Assessing Your ‘Debt-to-Income Ratio’ and Why This Number Matters When Getting a Mortgage

If you are looking to buy a home, you may want to consider shopping for a loan first. Having your financing squared away ahead of time can make it easier to be taken seriously by buyers and help move along the closing process. For those who are looking to get a mortgage soon, keep in mind that the Debt-to-Income ratio of the borrower plays a huge role in the approval of your mortgage application. What is a Debt-to-Income Ratio? A debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of monthly debt payments compared to the amount of gross income that a person earns…
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The Summer Buying Season Is Here: 3 Tips to Help You Secure a Favorable Mortgage Rate

The best way to ensure you get a good rate on your mortgage is to become an informed buyer. The more you know about mortgages, the more you'll be able to save, and that doesn't just mean knowing where to find the best interest rate. While interest rates play an important role in determining the price of your mortgage, there's always more to a mortgage than just the interest rate. Here are three things you need to know about mortgages to make sure you secure a favorable rate. Understand The Fees Involved - And How To Avoid Them Aside from…
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S P Case-Shiller Home Price Index: May Home Prices Rise

May home prices rose in all 20 cities tracked by the S&P Case-Shiller 20 City Home Price Index. This was the second consecutive month in which all cities posted gains. On average, national home prices rose by 1.10 percent in May as compared to April's reading. Year-over-year, home prices rose, but at a slower rate of 9.39 percent in May as compared to 10.80 percent year-over-year for April. Nevada, Florida and California Cities Post Highest Gains  Cities posting the highest year-over-year price gains in May included Las Vegas, Nevada at 16.90 percent, San Francisco, California at 15.40 percent, Miami, Florida…
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