Second Home Mortgage: Know Before Buying Your Dream House

We all ache for a home of our own, a roof that becomes ours to own and walls that we engrave with pictures. A house becomes a home as you begin your new life and secure yourself a future that is full of opportunities. After you become a homeowner, the second goal that you should look for is your dream vacation home. There is no limit to the real estate investments you should be making in your life as it always grows and provides you with a chance to become wealthy. 

But you already have taken your first mortgage so what now? 

Get a second mortgage… 

A second mortgage is a financial tool provided to us to take advantage of the very first one. The first mortgage is used to buy a house, the house builds equity over time. Home equity is defined as the market value of your home minus the debt or mortgage you owe, that value is the amount of money that your house is worth. 

Now imagine if you could get access to that amount when you desired to renovate the first house, pay for your child’s tuition fee or buy yourself a new house. Getting access to your home equity as a second mortgage to get yourself a second home that you may rent out is the most thrilling financial option you can use and it won’t even bite your financials! 

It is a possibility and a cheaper option as compared to traditional loans and banks. The financial institution you might look forward to is going to charge more interest rates compared to a private lender. Also, second mortgages are again a cheaper option as compared to loans. Second mortgages can be used like HELOC (home equity line of credit) or home equity. Both grant access to your home equity in their own ways. You may be able to tap into up to 85% of your total home equity. 

HELOC works like a line of credit where you withdraw what you require and then pay it back with interest. You only pay or withdraw what you require and put it back again. This can be done with the help of an expert second mortgage broker who connects you to a licensed lender providing you with funds as per your requirement. 

Home equity works like easy conventional loans. You withdraw a lump sum amount from your equity and then use it. This amount is then paid back with interest. The interest rate here is fixed and does not change over time. 

Coming in various ways, a second mortgage is a life saver for those who dream big and try to expand their real estate business beyond one. 

Documents Required for Second Mortgage

If you are looking for a second mortgage then you might be familiar with the documentation process for the first one and it must have dawned on you by now that all documents need to be up to date and latest if liable to any changes. The documents may be the same as the first one for the second mortgage but some additional ones are also added. Let us have a look at the following list. 

• Proof of employment
• Paid tax proof for your property
• Clearance from local police
• Your first mortgage payment record
• Your account statement

07 Must-Follow Steps to Qualify for Second Mortgage

Now that you have some idea about a second mortgage, let’s go through little steps that help you realize your position in getting a second mortgage. 

1. Check Your Financials

When you are buying a home, it is important to be aware of your financial situation and what you can afford. One way to determine this is to calculate your income and expenses. This will give you an estimate of how much money you have each month to put towards a mortgage payment. To do this, gather your most recent financial statements and add up your income and all of your monthly expenses. This includes items such as rent or mortgage payments, car payments, credit card bills, and groceries. Once you have this number, divide it by 30 (the number of days in a month) to get your approximate monthly budget. If the number you get is lower than the amount you need for a mortgage payment, you may want to consider waiting until you have more saved up or looking for a less expensive home.

2. Examine Your Credit Report

Your credit report is a comprehensive overview of your credit history. It includes information on your credit score, current balances, and payment history. While you may think that your credit report only reflects how you’ve managed debt in the past, it can also provide insights into your financial decision-making. For example, if you have a high credit utilization ratio, it means you’re using a lot of your available credit. This could be a sign that you’re struggling to manage your finances and may be at risk of defaulting on loans. Alternatively, if you have a low credit utilization ratio, it could mean that you’re good at managing debt and are less risky for lenders. Credit reports can also indicate how responsible you are with money.  

3. Credit Score

Your credit score is like your financial report card. It tells the lender how you’ve been doing with your finances. The score is constantly changing, and it’s positive when it goes up. A high credit score means you’re a low-risk borrower, which could lead to a lower interest rate on a loan. A low credit score means you’re a high-risk borrower, which could lead to a higher interest rate on a loan or even no loan at all. Credit scores are based on your credit history, so the better you’ve been at paying your bills on time and keeping your balances low, the higher your score will be. There are also many different factors that go into calculating your credit score, such as the length of your credit history, the types of accounts you have, and how much debt you owe relative to how much credit you have available.

4. Figure Out Your Down Payment

The down payment is what you pay as the lump sum amount at the beginning of new mortgages. This amount is deducted from the total amount and the monthly installments are set. A high down payment results in fewer monthly payments and improved interest rates. A down payment of 20% is always ideal to make and works best for all the borrowers. 

5. Explore Your Options

There’s a plenty of fish in the sea and you do not have to be stuck with the first lender you meet. Always look around for credible and well-reputed lenders who will give you what you want on time and with flexibility. A good lender always provides accurate details of all requirements and hopes to perform well to service the borrower. However, a lender in return also runs inquiries to ensure you do not have any fraudulent documents or outstanding debts not paid on time.

6. Pre-Approval letter

When you’re buying a new house, the last thing you want is for the process to take longer than it has to. The good news is, by getting a pre-approval letter from your lender, you can speed up the process significantly. A pre-approval letter is a document that states that the lender has verified and qualified the buyer for a mortgage up to a certain amount. Having this letter in hand will let sellers know that you’re a serious buyer and that they don’t need to keep looking for other offers. It’s important to note that being pre-approved doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get the loan – it just means that you’ve been approved up to a certain amount. You’ll still need to go through the full application process and have your credit checked before you’re actually approved for the loan.

7. Get Expert Help

When it comes to getting a loan, most people think that they have to go through a bank. This is not always the case. In fact, there are many other places to get a loan from – including private lenders. However, one of the best ways to get a loan is from an agent who specializes in connecting borrowers with the right lender. An expert agent can save you time and money and will make sure that you get the best deal possible. Since they have expertise in the domain and guide you in detail about the points to keep in mind before applying for a mortgage. 

All of the above are not all but important steps to bear in mind to give a positive second mortgage experience. The second mortgage opens for you many doors and if used efficiently you might never have to turn back and keep investing more and more. The second mortgage is a cheaper option avail in comparison to the traditional loans yet it will have more interest rates than the first one. The reason for this is the risk that a lender takes to give out a second loan to someone already paying back the first one. So due to any situation, if they are unable to, their property is sold off to pay off the first mortgage and then the second one. Hence, the difference in interest rates might be observed. But, this is still going to be affordable for you if you are able to make an informed decision.

Read Also : Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Home Loan

Conclusion

Most people dream of having a second home or summer home that they can escape to. Dreams of a summer home on the beach or a ski chalet in the mountains are common, but what’s stopping you from making them a reality?

Many people think that they can’t afford to own another home, but this isn’t always the case. You may be able to buy a vacation home with little out-of-pocket expense by taking out a second mortgage against the property.

There are also several ways to rent a vacation home without breaking the bank. Sites like VRBO and Airbnb allow you to find rental properties all over the world, and often at a fraction of the cost of traditional hotels.

So, why not start dreaming about your perfect vacation getaway today? The possibilities are endless!

Read More : 5 Telltale Signs That It Is Time to Downsize Your Home