Having enough money to purchase a home outright might seem like a fantasy, but 28 percent of all homes bought in 2010 were all-cash deals, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. Areas that had more depressed housing markets had more all-cash purchases.

Among the areas that saw a lot of these purchases is Miami-Fort Lauderdale, were over 50 percent of purchases involved cash buyers. About 42 percent of real estate purchases in Phoenix were all-cash deals.

“The prices were just irresistible,” Richard Stoker, who paid cash for two condos in Miami Beach, Fla., told the Wall Street Journal. “Florida’s been hit pretty hard.”

No mortgage loans

Buyers who pay with cash may receive a discount off the price of a home.They also have the freedom that comes with owning a property free and clear of a mortgage. Often people who are able to purchase a house with cash are investors. According to San Diego-based DataQuick, “All-cash deals have become popular in many Western markets where prices have dropped sharply, luring investor buyers who don’t always qualify for traditional mortgages. Moreover, sellers favor the relative speed and certainty of all-cash transactions.”

While investors are more likely to do all-cash deal, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t buyers out there who can afford to buy a home without a mortgage. The Money Saving Mom blog describes in a series of articles how one couple scrimped and saved to get the money they needed to buy a home in an all-cash deal. Buying a home with cash isn’t for everyone and requires a lot of sacrifices and careful planning. To determine if it is even possible to aim for the goal of buying a house with cash, you may need to work with a financial advisor to put together a plan.

What if you need a mortgage?

If, however, paying cash is too unrealistic of a goal to achieve, you’ll need to plan for getting a home loan if you want to buy a house. Be prepared to provide plenty of documentation about your income and assets when applying for a home mortgage. You also want to have the best credit possible since many mortgage lenders expect you to have a credit score of at least 720 to qualify for the best mortgage rates.

Are you desperate to get rid of your mortgage problems? You are not alone. Zillow recently reported that 27 percent of U.S. homeowners are underwater on mortgage loans. There also were 261,333 foreclosure filings in January, according to RealtyTrac.

But homeowners dealing with foreclosure and underwater home loans aren’t the only one struggling. Some borrowers are struggling to make monthly mortgage payments due to a drop in income, job layoff, illness or some other factor beyond their control. There is no easy solution to dealing with mortgage problems, but there are several options to consider.

Sell your home

Getting rid of a mortgage loan is the best option if you really can’t afford to make the payments. Just because you sell the property you currently live in doesn’t mean you won’t be able to purchase another home in the future. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood in terms of home sales. If there have been a lot of foreclosures, the value of your home is likely to be affected. But even if you are underwater on a mortgage loan that doesn’t mean you have to give up the idea of selling. But you may have to consider a short sale.

A short sale occurs when the mortgage lender agrees to accept a lower payoff that what you owe on a home loan. The advantage to doing a short sale is that the lender can recover some of what’s owed. You would be able to get out from under a troubled loan and avoid foreclosure. Keep in mind that any mortgage debt that is forgiven by the mortgage lender in such a deal may be taxable, so it’s important to consult with a tax advisor.

Mortgage refinancing

Maybe you are feeling pinched by monthly mortgage payments, but things haven’t gotten so serious that you are about to lose you home. If you still have some home equity and good credit, you might qualify for a mortgage refinance. The more equity you have and the higher your credit score the better. Refinancing could be the right move it you are paying interest that is much higher than current mortgage rates. A mortgage payment calculator can help determine how much money you could actually save by refinancing.

These are just a few ways to get out from under expensive mortgage payments. There may be other solutions that suit your financial needs. Talk with your mortgage lender or a housing counselor to learn more about your options.

The state of the nation’s housing market is a frequent topic of discussion. Stories about mortgage rates, home prices, and foreclosures often lead the day’s headlines. If you are a renter you may be wondering if the time will ever be right to buy a home. Regardless of what happens with the broader economy, here are four questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to make the leap into homeownership.

