Five Golden Rules of Home Buying

In today’s economy, banks continue to significantly tighten their mortgage lending standards. For instance, on June 1, Fannie Mae put into effect the Loan Quality Initiative (LQI), which requires lenders to pull two credit reports along with additional verification checks on potential borrowers.

That means even if you are initially approved for a loan, it can still be put on hold or cancelled altogether if you run-up credit card debts … apply for other new loans of any kind … or otherwise take actions that change your perceived risk profile before the mortgage actually closes. And it’s worth noting that this initiative is mandatory — affecting practically every mortgage lender and secondary mortgage market product.

To be sure, a borrower’s credit scores and credit reports are playing a more significant role in whether a loan is approved or not these days. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said 55 percent of approved mortgage borrowers’ credit scores were 720 or higher that in 2007 and a whopping 85 percent in 2009!

So, in light of potential new fees and tight lending standards, remember these five golden rules if you’ll be applying for a mortgage:

1. Clean up your credit history. A few months before applying for a mortgage, review your credit report and check for any discrepancies. You can access your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies once a year for free at www.annualcreditreport.com.

2. Don’t become house poor. Be realistic about how much house you can afford. Plan to borrow roughly 2 to 2-1/2 times your annual gross salary. And in these uncertain times, if you’re buying the house with another person, you’d be wise to take on mortgage payments that can be supported with one income (including taxes and insurance).

3. Know the 28/36 ratios rule. The majority of lenders will back a buyer whose monthly house payment will not exceed 28 percent of their gross monthly income. Lenders also prefer the borrower’s overall debt ratio to fall below 36 percent of their gross monthly income.

4. Use a down payment. Aim to put down 20 percent on your home purchase so that you can avoid paying private mortgage insurance.

5. Get pre-approved. Try to be pre-approved for a mortgage before your home search begins. That way you’ll be able to better focus on the best potential home in your price range and give yourself one additional competitive advantage should you decide to make an offer.

And always remember that even though looming new mortgage fees and strict lending standards are making home purchases a more daunting task these days, it is a buyer’s market if you’re well prepared!