should compare a few to truly get hold of the 1 fits you best. Different Nassau County (Long Island) lenders offer different rates, so it benefits you to shop around. You can also use a mortgage broker. Sometimes they can offer better rates than you can find yourself, and will assist you in sorting through your options. Mortgage brokers are paid by the lending institution offering the loan.

Items needed to qualify

IRS W-2 forms

Income tax returns (for the past few years)

Any alimony or child support payments (paid or received)

Bank statements

Pay stubs

Credit report - It is in your best interest to request a copy of your own credit report in order to examine before lenders do. It is estimated that almost 80% of credit reports hold errors, so this gives you a chance to rectify them prior to you apply for a loan, plus taking initial steps to increase your credit score.

What points are

A point is 1 percent of the loan amount, and lenders can charge from 1 to quite a few points on a loan. Points are paid as part of closing costs. Discount points are prepaid interest; the greater number of points paid at closing, the lower your interest rate will be. Origination points are basically just a fee to cover the lenders cost of making a loan.

Discount points are tax deductible, but origination fees aren't. When choosing between loans with points or no points, consider how much money you have available for closing, and the amount of time you plan to own the home. If you don't have a lot of money for closing, a loan with no points will require less money up front. If you plan to live in the home for a lengthy time, a lower interest rate will be better for you in the end. You can ask the seller to pay the points as part of the purchase agreement; if they agree to pay the points, you still claim the tax deduction.

Credit Reports

Nassau County (Long Island) lenders will ask for a copy of your credit report when your loan application is taken into consideration. This report provides every detail about your financial history, payment records, total debt, and any bankruptcies.

The information on this report is used to generate your credit score or FICO score, a numerical rating of your creditworthiness. Credit scores range from 300 to 900, with most people falling somewhere between 600 and 700. The higher your credit score, the more probable they will offer you good rates and loan terms. Factors affecting your credit score consist of the number and frequencies of your delinquencies, the length of your credit history, and a review of your credit limits.

Close unused credit card accounts.

Settle any outstanding accounts, Confirm all listed account numbers to make sure they are yours. Check your loan balances and late payments.

You might be required to explain certain items to lenders.

Pre-qualification and Pre-approval

Pre-qualification is an educated guess of the amount of mortgage you can afford. The whole process might take only minutes or a few hours at most, and is as a rule free. While a pre-qualification is non-binding to the lender (because the information you provide to them has not been verified), it does serve as a good indication to potential sellers of your general creditworthiness. Pre-approval takes pre-qualification 1 step further. To get pre-approved takes more time. The Nassau County (Long Island) lender will contact your employer, your bank and others to authenticate your income, assets, debts and credit history, and then send you a letter which states that your mortgage is approved for a specified amount within a certain timeframe. This process mainly costs a small administrative processing fee which is often refunded at closing.