1. Have you paid down debt? Or do you still have a lot of debt from credit cards, student loans, auto loans and other types of financing? When you apply for a home loan your finances are scrutinized by mortgage lenders. One of the factors they are going to focus on is your current debt-to-income ratio. So if you seem to be struggling to pay all the bills with your current debt level, it’s unlikely you are going to get approved for a mortgage. Work on tackling that debt before getting serious about shopping for a mortgage loan.
2. Do you have a hefty down payment? The more you have saved up for a down payment, the better off you are. When you make a down payment that decreases the amount of principal you have to finance with mortgage loan. Aim for a down payment of 20 percent of the purchase price to avoid mortgage insurance (MI) payments. While there are mortgage loan programs for buyers who don’t have a 20 percent down payment, do yourself a favor and take the time to save as much money as possible.
3. Can you afford a home? Do you have enough income to cover all the expenses related to owning a home? In addition to monthly mortgage payments for principal and interest, you’ll pay for homeowners insurance and property taxes. Depending upon the community to live in there may be monthly dues. There also will be expenses for routine maintenance and repairs, yard care, snow removal, etc.
4. Is it a smart move? Are you likely to move anytime soon because of a job change? If there is a good chance that you may have to move soon, buying a home at this time may not be the right move for you. If you’re refinancing, it’s important to look at how long it will take to recoup the closing costs involved with refinancing a home mortgage. Ideally, you would want to remain in the home for at least that amount of time.

Making the move to homeownership is a big step. While current mortgage rates may have you chomping at the bit to get a home loan, it’s important to make sure that your finances can really handle everything that is involved.

Mortgage rates have risen over the past few weeks, contributing to a decline in mortgage applications. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.83 percent this week, compared with 4.61 percent last week, according to Freddie Mac. This rate was 4.17 percent in November, the lowest point recorded by Freddie Mac since it began tracking rates in 1970.

Historical mortgage rates

Have you been dragging your fee about applying for a mortgage refinance or a loan to purchase a home? If so, don’t panic. While mortgage rates have risen during the past few weeks they are still near historic lows. For instance, if you had applied for a mortgage in October 1981, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages were averaging 18.45 percent, according to HSH Associates. Even as recently as 2008, mortgage rates rose above 6 percent.

Improve your profile as a borrower

Mortgage rates can change at any time, but that’s no reason not to shop around to find a good deal. Take steps now to make yourself a more attractive candidate for refinancing or a new home loan. Use the following tips to improve the chance of getting a mortgage:

• Clean up your credit. Read your credit reports to find inaccurate or outdated information. Contact the credit reporting agency and creditors to clear up any mistakes. Do not wait until you are about to apply for a mortgage loan to do this.
• Pay off as much debt as possible. Not only do credit cards have high interest, but having too much debt from them can keep you from getting approved for mortgage refinancing or a loan to purchase a property. The less high-interest debt you have, the more income you can put toward monthly mortgage payments.
• Save as much as possible. Whether you are trying to refinance or buy a home, your ability to bring more cash to the closing can improve your chances of getting a loan. When buying a property, the larger the down payment, the less your monthly payments on a mortgage. If you are refinancing, bringing cash to closing–a cash-in refinance–can boost your home equity, making you a more attractive loan candidate to mortgage lenders.

Shop for mortgage deals

Mortgage rates may continue to climb, or they may fall again. You can’t time the market, so it’s not really worth it to try. If you really want to get a home loan to purchase a property or refinance, go ahead and do what you need to do to qualify for the best loan.

Current mortgage rates are super low, and many homeowners are rushing to refinance before they begin to rise again. If you’re thinking of refinancing, remember the following things.

• Shop around to compare mortgage rates from several lenders. Not all mortgage lenders offer the same type of deals. Among the differences in refinance programs you may find are deals that offer low closing costs and bonuses or other incentives for closing on time. Some mortgage lenders may even be willing to waive certain fees or closing costs.
• Your credit score does matter. The key to being offered the best mortgage rates lies in your credit score. Mortgage lenders want to see a strong credit report that includes a history of paying bills on time, a low debt-to-income ratio, and no judgments or liens. If you have a spotty credit history, take time to repair your credit before going to a lender to apply for a refinance.
• A refinance could actually increase your monthly payments. That would be the case if you were to choose a 15-year mortgage loan. A 15-year home loan is going to have a lower interest rate than a 30-year loan, but you’re likely to have significantly higher monthly payments with the shorter term.
• Refinancing into a 15-year mortgage can help pay off your home faster. If you can afford the monthly payments without it being a financial hardship, this could be the way to own your home free and clear of debt sooner.
• Refinancing can get you out of an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Many homeowners with ARMs fear the day mortgage rates begin to rise because that means they would end up with a higher monthly payment when their loan resets.
• Be ready to provide documentation for everything. Mortgage lenders want to know how much you earn each month and will ask you for recent pay stubs and your most recent tax return. If you are self-employed, expect to provide an income statement or other information about your business. You also may be asked for proof of assets in savings or investment accounts.
• Make sure you have enough home equity to avoid mortgage insurance (MI) payments. MI is required when you have less than 20% equity in a property.

