Clay Schmeisser

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make and it is important to trust a Mortgage Planner to help you with the process. Mortgage Planners at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation take the time to listen to your overall financial goals and dreams of homeownership, and then work with you to put together the best loan program for you.

Refinancing is the process of obtaining a new mortgage in an effort to reduce monthly payments*, lower your interest rates, take cash out of your home for large purchases, or change mortgage companies. Most people refinance when they have equity on their home, which is the difference between the amount owed to the mortgage company and the value of the home.

2. I will look at your overall financial picture and talk to you about your goals for the future to find the loan that is right for you. There are many loans and programs that might be best for you. When we meet and talk about your financial objectives, we will determine which program is best suited for your needs.

If you are planning to borrow $510,400 or less for a single-family home, you should be looking into a conforming conventional loan. Conventional conforming loans are not made by a government entity, like FHA and VA loans, but instead follow the guidelines set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

These established guidelines usually call for a minimum credit score, certain income requirements, and a minimum down payment (generally between 3% and 20%).Conventional home mortgage loans have either fixed or adjustable rates. A fixed-rate mortgage means that your monthly mortgage payment remains the same for the life of the loan, and typically has a term of 15 or 30 years.

If you have credit challenges, an FHA loan may be the right answer for you, especially if you have been through a foreclosure or bankruptcy. These loans usually have higher debt ratio allowances, which can make a difference when you have steady income but have debt from college loans, credit cards, etc.