Marco Santarelli

APRIL 15, 2025

How Lower Rates Impact Your Wallet: An Example Let's say you're looking at a $400,000 mortgage. A rate drop from 7.2% Rate Monthly Payment (Principal & Interest) Total Interest Paid (over 30 years) 7.2% $2,717 $578,084 6.86% $2,624 $544,535 Over the life of the loan, you'd save over $33,000 !

Mortgages 52

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Loans Principal 52

Marco Santarelli

MARCH 31, 2025

This rate environment makes careful shopping and understanding your loan options even more critical. Fixed-rate mortgages (like the 15-year, 20-year, and 30-year options) keep the same interest rate for the entire loan term. This isn't always the case; sometimes refi rates are noticeably higher.

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Marco Santarelli

MARCH 20, 2025

30-Year Fixed: This remains a popular choice for many homebuyers due to its lower monthly payments , making homeownership more accessible. The Purchase Rate vs. Refinance Rate Dynamic: It's not uncommon for refinance rates to be slightly higher than purchase rates. Important Note: These are illustrative examples.

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Mortgages Debt-to-income ratio Principal VA loan 52

Marco Santarelli

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Are you glued to your screen, constantly refreshing to find out today's mortgage rates ? As of February 26, 2025, we've seen a welcome dip in mortgage rates. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is currently sitting at 6.35%. Well, breathe a sigh of relief, because there's a bit of good news!

Mortgages 93

Mortgages VA loan Debt-to-income ratio Fixed-rate mortgage 93

Realty Biz

AUGUST 12, 2023

In a mortgage agreement, the buyer borrows money from the lender (usually a bank) and agrees to pay it back with interest over a specified period. Principal : The amount of money you borrowed to buy the home. Over time, you'll pay down the principal and interest. It's typically expressed as a percentage of the home's price.

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Purchase and sale agreement Mortgages Pre-approval Title search 97

Real Trends

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Let’s say you get a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage of $350,000 with a 6.5% interest rate to buy a condo. Your payment for principal and interest would be close to $2,200 a month or $26,400 a year. The cost of your home gets locked in for the term of your loan, such as 15 or 30 years.

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HomeLight

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

A refinance is just another way of saying that you’re trading in your current mortgage loan for a new one. That said, if you want to refinance for a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage, or a custom length of time, many mortgage lenders can and will be flexible with your terms. Pay fees and closing costs.

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Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Equity Loans 98

HomeLight

AUGUST 26, 2020

Lower mortgage rates and lower payments are excellent reasons to refinance, but there are other reasons someone might want to consider refinancing. Converting an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage. When you refinance at a lower mortgage rate, your monthly payments could go down.

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HomeLight

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Along with the obvious advantage of a lower interest rate, an assumed loan can also come with fewer transaction fees and greater speed. There are typically fewer fees involved when you do an assumable mortgage rather than a new origination. A lot of people right now are concerned about interest rates,” says Broesamle.

FHA loan 115

FHA loan Mortgages VA loan Loans 115

Marco Santarelli

MARCH 6, 2025

Decoding Mortgage Jargon: What Does It All Mean? Let's be real, the mortgage world is full of confusing terms. Let me break down some of the most important ones: Fixed-Rate Mortgage: The interest rate stays the same for the entire loan term. Loan Term: The length of time you have to pay off your mortgage.

Mortgages 64

Mortgages Debt-to-income ratio Loans Principal 64

Realty Biz

JUNE 11, 2023

Understanding Interest Rates Before delving into how to use interest rates to your advantage, let's first understand what they are. Interest rates represent the cost of borrowing money. In the context of home buying, the interest rate is what you'll pay on top of your principal loan amount.

Fixed-rate mortgage 81

Fixed-rate mortgage Closing costs Loans Principal 81

Redfin

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

From application fees to closing costs, this Redfin article will discuss everything you need to know to help make this financial decision. What does it mean to refinance a mortgage? What exactly does it mean to “refinance a mortgage”? As a general rule, refinancing closing costs are typically 2-6% of the loan’s value.

