Mortgage Law in Alabama

In Phenix City, Alabama, a mortgage is a loan given to buy a particular piece of property - usually a house - with the property being purchased with the loan serving as collateral for that same loan.

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.

However, many people who buy their homes with a mortgage find this extra long-term cost to be worth it, since a mortgage might be their only way to buy a home.

Getting a Mortgage in Phenix City, Alabama

If you want to get a mortgage in Phenix City, Alabama, it's imperative that you have a well-established history of good credit. Credit ratings are used by lenders to estimate how risky a prospect a borrower is. If you have good credit, you'll have a much better shot at getting a mortgage with a reasonably low interest rate. If you have bad credit, you might be unable to get a loan at all, and if you do, the interest rate will be much higher, to account for the higher risk.

The majority of lenders require a down payment on any mortgage. This is typically represented as some percentage of the total purchase price. Lenders require this to show that the borrower is financially solvent, indicating that they are usually 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 oversee. 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 all of your affairs are in order, the time to sign the mortgage agreement comes. Once the agreement is signed, the loan is final, and there's no going back. Well before this day, you should make absolutely sure that you clearly understand every single provision of your mortgage agreement, and the obligations it imposes on you.

Can a Phenix City, Alabama 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 knowledgeable Phenix City, Alabama lawyer if you have any questions or misgivings.