Some lenders will tell you the first step in the mortgage process is to get pre approved. Certainly, that’s an important part of the process. But we know it’s important for homebuyers to really consider their financial options before taking the leap into homeownership.

We believe the very first step in the mortgage process is to search rates. When you search for rates on the NewCastle website, you’ll see detailed information about loans you might qualify for. You can see closing costs, mortgage insurance and other monthly fees after entering in some basic information. Other mortgage websites will ask you to provide contact information when doing a digital rate search - we don’t. We think it’s important for homebuyers to see detailed information about their loan options without a catch.

Our real-time mortgage calculator asks you to provide some basic information, like your zip code, loan amount, down payment amount, and credit score. We don’t ask you divulge any private contact information in order to see real rates. Just fill out these details and hit the “search rates” button. You’ll see a variety of options in less than a minute.

Why do you need to do a rate search? Well, you need to know your options. A rate search will help you see exactly what your monthly rate would be with different loans. You’ll be able to see whether it’s best to purchase or to keep renting. You’ll be able to see exactly how much homeownership will cost you, and you’ll be able to answer the question, “Is buying a home the right thing for me to do right now?"

With NewCastle, you have the freedom to shop and compare so you are confident about your decision to buy.