First Bank offers mortgage loans at competitive rates to help you purchase your first home. In this resource, we cover the FDIC’s tips to successfully navigate the mortgage application process. If you’re ready to apply for a mortgage with First Bank, you can do so here.

Consider shopping for your mortgage loan before you find your house

Knowing your loan options before you start looking at houses will help you in your home search by providing the amount a lender will loan you to buy a house. This information will help you target homes in a price range you can afford. When you find a lender and mortgage that’s right for your situation, you can get a preapproval for the loan, which will save time later when you’re ready to make an offer on a house, since lenders will have most of the information they need to move forward with the loan.

A mortgage preapproval is similar to a mortgage pre-qualification, but with important differences. With a preapproval, a lender provides a commitment letter/document and agrees to loan you a specified amount of money to buy a home, subject to certain conditions. With a preapproval, you do not provide a specific home you want to buy, but get a strong sense of how much money you can get to buy a home. To get a preapproval, you will have to provide documentation. Lenders typically ask for items such as identifying documents (state-issued ID such as a driver’s license and/or passport), pay stubs for the last 60 days, two years of federal tax returns, bank account statements (savings and checking), and any investment account statements (including retirement accounts) from the last quarter. The lender will also check your credit history by obtaining a credit report. Preapprovals are typically valid for 60 to 90 days. You are not obligated to formally apply for a loan you have been preapproved for, so you should still shop around to ensure you are getting the best possible deal. It’s important to note that a mortgage preapproval is different from a mortgage prequalification, which only gives you a general idea of the amount a lender may be willing to lend to you and the terms available based on unverified financial information that you provide.

Find the mortgage that works best for you

There are many different types of mortgages to choose from, and an important aspect of the process is to choose the mortgage that works for you now and in the future. When shopping for a mortgage, consider the type of interest rate (fixed or adjustable) and whether a conventional loan or a government-guaranteed or insured loan is best for you.

Rates

The distinguishing feature of the fixed rate mortgage loan is that the interest rate does not change. This means your monthly principal and interest payment will stay the same for the entire repayment term, whether it is, for example, 15 years or 30 years. (However, your total monthly payment could still change if you pay property taxes and insurance as part of your monthly mortgage payment and those costs change.) On the other hand, the interest rate fluctuates periodically (such as annually) with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), so your monthly payment typically will change when the rate does. ARMs can offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed rate mortgages, but when the rates increase, your payments typically increase.

Before deciding on a fixed rate mortgage or ARM, consider how long you plan to be in the house you’re purchasing. In general, borrowers who anticipate selling their home within a few years are more likely to benefit from a low-rate ARM than those who plan to own the home for many years. But, an ARM can be a good choice for some borrowers depending on other factors. Be sure to consider whether you can make your ARM loan payments if the interest rate increases to the highest level it could go while you own the home.

Loan types

You may also choose a conventional mortgage loan or a loan insured or guaranteed by the federal government. Loans from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offer government insured or guaranteed loans. These loans typically have more flexible requirements than conventional loans (such as the minimum credit score needed for approval) and may allow borrowers to make smaller down payments than for conventional loans. However, rates and fees may be higher for these loans than for conventional loans, depending on your credit history, down payment, and other factors. However, you'll have to pay for mortgage insurance, an extra cost increasing your monthly payments that protects the lender in the event you default on the mortgage.

You may also find lenders offering interest-only loans, hybrid mortgages, and balloon payment loans. These loans generally start with low payments that increase over time. Before choosing one of these loans, be sure you understand the loans terms and the potential risks. Once you decide on a type of mortgage, comparison shop for your loan by online and/or by getting quotes from different lenders. Interest rates and fees vary from lender to lender, even for the same type of loan, so shop around and don’t be afraid to try to negotiate these costs.

Loan estimate

Knowing the monthly payment and the interest rate of your loan is not enough; you need to understand the major other costs and other terms of the loan. When you apply for a mortgage, the lender must provide you with a document called the “Loan Estimate” within three business days of receiving your application. The Loan Estimate provides important information about the loan offered to you by the lender, including a summary of loan terms, estimated loan and closing costs, and additional information.

Moving forward with the loan

The Loan Estimate is not an approval of the loan; it simply shows the loan terms the lender can offer you if you decide to move forward with it. You must inform the lender if you decide to proceed with the loan, and you can obtain a written “lock-in” from the lender. A lock-in guarantees the rate agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and other information you specifically negotiated, such as the number of “points” (fees) to be paid to the lender for the loan. (Usually, the more points you pay, the lower the interest rate.) A fee may be charged for locking in the loan rate. If so, ask if the fee is refunded at closing.

As your loan application is being processed you may be asked to provide additional documentation showing the source of your down payment funds, cash reserves to cover the first few months of mortgage payments, and documents specific to your situation.

Closing the loan

Closing is the last stage in the process. At closing, you'll be required to have the agreed-upon funds, which could be used for the closing costs (including the escrow deposit, which is money that is set aside for a couple of months of property tax and mortgage insurance payments) and the down payment. The closing costs vary, depending on the type of loan you choose, and property type, but could be 2% to 6% of the loan amount. These costs generally include appraisal fees, attorney fees, credit report fees, title search fees, and property inspection fees.

To learn more about mortgages, see the FDIC Affordable Mortgage Lending Guide. Also, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website provides helpful information about mortgages.

To connect with a mortgage expert or learn more about the mortgage loans we offer, click here.