Your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Lender: home loan tips

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

How to Get Smart About Credit

Homeownership rates in the United States have been steadily increasing over the last decade. This is especially true over the last few months as housing prices are doing well and the interest rates have been low. October 17th is Get Smart About Credit Day, and it’s a great time to take a look at where your finances are and figure out where they need to be. If you are buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, whether it’s your first real estate purchase or you are a seasoned buyer, being smart about your credit is always important. Here are a few tips from Team Lasson for ways to improve your credit and give you the best possible chance for success when applying for a mortgage.

#1. Know Your Credit Score

It only takes a few minutes to learn about your credit score, in fact, many credit card companies make it easy to learn about inside your account. Surprisingly, there are many future home buyers who never review their scores or their credit history before submitting a home loan application, and they just assume that they will qualify. Before applying for a mortgage, it’s always smart to look at your credit report. Your scores and credit activity can have a major impact on your mortgage approval, and a minimum credit score is required for most loan programs. Several things that can affect your mortgage approval, other than your credit score, are missed payments, frequent late payments, and other derogatory credit information. Take time to clean up your credit history before applying for a mortgage and you could save some time and the additional effort of having to apply again later.

#2. Build Up Your Savings

Having money set aside before beginning your mortgage process can really help your application status. While several lenders have options for a zero-down mortgage loan, having a downpayment can be a huge advantage. The minimums will vary depending on the mortgage that you are applying for, but having money set aside can be a great advantage when starting the application process. Of course, down payments aren’t the only expense that you have to prepare for there will also be closing costs, inspections, appraisal, title search, credit report fees - and other expenses. You can expect that closing costs will be roughly 3%-5% of the mortgage balance.

#3. Stay At Your Job

If you want to buy a home, keeping your job through closing is extremely important. Any changes to your employment or income status can stop, or at the very least, delay the mortgage process. Lenders will approve your home loan based on the information provided in your application. Changing jobs, choosing a lower-paying career, or quitting your job entirely to become self-employed can greatly impact the plans, and lenders will have to reevaluate your finances to determine if you still qualify for the loan.

Getting a Lake of the Ozarks Home Mortgage

Getting your mortgage can feel a little intimidating at first, but when you are working with Team Lasson, we can help you evaluate your finances and establish a good goal to either work towards or to shop for when you start the home search. If you are ready to get smart about your credit and start the mortgage process, visit our website! You can fill out the pre-approval paperwork, and begin securing your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage. We can’t wait to begin working with you!

For Lake area news, resources and tips on financial services, please

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Michael Lasson

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS #: 493712

4655 B Osage Beach Parkway

Osage Beach, MO 65065

Direct: (573) 746-7211

Cell: (573) 216-7258

e-Fax: (866) 397-0318

Email: mlasson@fsbfinancial.com

Website: www.YourLakeLoan.com

**The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent First State Bank of St Charles’s positions, strategies, or opinions.

Friday, December 5, 2014

5 Tips to Paying Off Your Mortgage Faster

Your home is typically the most valuable asset you have, while your mortgage at the Lake of the Ozarks is often your largest debt. Depending on the terms of your loan, you are adding thousands of dollars more to the price of your home. The faster you can pay off your Lake of the Ozarks home loan, the more money you're going to save. Not only will you no longer have the burden of that huge monthly payment, but you'll have security in owning your own home. Here are several great tips to help you pay off your mortgage faster!

1. Pay a Little Extra Each Month.

Try to add a little extra to each payment you make. Whether it be $10 or $100, choose what you can comfortably afford because every little bit helps. Use a mortgage calculator to see how adding just a little to your payments can save you money in the long run. When you pay extra, make sure that it is being applied to your principal and not set aside for the next month's payment. By paying down the principal, the amount that your interest is calculated on decreases. You should also check your contract before making extra payments, as some have prepayment penalties.

2. Pay Every Two Weeks.

Rather than making one payment a month, consider paying biweekly. This method of payment takes advantage of the fact that there are 52 weeks in a year and only 12 months. When the year is over, you will have made 26 half payments, which is the equivalent of 13 full monthly payments. Check to see if your bank will set up a biweekly payment plan. Some will do it for free and some will charge you for it. Be sure to have the bank credit the extra payments toward the principal so you save more on interest; some banks will hold the extra payments until the end of the year and therefore, your still paying interest on that amount.

3. Apply Any Extra Cash You Get.

Tax season is a great time to reduce the principal on your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage. Consider applying your next tax return towards your mortgage principal. If you receive any other larger sums of money throughout the year, maybe as a Holiday bonus at work or a commission check, consider applying those amounts to your mortgage principal as well. The more you can pay upfront, the more you'll save in the long haul and the faster you'll be able to pay your home off.

4. Refinance Your Home.

Refinancing your home at the Lake of the Ozarks to either lower your interest rate or shorten the term of your loan is another great way to get your home loan paid off faster and save money. If you have an adjustable rate loan, you can refinance to get the comfort of the stability that a fixed rate loan offers. Depending on what interest rates are available, you may be able to get a 15 year loan for a little more than what you currently pay for a 30 year loan.

5. Downsize Your Home.

If you are struggling to pay off your mortgage, one of the simplest solutions is to downsize. Do you really need 2 spare bedrooms or that extra office space? While having a nice big spacious house is something you've dreamed of, think about how much more enjoyable life could be without all that debt hanging over your head. If your near retirement age or approaching an "empty nest," downsizing makes the most sense. In this economy, it's great knowing that your home belongs to you instead of the bank.

As your Lake of the Ozarks mortgage lender, I will work with you to figure out the best way to pay your mortgage off faster. For all your home loan and refinancing needs, contact Lake Lender Michael Lasson at 573-746-7211.

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