Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Kenmore, WA

Compare Kenmore, WA Mortgage Loan Rates

When you are in the market for a new home, it is important that you look for the best mortgage rates you can find. This is also true when you are looking to refinance your current home as well. MyRatePlan makes it easy to find the very best home loan rates in the Kenmore, WA area by offering their customers the tools and information they need. If you put in the time needed to compare home loan rates, you will be able to secure yourself a good interest rate and save money in the long run.

Tips On Getting the Best Home Loan Rates in Kenmore, WA

Most people who are shopping for a new place in Kenmore, WA are going to need a home loan of some sort as a way to finance their costs. The values on the low end of the market currently sit at around $50,000, so even if you're buying from that bracket it will still be nearly impossible to use cash to finance your purchase. You might wonder, then, what you need to do to secure a mortgage in the area, and the factors that contribute to the rates you'll receive. Getting the lowest home loan rate available should be your goal, and there are ways you can make this outcome more likely. Once you've found your dream house, the agent you're working with will suggest using someone from their pool of preferred lenders. And while there is nothing wrong with that, you should keep in mind that these lenders will be people with whom that agent has worked before, probably. Thus, you should always exercise just a hint of caution when considering these professional recommendations. Agents are often very helpful without a doubt, but some want to close on a deal as quickly as possible. A good home loan requires time and effort to process. If you are a first-time buyer, exercise patience and take a look around for the best bargains, regardless of whether your agent suggests otherwise. While there might be nothing you need to worry about, it pays to be prepared. MyRatePlan can help you by allowing you to compare home loan rates online, both from area businesses and national, big-name lending companies, to find a price in Kenmore, WA that works for you. We should note here that keeping your credit score as high as possible prior to the buy will also have a positive impact on the mortgage rate you'll receive.

Different Mortgage Types Available in Kenmore, WA

For home loans, there are many products available to appeal to a variety of buyer types. The two most common types of mortgages on the market are fixed-rate mortgages and variable mortgages, which work very differently and suit different types of borrowers.

A fixed-rate mortgage in Kenmore, WA will be fixed at one interest rate during the entire term of the loan, hence the name. The borrower will be making a monthly payment for the same amount every month, whether they have a 10-year mortgage or a 30-year mortgage. This keeps things consistent and gives the borrower some peace of mind, because they don't need to worry about any terms on their home loan suddenly changing.

True to their names, adjustable-rate mortgage loans (ARMS) in Kenmore, WA have changing interest rates that can increase or decrease depending on the market. The most common type of ARM is known as a hybrid ARM, and the reason is that it actually combines features from fixed-rate mortgages and ARMs. It starts like a fixed-rate mortgage with a set interest rate for a certain number of years, and then it switches over to an ARM. An example would be a 7/1 ARM. The seven indicates the number of years that the mortgage has a fixed rate, and the one indicates how often, in years, the interest rate adjusts after that. Therefore, a 7/1 ARM means a home loan with a fixed interest rate for the first seven years and an interest rate that adjusts every one year from that point forward.

Kenmore, WA FHA Home Loans

There's more to the buyer's choice than a fixed-rate mortgage or an ARM. The buyer also needs to figure out if they want to go with a mortgage that's insured by the government, including a FHA or a VA, or stick with the more conventional type of loan, which doesn't have any insurance or guarantee from the federal government. When it comes to government-backed mortgages in Kenmore, WA, there are three options, which are FHA Loans, USDA Loans and VA Loans.

FHA loans are a popular option, and they're available through the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance program. The federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) handles this program. One major benefit of FHA loans is that just about any type of borrower can be eligible, as they're not only available to people who are purchasing a home for the first time. The way the loan works is that the government is providing insurance for the lender against any losses that could occur if the buyer defaults on their mortgage. For the buyer, one perk of an FHA loan is that they don't need to have as much of a down payment saved, because the down payment could be as little as 3.5 percent of the home's price. Typical down payments are between 10 and 20 percent. The drawback with FHA loans for the borrower is that they're also responsible for paying for mortgage insurance, and this means larger monthly payments.

Refinancing Home Loans in Kenmore, WA

With mortgage refinancing in Kenmore, WA, what the buyer really does is apply for an entirely new mortgage. That new mortgage then pays off their old mortgage, and since the new mortgage has a lower interest rate, the borrower ends up paying less overall. The new mortgage can have fees, such as closing costs, and the borrower should consider how much those will cost when evaluating how much money they could save by refinancing. This isn't necessary if a borrower is refinancing an ARM with a fixed-rate loan, which is always smart because interest rates usually go up. When a borrower wants to refinance, they must prepare financially and make themselves look as low risk as possible. They can do this by getting a credit score over 700 and having as low of a debt-to-income ratio as possible. That being said, many borrowers that are applying for mortgages in Kenmore, WA can still secure low interest rates even without meeting the absolute toughest standards.