1 | Make sure your credit is in good standing. If you currently have a lot of debt that is lowering your credit score, consider paying some of it off. A low credit score means higher rates and fewer options. There are ways to find out which debt payoffs will increase your credit the greatest.
2 | Bank or broker. Sometimes, we are more drawn to partner with banks for our mortgages because we already use their services or we’ve never worked with a broker before. In reality, banks are very limited on their products. Brokers have significantly more options than traditional banks and are known for having the best rates and specialized products.
3 | Avoid the Appraisal or at least prepare for one. Depending on the circumstances, you may receive an appraisal waiver to opt-out of the appraisal. This can save you on average $500. If there’s no getting around the appraisal (estimated property value is too high, large cash-out transaction, etc.), avoid construction/ remodeling and make sure your home is spruced up to wow the appraiser. In many cases, we can reimburse borrowers for that fee.
