Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Jamestown, VA

How to Compare Jamestown, VA Mortgage Rates

Whether a mortgage is needed to finance a new home purchase or refinance a previous home loan, it's crucial that the borrower secures a favorable interest rate. MyRatePlan can help any borrower locate the lowest mortgage rates in Jamestown, VA and compare all their available options, as it has all the tools and information necessary to get a clear picture of the home loan marketplace. When the borrower does their homework by researching mortgage options and comparing rates from different lenders, they can feel confident that they're paying too much interest, and having the lowest possible interest rate will save them a considerable sum over the long haul.

Tips On Getting the Best Home Loan Rates in Jamestown, VA

Most people who are shopping for a new place in Jamestown, VA 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 Jamestown, VA 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 Types of Mortgages Available in Jamestown, VA

There are a variety of loan products on the market to appeal to all kinds of different buyers. Mortgages can be separated into the fixed-rate and variable categories.

With a fixed-rate mortgage loan in Jamestown, VA, the loan's interest rate will stay the same for the whole repayment term. This also means that the buyer's monthly payment stays the same until the loan is paid off, and it remains true even if the loan is going to last decades, as is the case with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. For the buyer, this means that they always know how much they'll be paying and they don't need to worry about interest rate fluctuations.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) in Jamestown, VA work much differently, because they have interest rates that can adjust with the market. There is usually an initial period of time where the interest rate is locked in, and after that time period ends, the interest rate on the loan adjusts every year. Since this effectively blends the fixed-rate mortgage and the ARM, these loans are sometimes called hybrid ARMs. One example would be a 5/1 ARM, with the numbers indicating how long the interest rate is fixed. In a 5/1 ARM, the first five years of the loan have a fixed interest rate, and from then on out, the interest rate adjusts annually.

FHA Home Loans Available in Jamestown, VA

Besides fixed-rate mortgages and ARMs, there are also other categorizations that can apply to home loans, including whether the loan is backed by the government or not. Traditional mortgages are only made through the lender and don't involve the government, but with some mortgages, the federal government either guarantees or insures the loan. Examples include FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

FHA loans get their name because they are backed by the mortgage insurance program of the Federal Housing Administration, an organization that's controlled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD for short. One benefit of FHA loans in Jamestown, VA is that it's not just first-time homebuyers who are able to apply, as they're a valid loan option for any borrower. For the lender, the advantage with these loans is that the government is providing insurance, and this will cover what the lender would lose in the event of a borrower default. Borrowers benefit by not needing as large a down payment, as down payments can be just 3.5 percent with FHA loans. However, the borrower needs to cover the cost of mortgage insurance, meaning they have bigger monthly payments.

Refinancing a Mortgage in Jamestown, VA

It may be called refinancing, but when a borrower does that, what they're really doing is applying for a completely new home loan. If they're approved for that home loan, they can use it to pay off their previous home loan and only make payments on this new one. Since it's a new mortgage, there may be fees and closing costs involved. For this reason, it's vital that the borrower considers those extra costs and whether they will be outweighed by the savings of a lower interest rate. There is one situation where it's always smart to refinance, and that's if the borrower is getting a fixed-rate home loan to replace an ARM. That's because interest rates are trending upwards, meaning an ARM will likely cost more in the future, not less. When a borrower wants to refinance a home loan and get the best rate, they must make sure they represent as little risk as possible to mortgage lenders. They can do this by getting their credit score as high as possible, at least above 700, and maintaining a low debt-to-income ratio. Although it's good to be low risk, borrowers should also note that it is possible to get a home loan in Jamestown, VA with a low interest rate even without hitting all the strictest standards.