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Mortgage Guide

All the information you need to buy a home.

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    Non-permanent resident mortgage

    Can a non-permanent resident get a mortgage?

    A non-permanent resident of the U.S. can get approved for a mortgage to buy a home. However, the process may have additional requirements compared to U.S. citizens. In this..

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    DACA Mortgage NewCastle Home Loans Jim Quist

    How to Get a DACA Mortgage Loan

    Getting a loan to buy a home is easier than you think for people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In this article, I'll outline the mortgage process..

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    Mortgages for non-permanent residents with a pending asylum status

    How to get a mortgage with pending asylum status

    In this article, I'll explain how to get approved for a mortgage to buy a home while waiting for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to decide on your..

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    Multi family property mortgage, 2-4 unit home loan

    2-to-4-Unit Home | How to buy a multi-unit property

    Multi-family, 2-to-4-unit homes are affordable and surprisingly easy to buy.

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    Can the real estate agent also be the loan officer?

    Can the real estate agent also be the loan officer?

    You can simultaneously hold licenses as a real estate agent and a mortgage loan officer in Illinois. You can also be the agent and the loan officer in the same transaction under..

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    How a mortgage credit check affects your score

    How a mortgage credit check affects your score

    Multiple inquiries from mortgage companies within 45 days are grouped and counted as a single inquiry, which minimizes the impact on your credit score. In this article, I'll show..

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    principal residence, second home, investment property

    Principal residence, second home, or investment property?

    "Occupancy" refers to how you will use the property you plan to buy. Will it be your principal residence, second home, or investment property? Whether or not you will live there..

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    Mortgage Discount Points Calculator Jim Quist NewCastle Home Loans

    Mortgage Discount Points | Calculator

    Paying mortgage discount points is a way to lower your interest rate. You pay a lump sum at closing in exchange for a lower interest rate on your home loan. Points allow you to..

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    Pay closing costs with credit card

    Can I pay mortgage closing costs with a credit card?

    You can use your credit card to pay some of your closing costs when buying a home. But there are limits. I'll give you the details in this article.

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    Buy a Chicago condo with an FHA loan

    How to buy a condo with an FHA loan

    Buying a condo with an FHA loan can be tricky. The condo must be FHA-approved. But unfortunately, there are few. The chances of finding one in the neighborhood where you want to..

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    Mixed-use 2-to-4 units FHA loan Jim Quist NewCastle Home Loans

    How to buy a mixed-use property with an FHA loan

    Home buyers can use an FHA loan to buy a mixed-use, multi-unit property with a down payment of only 3.5% of the property's purchase price. FHA's low down payment option and..

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    Earnest money deposit NewCastle Home Loans Jim Quist

    Earnest Money | How it works when buying a home

    Earnest money shows sellers you're interested in buying their house. It's a small amount, like 1% to 3% of the house price, that you deposit upfront when offering to buy the..

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    Mortgage Contingency Real Estate Sales Contract Jim Quist NewCastle Home Loans

    Mortgage Contingency | How it works when buying a home

    In this article, I'll explain the mortgage contingency, show you where to find it in a real estate contract, and tell you why you need to know about it when buying a house. First,..

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    Mortgage Insurance How much is PMI?

    Mortgage Insurance | How much is PMI?

    The cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) varies depending on several factors, including the lender. Some lenders charge more than others for the same PMI. In this article,..

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    Can you get a mortgage if you're already a co-signer?

    Can you get a mortgage if you're already a co-signer?

    As a co-signer, you've committed to another person's financial obligation to the loan. You probably co-signed a car loan, student loan, or mortgage to help out a friend or..

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    Seller Credit Mortgage Purchase NewCastle Home Loans

    Seller Credit | Can the seller pay the homebuyer's closing costs?

    Sellers can pay the buyer's closing costs. A seller credit is a sum of money the property seller agrees to give the homebuyer at closing. The buyer can use the credit to pay..

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    mortgage interest rate lock

    Mortgage Rate Lock | How an interest rate lock works

    Like stock prices, mortgage interest rates constantly change. By locking in, you freeze the lender's rate and origination charges. As a result, you know how much your loan will..

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    PITI Mortgage Calculator NewCastle Home Loans

    What does PITI mean? PITI mortgage calculator

    PITI stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance. The term refers to the components of your monthly housing expense.

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    Down payment on a house

    Down Payment | How much is a down payment on a house?

    Most first-time homebuyers need a down payment of at least 3% of the property's purchase price.

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    How a mortgage co-signer can help you buy a home

    When your income, savings, or credit history falls short, adding a co-signer to your application can give you the boost you need to get approved for a mortgage. In this article,..

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    FHA MORTGAGE INSURANCE HOW MUCH? CAN YOU CANCEL IT?

    FHA Mortgage Insurance | How much is it? Can you cancel it?

    All Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans require mortgage insurance. Homebuyers pay two types of mortgage insurance when purchasing a home using an FHA loan. First, you pay..

