How much can you afford? by Rob Alley
How Much Can You Afford?
Understanding how much you can afford is one of the most important rules of home buying. Depending
on your individual situation, your budget can affect everything from the neighborhoods where you look,
to the size of the house, and even what type of financing you choose.
Bear in mind, however, that lenders will look at more than just your income to determine the size of the
loan. Likewise, you may find that there are some creative financing options that can help boost your
purchasing power.
Loan prequalification vs. preapproval One of the best ways to determine your budget is to have your
real estate agent or lender prequalify you for a loan. Prequalification is different from preapproval,
because it is only an estimate of what you'll be able to afford. On the other hand, preapproval is a more
formal process where a lender examines your finances and agrees in advance to loan you money up to
a specified amount.
What factors are important to lenders? Banks and lending institutions will use several criteria to
determine how much money they'll agree to lend. These include:
Your gross monthly income Your credit history The amount of your outstanding debts Your savings--or
the amount of money you have available for a down payment and closing costs Your choice of mortgage
(i.e. 30-year, FHA, etc.) Current interest rates Two important ratios Lenders also use your financial
information to figure out two, very important ratios: the debt-to-income ratio and the housing expense
ratio.
Debt-to-income ratio Many lenders use a rule of thumb that the amount of debt you are paying on each
month (car payment, student loan, credit card, etc,) shouldn't exceed more than 36 percent of your
gross monthly income. FHA loans are slightly more lenient.
Housing expense ratio It is generally difficult to obtain a loan if the mortgage payment will be more than
28 to 33 percent of your gross monthly income.
Down payments make a difference If you can make a large down payment, lenders may be more lenient
with their qualifying ratios. For example, a person with a 20 percent down payment may be qualified with
the 33 percent housing expense ratio, while someone with a 5 percent down payment is held to the
stricter 28 percent ratio.
Other ways to improve your purchasing power
Gifts If you're having trouble saving money, many lenders will allow you to use gift funds for the down
payment and closing costs. However, most lenders require a "gift letter" stating the gift doesn't have to
be repaid, and will also require you to pay at least a portion of the down payment with your own cash.
Negotiating Closing Costs Through negotiation, some sellers may agree to pay all or most of your
closing costs (for example, if you agree to meet their full asking price). If you choose to try this, make
sure to ask your real estate agent for advice.
Loan Programs Many local governments have special loan programs designed to help first-time
homebuyers. Loans may be available at reduced interest rates, or with little or no down payments.
Check with your local housing authority for more information.
Loan Types Some homebuyers choose Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) because of low initial
interest rates. Others opt for 30-year loans because they have lower monthly payments than 15-year
loans. There are significant differences between different loans, so make sure to discuss the pros and
cons of different loans with your agent or lender before making a decision.
http://www.robsellscharlottesville.com/ http://www.theaverygroup.com/
About the Author
Rob Alley Realtor Roy Wheeler Realty Co. President - Virginia Tech Alumni Association - Charlottesville Chapter
540-250-3575 (cell) 434-220-7630 (office) http://www.robsellscharlottesville.com/ Oh by the way, I am never too busy to
work any of your referrals