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Contact Info
Jerry Cass & Bob Burch
Broker/Owners
Phone
(575) 762-7776
Fax
(575) 763-5974
Toll Free
(800) 637-9468
Mobile
(575) 799-6472
Mobile
(575) 799-5304
Evenings
(575) 763-7948
jerrycass@3lefties.com
Articles Tips
for Selling Home Different
Types of Loans Mortgage
Lengths Saving for
Down Payment Closing
Costs
How Mortgage Loans Work Adjustable
Rate Mortgages How
Much Can You Afford? Getting
Finances in Order Your
Credit History
Refinancing
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Getting Your Finances in Order
A crucial step in
starting your search for a new home is having a clear idea of your
financial situation. By getting a handle on your income, expenses
and debts, you'll have a much better idea of what you can afford and
how much you'll need to borrow.
For lenders to
verify this information, though, they're going to need to look at
your financial records. It is also important to remember that you
should include records for each person who will be an owner of the
house. So before you even visit the bank, make sure you'll be able
to provide copies of these important documents:
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Paycheck
Stubs
Remember that lenders are most interested in your average
income. Not only will they want to see this month's paycheck,
but also how much you've been making for the past two years.
Steady employment is also more attractive to lenders, so if
you've been hopping from job to job, be prepared to discuss the
reasons why.
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Bank
Statements
In order to qualify you for a loan, most lenders will also ask
you for copies of your bank statements. Ideally, they'd like to
see a steady history of savings--or at the very least, that
you're not bouncing checks every month.
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Tax Records
It's always a good idea to save copies of your tax returns,
especially if you're self-employed. If you own your own
business, it's important to note that lenders generally consider
your income as the amount you paid taxes on--not the gross
income of the business.
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Dividends
& Investments
Lenders will usually consider long-term investment dividends, as
well as your investment portfolio, when evaluating your income.
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Alimony/Child
Support
If you receive steady payments as part of a divorce settlement
or for child support, you can also include this as part of your
gross income. Just remember that lenders will want to see a copy
of your divorce/court settlement verifying the amount of the
payments.
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Credit Report
Virtually every lender will want to see a copy of your credit
report as part of the loan application process. The report lists
all of your long-term debts, as well as your payment history. In
general, they will require you to pay for the credit report
(approximately $50), but if you have a recent copy, they may
accept that instead.
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