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    Departing residence future rental income

    How to calculate future rental income from a departing residence

    With careful planning, you can use the future rental income you'll collect from your departing residence to get approved for a mortgage to buy a new home. I'll explain how in this..

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    Can I get approved for a mortgage with income from the marijuana industry?

    How to get a mortgage working in the cannabis industry

    Getting a mortgage and buying a home while working for a state-legalized marijuana business can be challenging due to the legal issues surrounding the cannabis industry.

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    Chicago real estate transfer tax calculator

    Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator | Chicago metro area

    Real estate transfer taxes are fees that the state, counties, and local municipalities charge buyers and sellers when transferring property ownership. Use our real estate transfer..

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    Mortgage homeowner's insurance

    Homeowners Insurance | How much do you need for a mortgage?

    When buying a home, you must purchase a homeowner's insurance policy that meets the lender's requirements. Homeowner's insurance protects you and the lender in an accident or..

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    FHA 203k loan home renovation mortgage

    What is an FHA 203k loan?

    An FHA 203k loan is a type of mortgage designed to help homebuyers purchase a property and finance the cost of renovations or repairs into a single mortgage.

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    Gift letter for a mortgage

    Gift Letter | How to use a gift to buy a home

    In this article, I'll show you the best way to prove that your gift is from an acceptable donor so that everything goes smoothly with your home purchase. You can download the gift..

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    Prepaid items mortgage escrow account

    How much are prepaid items & mortgage escrow?

    Prepaid items are homeowner’s insurance, mortgage interest, and property taxes you pay at closing when you buy a home. In this article, I'll explain how to estimate the money..

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    Debt-to-Income ratio | What is a good DTI for a mortgage?

    Debt-to-income (DTI) is a measure that compares your debt to the income you receive. Mortgage lenders use this ratio to determine how much you can afford to pay for a home loan. A..

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    Why a verified mortgage pre-approval is better

    In this article, I explain how a verified pre-approval letter improves your chances of getting the home you want.

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    When should you get pre-approved for a mortgage?

    When should you get pre-approved for a mortgage?

    Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is generally a good idea before you start looking for a real estate agent or viewing homes to buy.

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    fha loan 3-4 units self-sufficiency test

    FHA Self-Sufficiency Calculator | 3-4 unit properties

    An FHA loan is a good option for financing the purchase of a multi-unit property. However, 3 and 4 unit properties must be self-sufficient. This means the property must have a..

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    Cash out refinance debt consolidation mortgage

    Cash-out refinance | Consolidate credit card debt

    In this article, I'll show you how you can take control of your finances by consolidating high-interest credit card debt with a cash-out mortgage refinance.

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    VA loan | VA cash-out refinance

    The VA cash-out refinance loan gives veterans access to 100% of their home equity. With this mortgage program, you can replace your current conventional or VA loan with a new VA..

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    VA credit score, bankruptcy, short sale, judgment, foreclosure

    VA loan | What is the credit score? [580]

    This article outlines VA loan requirements for credit score, bankruptcy, short sale, judgment, and foreclosure.

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    VA loan VA funding fee 2023

    VA loan | What is the VA funding fee for 2023?

    The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that most military veterans, service members, and survivors pay to use a VA loan to finance the purchase or refinance of a home. The VA..

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    What is loan-to-value (LTV) for a mortgage? How to calculate LTV

    Loan-to-Value | How to calculate LTV for a mortgage

    Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is a measure that compares the amount of the mortgage loan to the value of the property. Lenders use it to determine the risk of lending you money for a..

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    What's the difference between mortgage interest rate and APR?

    Because the APR represents the overall cost of your mortgage, it should make it easier for you to compare loan offers to find the best deal on your mortgage. However, APR can vary..

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    Notice of intent to proceed

    Notice of Intent to Proceed

    The mortgage lender must honor the terms of the Loan Estimate for ten days. If you wait more than ten days after receiving a Loan Estimate to give your intent to proceed, the..

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    mortgage loan purpose newcastle home loans

    Loan Purpose | How loan purpose affects your mortgage rate

    When applying for a mortgage, the first question on the mortgage application is, "what is the loan's purpose?" You have two options, purchase or refinance. I'll explain how the..

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    VA loan Certificate of Eligibility

    VA loan | How to read the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

    In this article, I’ll show you how to quickly read and understand the Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This information will make it easy to see if you’re eligible for a VA loan..

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    Mortgage staffing agency

    Can you get a mortgage if you work through a staffing agency?

    If you work for a staffing agency, you might need help buying a house. Most banks won't use your staffing agency income to approve your mortgage. And, unfortunately, without a..

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    rental income investment property mortgage

    How future rental income can help you buy an investment property

    As a homeowner, you know that owning property is a stellar way to build wealth over time. But if you’re interested in expanding your homeownership with a rental property, we’ve..

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    Can I get a mortgage if I owe federal tax debt to the IRS?

    Can you get a mortgage if you owe federal tax debt to the IRS?

    Owing federal tax debt makes it harder to get approved for a mortgage, but it’s not impossible to get a home loan with this debt factored in. With careful planning, you can still..

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