You may have heard that this process is arduous and complex, but it is not to be feared. The secret to having a pleasant experience and a smooth transaction is to organize your finances. Preparation should begin long before you apply for your mortgage loan. There are three points you should focus on for this preparation: credit, savings and documentation.
CREDIT: Your cover letter:
- The credit score, is the score that tells the mortgage banker how you have performed on your credit commitments.
- Having good credit is essential to get the best terms on a new mortgage.
- To increase your score safely, Popular’s experts recommend:
- Check and monitor your credit; this way you will know in time if you need to take any action to improve it.
- Don’t get into debt.
- Lower the balance you have on your credit cards.
- Pay your bills.
SAVINGS are vital:
- Buying a property requires that you have enough money saved for the expenses related to the transaction. Plan to make regular deposits, remember that every penny counts.
- Make your deposits in the bank account, as it is necessary to validate the origin of the funds. The costs of the process will vary according to the type of mortgage you apply for, your profile and that of any accompanying applicants, such as your spouse.
- What will you spend? On the down payment or option of the property, closing costs, notary stamps, appraisal services and title search, among others.
DOCUMENTATION up to date:
- It is vital that you have on hand all the documents requested to complete the transaction. Although the documents required may vary, there are some that you can identify now. If you are a salaried employee, you need:
- W-2 document issued by your employer It confirms your wages, salaries and taxes withheld from your paycheck.
- Evidence of having submitted your tax return in the last two years.
- Proof of income (last two pay stubs).
- Employment verification letter.
- Driver’s license or passport. Make sure none are expired or about to expire in the middle of the process.
- To start the transaction, the seller must have the deeds of the property at hand and both parties must have the purchase contract ready. You can find an excellent glossary of these and other terms at https://www.popular.com/hipotecas/.
- Remember that this is a basic list, the bank may require additional documents.
CREDIT: Popular Mortgage
