Before You Look at Your First House

Experienced home buyers know that one of the first-steps in beginning a successful search for a new house is taking a hard, objective look at finances. Determining how much money you can dedicate to the purchase of your new house affects almost every aspect of buying a new home - including how we write the offer, which mortgage programs you will qualify for, shopping for the best mortgage loan and which homes are truly in your price range.



Here are the questions that each home buyer should ask:

  • How much cash is available for a down payment? The amount you have available for a down payment will affect what types of loans for which you can qualify. Learn more.
  • Am I ready to write a check for the earnest money? Earnest money is a cash deposit made to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property. This amount is often forfeited if the buyer decides to withdraw his offer.
  • How much additional cash will be available to pay for closing costs? There are certain standard costs associated with closing the sale of a house. These fees are split between the buyer and the seller, as spelled out in the sales contract. Learn more.
  • What is the maximum monthly mortgage payment that I can afford? While many lenders will use the 28/36 rule, others have the ability to go as high as 50% debt to income.

The 28/36 Rule
No more than 28% of your gross income can be applied to your mortgage, real estate taxes and insurance. And no more than 36% of your gross income can be applied to your mortgage expenses plus your regular debt expenses (car payments, credit cards, other loans, etc).

The 50% Rule
Many mortgage brokers have the ability to lend as high as 50% or even more of your gross income for your mortgage and other expenses.  This can be especially helpful if you anticipate an increase in your income in the near future.

Randy Eide, Rossum & Neal Realtors 2400 W Main St, Ste A Rapid City, SD 57702
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