Mortgage Law in North Dakota

In Williston, North Dakota, 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 accessible. 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. Nonetheless, mortgages serve some very useful purposes. Because houses are so expensive, it's impossible for most people to buy them by paying the whole 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.

Of course, buying anything on credit, including purchasing a house with a mortgage, will cost the buyer more in the long run than paying the whole price up front, because buying on credit requires the payment of interest - this is how lenders make a profit.

Nonetheless, to many people, this extra cost is worth it. After all, without mortgages, few people would ever be able to buy homes, if paying out of pocket is the only alternative.

Getting a Mortgage in Williston, North Dakota

The most critical factor in getting a mortgage on favorable terms in Williston, North Dakota 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.

Most lenders will not issue a loan without a down payment. The down payment required will usually be measured as some relatively small percentage of the purchase price of the home. However, considering the prices involved, this could translate to a fairly large sum of money. Before taking out a mortgage, you should ensure that you have enough money saved up to make a down payment, and then some. This will show lenders that you are accountable with your money, and ensure that the down payment puts a minimal strain on you finances.

Also crucial is realism about your finances. Credit is a strange thing - it allows people to buy things that they could never pay for on their own. Some people are tempted by the siren song of credit into buying far more than they can afford. This can happen when buying a house, as well. When buying a house with a mortgage, you need to make sure you know how much it will actually cost, and how much you'll be paying each month. And mortgage payments aren't the only expenses associated with owning a home. There are homeowner's association fees, property taxes, and the cost of maintenance.

When you have researched the issues completely, the time to finalize the mortgage agreement. When this happens, the deal is pretty much final, and cannot be undone. Therefore, you should make sure you know exactly what you're getting into before you reach this point.

Can a Williston, North Dakota 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 reputable Williston, North Dakota lawyer if you have any questions or misgivings.