Mortgage Law in Arizona
In Gilbert, Arizona, 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.
But many home buyers think that a mortgage is worth the extra cost it imposes. After all, it wouldn't be possible for most people to buy homes if they had to pay for the whole thing up front.
Getting a Mortgage in Gilbert, Arizona
When trying to get a mortgage in Gilbert, Arizona, it's critical that you have a good credit history dating back as far as possible. The better your past record of paying back loans, the more likely a bank is to assume the risk of loaning you hundreds of thousands (or more) dollars to buy a house.
The vast majority of lenders will require a down-payment before issuing a loan. This is some up-front payment that represents a percentage of the purchase price. You should ensure that you have enough money saved up to cover the down payment on a house, if you are considering buying one. This will prevent the down payment from straining your finances too much.
It's also critical to be realistic about your financial situation when calculating monthly payments. Obviously, a more expensive house will result in higher mortgage payments. While buying a house on credit may tempt you to get something more expensive than you can really afford, you should resist this temptation. Having a big, expensive home won't count for much if you can't make the payments, and it gets foreclosed. You should make a reasonable accounting of the expenses associated with home ownership. This includes mortgage payments, property taxes, and others.
Once everything is in order, it comes time to complete the mortgage agreement. Once this is signed, there is typically no going back, so you should make sure that you understand every single term in this long-term agreement.
Can a Gilbert, Arizona 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 Gilbert, Arizona lawyer if you have any questions or misgivings.