Mortgages 69

Mortgages Debt-to-income ratio Closing costs Principal 69

HomeLight

JUNE 22, 2023

If you’re going to buy a home, you’ll need enough savings for a down payment, closing costs, and financial experts advise that you should also have enough money left over in your savings accounts to cover at least three months of expenses in case of an emergency. Q: What’s included in my monthly mortgage payment?

Debt-to-income ratio 98

Debt-to-income ratio Mortgages FHA loan Loans 98

Marco Santarelli

MARCH 28, 2025

If you're thinking about refinancing, its wise to compare these rates with your current mortgage rate and factor in any closing costs to determine if it makes financial sense for your situation. The Mechanics of Mortgage Interest Rates It's helpful to understand what a mortgage interest rate actually represents.

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Realty Biz

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

Rising Interest Rates Are Cooling Off the New Jersey Housing Market. In August 2021, the average 30-year interest rate for a fixed-rate mortgage was 2.7 Rising interest rates can make mortgages more expensive, but there are also some upsides.

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Redfin

AUGUST 12, 2024

Your monthly mortgage payment generally consists of four components: Principal : The amount of money you borrow to buy the home. Interest : The cost of borrowing the money, calculated as a percentage of the principal. Insurance : Homeowner’s insurance and, if applicable, private mortgage insurance (PMI).

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Loans Mortgages Pre-approval Fixed-rate mortgage 74

Redfin

DECEMBER 15, 2023

In 2020, interest rates took a sharp dive as the Federal Reserve sought to stave off economic collapse amid the pandemic. The resulting low rates sparked a surge in real estate transactions, with numerous homebuyers securing 30-year fixed-rate mortgages below 3%.

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Toronto Realty Blog

MAY 31, 2023

per month mortgage fee there’s principal and there’s interest. In the first year of the mortgage $6,067 of principal is paid down as $15,190 of interest is gone as a sunk cost. Then think about the wild closing costs that aren’t present with resale investments.

Fixed-rate mortgage 19

Fixed-rate mortgage Principal Investor Mortgages 19

HomeLight

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

Plus, down payment and closing costs in New Jersey can set you back thousands of dollars. Many people can make their monthly house payments, but it can be difficult to come up with the money for a down payment and closing costs to buy a new home in the first place. Types of down payment assistance available in New Jersey.

Land 110

Land Closing costs Purchase and sale agreement Loans 110

Realty Biz

JUNE 15, 2022

A fixed-rate mortgage is stable for 15 to 30 years, but rents may increase on average as much as 5% per year. . Money spent on a mortgage each month is building equity in something you’ll eventually own, and is a foundational means to growing wealth. Your Only Upfront Costs Are a Down Payment.

Debt-to-income ratio 98

Debt-to-income ratio VA loan Fixed-rate mortgage Loans 98

Marco Santarelli

AUGUST 15, 2024

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's clarify the two major ways a 1% interest rate difference affects your mortgage: Short-Term: Monthly Payments Imagine you're eyeing a beautiful $250,000 home with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Sarah secures a mortgage at 7% interest.

Mortgages 52

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Closing costs Loans 52

HomeLight

JANUARY 27, 2021

Don’t forget to budget for closing costs. Closing costs are one-time costs that go along with your home purchase, and you pay them on — you guessed it — closing day. A lot of times people have no idea until they get the Loan Estimate that they have $15,000 to $20,000 worth of closing costs,” Ortman explains.

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Marco Santarelli

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Before you jump into refinancing, take a hard look at your current mortgage. Is your existing rate lower than what's available today? Also remember to factor in closing costs when assessing the true cost of refinancing! 200,000 Mortgage : Around $1,264 per month (principal and interest).

Mortgages 52

Mortgages VA loan Fixed-rate mortgage Principal 52

HomeLight

JANUARY 31, 2022

These are not a great option when market rates are very low and likely to increase after the introductory period, especially if you are planning on living in the house for many years. Your interest rate with a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) won’t change over time, which means your payment amounts are the same throughout the life of the loan.

Loans 98

Loans Mortgages FHA loan Principal 98

HomeLight

JUNE 9, 2023

This quick calculation should give you a general figure to start with, but talk to an agent and a mortgage broker to get a clearer idea. To create a more informed budget, be sure to factor in existing debt, your savings, potential closing costs, student loan payments, child support, your current credit score, and so on.

