A mortgage is a loan from a bank or lender to help you finance the purchase of a home. When you take out a mortgage, you make a promise to repay the money you’ve borrowed, plus an agreed-upon interest rate. The home is used as “collateral.” That means if you break the promise to repay at the terms established on your mortgage note, the bank has the right to foreclose on your property. Your loan does...
1. Define Your Goals, Research Your Options, Make Your Plans Given that buying a home is such a big step, it’s all the more important for you to educate and prepare yourself as much as possible in advance. This means clearly determining why you’re buying and what kind of home you’re looking for. And because buying and financing a home are so closely related, it also means examining your current...