Maryland Real Estate Video Blog with Jay Day: Be Prepared Before Applying for a Loan - Know what Lenders are Looking For

Be Prepared Before Applying for a Loan - Know what Lenders are Looking For



There are a variety of opportunities in the Maryland and Southern PA real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here. 

There are three things a lender will look at to determine how much money they are going to lend you to buy a new home:
  1. Credit score: You can check your credit score by using a host of free websites, or you can go to the IRS website and get all the information used in your credit report. If your score is low, you may want to consider taking steps to improve it before you seek a loan.
  2. Debt to income ratio: If you are spending more money than you are making, you're obviously not going to get a loan. But even if your income exceeds your expenses, you need to have a ratio that shows you are capable of saving, that you have extra cash on hand.
  3. Down payment: You need to know how much you want to put down on your new home. There are many different options out there to suit your particular situation. 
Knowing what your lender is going to be looking for is the first step in securing the amount you need. Having expectations and knowing what you can afford, based on the loan you're able to obtain, are invaluable when searching for a home. If you would like assistance with the process, or are interested in buying or selling a home, give me a call. I'm always available to help