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Title Loans Title search Inspection 105

HomeLight

AUGUST 31, 2021

You’ll want to be sure you’ve kept the home long enough to recoup your transaction costs — real estate agent fees, closing costs, and any repairs or maintenance done to the home to prepare for sale. Homeownership is a way to hedge against inflation by keeping housing costs static and predictable.

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Closing costs Loans Equity Banks 97

Norada Real Estate

JUNE 22, 2022

As a cash buyer, you can also save on closing costs. You don't need to pay a bank attorney for the mortgage. Financing turnkey rental properties with cash means you don't need to put real estate taxes in escrow upfront nor pay for a mortgage application and loan origination fees. Fixed-rate mortgages.

Finance 96

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Redfin

FEBRUARY 11, 2021

The good news is that you can discontinue this payment when you have paid off 20% of the loan’s principal amount – the equivalent of that 20% down payment. At that point, you can ask the lender to remove the PMI from your mortgage payments. . If your down payment is less than 20%, PMI is non-negotiable for most loan types.

Debt-to-income ratio 66

Debt-to-income ratio VA loan Fixed-rate mortgage Loans 66

Redfin

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

To finalize the purchase and paperwork, you will pay additional closing costs. Below are the common costs of buying a house. It commits you to the mortgage with a significant upfront investment. Remember to factor in closing costs. Step 3: Project the costs of owning a home .

Debt-to-income ratio 71

Debt-to-income ratio Closing costs Loans Title 71

Redfin

JULY 11, 2023

Essentially, a mortgage enables individuals to become homeowners by providing the necessary funds upfront, with the property serving as security for the loan. How does a mortgage work? When you take out a mortgage, the lender provides you with a specific amount of money to buy a home. What are the different types of mortgages?

Pre-approval 59

Pre-approval Mortgages Pre-qualification Debt-to-income ratio 59

Marco Santarelli

MARCH 24, 2025

What's Your Monthly Payment on a $150,000 Mortgage? If you're looking at a smaller mortgage of $150,000 with a 30-year fixed rate of 6.51% , your estimated monthly payment would be around $948. That includes principal and interest, before taxes and insurance. Shop around and compare rates from different lenders.

Mortgages 52

Mortgages Pre-approval Debt-to-income ratio Principal 52

Marco Santarelli

AUGUST 8, 2024

Switching from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage: This provides interest rate stability and predictable payments. Shorter terms result in higher monthly payments but lower total interest costs. Does Refinancing Your Mortgage Reset the Clock to 30 Years?

Mortgages 52

Mortgages Debt-to-income ratio Equity Loans 52

Marco Santarelli

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

A mortgage interest rate is essentially a fee for borrowing money from a lender. Types of Mortgage Rates Fixed-Rate Mortgages : These loans secure a specific rate for the entire term of the loan, meaning your monthly payment will remain steady, regardless of market fluctuations.

Mortgages 52

Mortgages Debt-to-income ratio Principal Fixed-rate mortgage 52

Marco Santarelli

JUNE 3, 2024

For instance, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a principal of $200,000 and an interest rate of 7% would result in a monthly payment of approximately $1,423. However, if the interest rate rises to 7.5% , the monthly payment jumps to $1,488.

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Redfin

JULY 14, 2023

As you make regular mortgage payments, a portion goes towards reducing the principal amount owed, effectively increasing your equity. Large upfront costs Keep in mind that there are more costs associated with buying a home than just the down payment.

Equity 58

Equity Fixed-rate mortgage Closing costs Inspection 58

Marco Santarelli

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Consider Costs: It’s crucial to evaluate the costs associated with refinancing, including origination fees and closing costs , as they can impact your overall savings. Understanding Refinancing Refinancing your mortgage means taking out a new loan to pay off your existing mortgage.

Mortgages 52

Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgage Closing costs Loans 52

HomeLight

JULY 29, 2022

When you own a home and take out a mortgage loan, you not only own the property (so you don’t have to worry about any landlords booting you out at their discretion), but you can also count on your monthly mortgage loan payment remaining the same if you have a fixed rate mortgage. In a traditional market (i.e.

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Purchase and sale agreement Renovation Equity Mortgages 104