Home    Loan Center    Products    About Us    FAQ    Resources  

TOLL FREE

888-725-8042

 

 

 

425 N Main St.

Nixa, MO 65714

(417)725-8042

 

1. What is the Process? Answer
2. Application Checklist Answer
3. How is an index and margin used in an ARM? Answer
4. How do I know which type of mortgage is best for me? Answer
5. What does my mortgage payment include? Answer
6. How much cash will I need to purchase a home? Answer
7. What is the difference between a fixed-rate loan and an adjustable-rate loan? Answer
8. How do I know how much house I can afford? Answer

Q : What is the Process?
A :


Purchasing a Home

So you’ve decided to buy a new home. Spalding Financial has many options to assist you every step of the way. Here are our suggestions:

Pre-Qualifying

Pre-qualifying for a home mortgage usually doesn't’t include a credit report analysis or a detailed review of your credit report or an in-depth look at your true capacity to purchase a home. Real estate agents or lenders can help you get pre-qualified, but you can also accomplish this on your own. Pre-qualification just means your income and expenses have been reviewed and used a debt-to-income ratio formula. It gives you a general idea of what you might be able to afford.

Pre-Approval

Although not mandatory, we recommend you take advantage of our pre-approval program. A Spalding Financial Loan Officer can help you determine what you can comfortably afford. There are many benefits to knowing your mortgage amount ahead of time, including:

  • Pre-approved borrowers save time by targeting the finest homes within their price range.
  • Sellers may give extra consideration to offers from pre-approved buyers.
  • Pre-approval makes entire loan approval process more efficient.

To get pre-approval, a lender must review your income and credit status to decide if you qualify for a loan. With your lender, you’ll be able to find out:

  • The loan’s maximum amount
  • Qualifying loan programs
  • Interest rate information for each type of loan option

Once pre-approved, you’ll have a better idea of how much you’ll be able to spend for the home you want.

Visit the Calculator page to estimate what you can afford, estimate your monthly payments, compare your options, and more

The Next Step

Once you find the house you want to buy, you need to make a written Offer to Purchase. Then, as soon as it is accepted, we’ll immediately begin the steps leading to the approval of your mortgage. If you’ve already been pre-approved, the final approval process will be streamlined as we should already have most of the necessary loan documents.

Our checklist can help ensure you have all of the necessary items to process your loan. If you feel you’re ready to get things started now, download and complete the On line Application 

You’re almost there!  Here’s what to expect for your mortgage approval and closing:

  • The Approval Process - After your loan application is completed, a Spalding Financial loan processor and underwriter will review to ensure all necessary documents and information are included. They will then make a determination on whether or not you’re approved for the loan.
  • The Loan Commitment - Once approved, we will call you and/or your real estate agent to provide details of the loan commitment, including the interest rate, the monthly payment and the closing date. You may also receive the information in writing in a Commitment Letter.
  • The Loan Closing - This legal transaction is where the title to a property is formally transferred from the seller to the buyer. After your loan is approved, we will provide you a meeting time and the exact amount of the cashier's or certified check you’ll need to bring.
  • Closing Costs - In addition, there will be other costs during the approval process and at the closing. When you apply for your mortgage loan, we will give you a "Good Faith Estimate" that itemizes the estimated closing costs so you'll have an idea of what your total closing costs will be.

Contact Us
 
Q : Application Checklist
A :

Mortgage Application Checklist

When you decide to apply for a home mortgage with Spalding Financial, it’s important to have the following documents readily available:

Residence and Property

  • The address(es) of your residence(s) for the past two years, and the names and addresses of any landlords during that time.
  • Information on any real estate you already own, including property address, current market value, mortgage lender's name and address, loan account number, balance and monthly payment.

Employment, Taxes, Income and Debts

  • The names and addresses of all employers for the past two years.
  • Paycheck stubs from the last 30 days that show your year-to-date earnings.
  • Original W-2 forms for the past year.
  • Bank statements from the two most recent months for all checking and savings accounts.
  • Statements from the past two months for CDs, IRAs, stocks, bonds and any other securities if you intend to use any for your down payment.
  • A list of all monthly debts (auto loans, student loans, mortgage loans, credit cards, etc.), creditor's names, addresses, your account numbers, minimum monthly payment amounts and balances due on each account.

Purchase Offer Details

  • If your offer has been accepted, provide the phone number and address of the listing and selling agents (or seller and seller's attorney if no real estate agent is involved). We will also need a signed purchase contract on the home you wish to buy, plus any amendments or counter offers and the receipts for earnest money or down payment deposits.
  • If a sale is pending on your existing home, bring a copy of the purchase contract for the existing property and the sales listing contract.

Self-Employed Information

  • If you are self-employed, earn commissions, overtime or bonuses totaling over 25% of your income, please provide personal and/or corporate tax returns from the past year.
  • A current profit and loss statement and balance sheet are needed for self-employed individual
 
Q : How is an index and margin used in an ARM?
A : An index is an economic indicator that lenders use to set the interest rate for an ARM. Generally the interest rate that you pay is a combination of the index rate and a pre-specified margin. Three commonly used indices are the One-Year Treasury Bill, the Cost of Funds of the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank (COFI), and the London InterBank Offering Rate (LIBOR).
 
Q : How do I know which type of mortgage is best for me?
A : There is no simple formula to determine the type of mortgage that is best for you. This choice depends on a number of factors, including your current financial picture and how long you intend to keep your house. Spalding Financial can help you evaluate your choices and help you make the most appropriate decision.
 
Q : What does my mortgage payment include?
A : For most homeowners, the monthly mortgage payments include three separate parts:
  • Principal: Repayment on the amount borrowed
  • Interest: Payment to the lender for the amount borrowed
  • Taxes & Insurance: Monthly payments are normally made into a special escrow account for items like hazard insurance and property taxes. This feature is sometimes optional, in which case the fees will be paid by you directly to the County Tax Assessor and property insurance company.
  •  
    Q : How much cash will I need to purchase a home?
    A : The amount of cash that is necessary depends on a number of items. Generally speaking, though, you will need to supply:
  • Earnest Money: The deposit that is supplied when you make an offer on the house
  • Down Payment: A percentage of the cost of the home that is due at settlement
  • Closing Costs: Costs associated with processing paperwork to purchase or refinance a house
  • Many times you can purchase a home with very little money down
  •  
    Q : What is the difference between a fixed-rate loan and an adjustable-rate loan?
    A : With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate stays the same during the life of the loan. With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest changes periodically, typically in relation to an index. While the monthly payments that you make with a fixed-rate mortgage are relatively stable, payments on an ARM loan will likely change. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of mortgage, and the best way to select a loan product is by talking to us.
     
    Q : How do I know how much house I can afford?
    A : Generally speaking, you can purchase a home with a value of two or three times your annual household income. However, the amount that you can borrow will also depend upon your employment history, credit history, current savings and debts, and the amount of down payment you are willing to make. You may also be able to take advantage of special loan programs for first time buyers to purchase a home with a higher value. Give us a call, and we can help you determine exactly how much you can afford.