Mortgage Law in New Hampshire

In Dover, New Hampshire, a mortgage is a special type of secured loan. A loan is "secured" when there is some type of property attached to it, which can be seized by the lender in case the borrower defaults. This, obviously, reduces the risk to the lender, and makes credit more available. A mortgage is a loan issued to buy a piece of real estate, with that same real estate serving as collateral.

Taking out a mortgage and buying a house is not a decision to make lightly. However, mortgages serve some very useful purposes. Because houses are so expensive, it's impossible for most people to buy them by paying the full price upfront. A mortgage ensures that the seller gets paid immediately, and that the buyer is able to pay the purchase price over a long period of time, in manageable installments.

Buying anything on credit creates additional costs. Because lenders make their money by charging interest on loans, borrowers end up paying far more than the purchase price when they buy a house (or anything else) on credit.

Most people find this arrangement to be mutually beneficial - the lender makes a profit, and the borrower is able to buy a home where it would otherwise have been impossible.

Getting a Mortgage in Dover, New Hampshire

The most crucial factor in getting a mortgage on favorable terms in Dover, New Hampshire is having a good credit rating. Credit ratings exist to make it easy for prospective lenders to assess a person's risk as a borrower. A good credit rating shows that you paid most or all of your debts on time, and are likely to continue to do so. A poor credit rating says the opposite, and will make it much more difficult to get a loan, and even if you do, the interest rate is likely to be much higher.

The majority of lenders require a down payment on any mortgage. This is usually represented as some percentage of the total purchase price. Lenders require this to show that the borrower is financially solvent, indicating that they are generally responsible with their money. You should ensure that you have more money than the required down payment saved up, so that making this payment doesn't hurt your financial situation.

You also need to be realistic about your budget. The fact that you're buying a house that you don't have to immediately pay for can tempt some people into taking on more debt than they can handle. You need to make a full accounting of what the house is likely to cost, including the cost of the mortgage payments, property taxes, repairs and maintenance, and other fees.

Once this is in order, it will be time to finalize the credit agreement. When this happens, there is no going back. Therefore, make sure you are perfectly clear about each and every term of the mortgage agreement, knowing your rights and obligations.

Can a Dover, New Hampshire Real Estate Attorney help?

Buying a home is a very, very important decision, and will probably have lifelong consequences. For most home-buyers, these consequences are positive. If you want to fall into that category, as well, you should not hesitate to hire a good Dover, New Hampshire lawyer if you have any questions or misgivings.