Applying for a Fixed Mortgage Rate

If you are interested in buying a home your best option may be to search the Internet for the lowest fixed mortgage rate lenders have advertised on their web pages. Interest rates are low now, so if you are interested in taking out a mortgage loan, now is the time to do it. Borrowers often apply to dozens of lenders online over the few months that they are house hunting to get a feel for what the lenders are willing to offer. Prequalifying with lending companies online will give you some bargaining power when it comes time to lock into a fixed mortgage rate. You have room to negotiate your interest rate if you have the financial stability to do so.

Just like you can house hunt on the Internet you can also hunt for the best fixed mortgage rate. Once you establish your financial and credit information you will have lending companies fighting for your business. Always be sure that your credit history is spotless before applying for a loan to get the best deal. Nothing is worse than applying for a loan and the credit check reveals a less than ideal credit rating. It is important to have all your financial affairs in order, and not have any unpaid bills in collection where they can be reported to the credit bureau.

Finding the lowest fixed mortgage rate and knowing what you can afford ahead of time saves a lot of time and anxiety. It can become rather tedious trying to find that perfect home. To make sure you can stay within your financial means use an online mortgage calculator to narrow down your search. The calculator will show you how much interest you will pay over the term of the loan and it will give you the approximate monthly payment based on the interest rate you enter into the calculator.

Another thing to consider before applying for a loan is the down payment. Do you have a sizeable down payment? A 20 percent down payment is a good rule of thumb to go by. This amount is used by the lender to protect them against default. If you don’t have a down payment yet, the best thing to do is to start saving toward that down. You might want to invest in a 401K for this purpose. It is possible to get a loan with a fixed mortgage rate without a down payment, but they are harder to get and the fixed mortgage rate may be higher.

Once you have your down payment, and you are sure of a good credit standing, and you have narrowed your search to terms that you can live with it is time to start shopping for loans. With a good down and good credit you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the lowest fixed mortgage rate your lender can offer you.