Depending upon your situation a refinance could allow you to keep a lot more money in your pocket each month. Refinancing also can shave thousands of dollars off the amount of interest paid over the life of a mortgage loan.

Think no-down-payment mortgages are dead because of the housing crisis? Think again. The Affordable Advantage program run by Fannie Mae has allowed some home buyers to purchase a property with only $1,000 as a down payment. The mortgage loan program helps people with moderate incomes purchase homes, and housing grants can be applied toward the down payment.

Four states pilot mortgage program

Only four states are offering the mortgage loan program at this point: Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. An article in the New York Times says the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority has issued 500 loans since March.

While it may seem risky to issue mortgages with low down payments, some housing experts seem to believe that the program’s requirements can cut the risk of homeowners defaulting. Only 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are available through the Affordable Advantage program. Risky adjustable-rate mortgage loans are not available.

Verifying borrower information

Homebuyers must have a credit score of at least 680 and live in the home purchased. Mortgage lenders also must verify the income and assets of home buyers, something that did not always occur before the housing crisis and contributed to a surge in sub-prime lending.

“In addition, we want to see what other lines of credit people have, and their performance. We look at their work history. We call their employers,” Kate Venne, spokesperson for the Wisconsin HFA, told the Washington Independent. The program helps borrowers if they become unemployed. Also, there is no requirement for mortgage insurance, which can bump up monthly fees.

Should you apply for a home loan?

If you live in one of the four states and are wondering whether or not to apply for a home mortgage through the program, here are some things to consider:

• Are you really ready to take on mortgage payments and other expenses associated with home ownership? In addition to principal and interest, you need cash to cover homeowners insurance, property taxes, utilities, routine maintenance, and home repairs.
• Would you rather save up a larger down payment to lower your monthly housing costs? Remember, the larger your down payment, the lower your monthly mortgage costs.
• Do you need to clean up your credit to qualify for a home loan through the Fannie Mae program? Being on time with bill payments, reducing debt, and deleting outdated information in a credit report can help raise your credit score.

Finally, consider whether you are willing to buy a home in this economy. Housing prices and mortgage rates are low, making it a good time to buy a home. But home values could continue to fall even after you purchase a property. Honestly assess your tolerance for risk, as well as your commitment to staying in a home that could decline in value if the economy doesn’t improve.

Do you need to improve your credit score to qualify for a mortgage loan? Whether you want a mortgage to refinance or purchase a home, it’s important to straighten out your finances before filling out a loan application. Here’s what you need to do.

• Ditch credit card debt. This is one of the smartest things you can do to boost your credit score. Mortgage lenders won’t approve you for a home loan if your debt-to-income ratio is too high. Debt payments should account for no more than 36% of your income, and mortgage debt shouldn’t be any higher than 28% if you expect to qualify for the best mortgage rates.
• Pay your bills on time every month. Consistently being late with bill payments lowers your credit score. Read your monthly statements carefully so that you are aware of the date and time that payments are due. Payment history accounts for 35% of a FICO score.
• Avoid running up balances on existing credit cards or lines of credit. Even if you have enough income to pay off your debts at the end of the money, running up credit lines may mark you as a credit risk with mortgage lenders. Put the kibosh on new purchases at least until after you get approved for a mortgage.
• Check your credit report for errors. It’s not uncommon to find inaccurate or outdated information on credit reports. Dispute any problems that you find with the credit agency by calling and following up with a letter. If necessary, contact creditors to straighten out problems. Review your report again after your dispute has been settled to make sure everything has been updated.
• Keep your oldest credit lines open to show that you have an established credit history. While it makes sense to close unused credit lines if you don’t want to be tempted by them because of a history of overspending, wait to do so until after you get a mortgage. If you’ve had a long history of managing credit well, it can help lift your credit score.

Free Credit Reports

Request a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com. You can get one free copy every 12 months from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Review it carefully and take time to fix any problems in order to qualify for the best possible deal on a home loan.

Low mortgage rates should bring out a stampede of home buyers looking for a deal with housing prices so much more affordable than a few years back. But that’s not happening as many potential buyers stay on the sidelines or can’t get approved for a home loan.

Mortgage Rates at All-Time Lows

Despite the fact that current mortgage rates are averaging 4.56% for a 30-year fixed loan — the lowest level ever — consumer confidence and home builder confidence have dropped. Mortgages rates for 15-year fixed loans are averaging 4.03%.

Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s vice president and chief economist, said in a statement:

The decline in mortgages rates over the past few weeks echoes the recent signs of weakening confidence in the strength of the economy, particularly the housing and consumer sectors. For example, homebuilder confidence declined in July to lows not seen since April 2009, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, following the large drop in housing starts reported for June.

Falling Home Values

Home values throughout much of the country have fallen and are expected to show more declines, although some economists say the worst of the housing crisis has passed.

Consumer confidence fell as many folks continued to worry about unemployment and overall conditions in the economy. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 52.9 in June from 62.7 in May.

According to Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board Consumer Research Center:

Consumer confidence, which had posted three consecutive monthly gains and appeared to be gaining some traction, retreated sharply in June. Increasing uncertainty and apprehension about the future state of the economy and labor market, no doubt a result of the recent slowdown in job growth, are the primary reasons for the sharp reversal in confidence. Until the pace of job growth picks up, consumer confidence is not likely to pick up.

Current Refinance Rates

Despite the concern about the economy, some homeowners are taking advantage of the low mortgage rates to refinance home loans. Doing a home refinance could make sense if it can significantly lower your monthly payments or get you out of a mortgage with adjustable rates.

You can begin gathering quotes for mortgage refinancing here. If you have a stable income, strong credit score, and equity in your home you may be able to qualify for a home refinance despite concern about where the economy is heading. 

First-time homeowners sometimes make the mistake of not adding up all the costs of getting mortgage loans. Of course shopping for competitive mortgage rates is important, but keep in mind that your monthly payment includes real-estate taxes and homeowners insurance. Anytime you use a monthly payment calculator to figure out the cost of getting a home loan, it’s important  to include your best estimates for insurance and taxes.

Property Taxes

You can’t deduct your homeowners insurance premiums, but you can deduct real-estate taxes. Deductions can be taken for any state, local, or foreign taxes on real property. If your state or county imposes local benefit taxes related to property improvements such as sidewalks or streets, they cannot be deducted.

After you’ve owned a home for a while, you can file an appeal to try and get your property taxes lowered if you think you are paying too much. You must contact the local government to find out what the procedure is for appealing property taxes. Generally, you only have a certain window of time to appeal after receiving your annual assessment.

Mortage Interest

The interest paid on a home mortgage is also deductible. Interest on mortage loans can be deducted for your principal residence and for a vacation home. If you have a second home that is also rented out for part of the year, you must use the house for more than 14 days or more than 10% of the number of days during the year that the home is rented at fair value. If you have more than one property that you rent out, the mortgage interest deduction can only be taken on one of them.

Deductible interest must be paid on a mortgage for your first home, second mortgage, home equity loan, or home equity line of credit (HELOC). If you pay mortgage interest for someone else but are not legally liable for the loan, you cannot take a deduction for that amount.

Filing Your Taxes

When filing your income taxes on Form 1040 you have to decide whether you are going to take the standard deduction or itemize deductions on a Schedule A. The best rule of thumb is to itemize deductions if they add up to more than the standard deduction. But unless you choose to itemize you won’t be able to deduct interest from your home loan or real-estate taxes.

Applying for a mortgage loan can be an intimidating process if you aren’t sure what to do. That’s why it’s important to assemble a team of knowledgeable professionals to help you through the mortgage loan application process. The team you choose should include some of the following professionals.

Mortgage Lender

Before you even begin to hunt for  a home it’s important to choose a reputable mortgage lender who is willing to commit to loaning money to you. An experienced mortgage broker can help you shop for home loans from a variety of lenders.

You can also go directly to mortgage lenders to inquire about mortgage rates and terms. Choose a mortgage loan officer who can explain the different programs and takes time to assess you needs.

Real Estate Agent

A knowledgeable real estate agent can help you find listings in the area you want to buy a home. Agents should have information about recent purchasing activity in the area and access to the Multiple Listinig Service (MLS).

Avoid choosing an agent who haven’t sold any homes in the area you are interested in or who seems green about what’s involved with the home buying process. Another red flag is when a real estate agent won’t take your calls or spend much time helping you.

Real Estate Attorney

Find an attorney that specializes in real estate transactions before you get to the point of making an offer on a home. It’s important to have an attorney who can review your offer to purchase a home. An attorney will review all paperwork, prepare and register legal documents, and make sure you get a clean title to the property you buy. Your attorney is also going to be present when you close on the deal.

Home Inspector

Once you make an offer on a home you should make the deal contingent on having it inspected by a qualified professional. A home inspector goes through the property you want to buy and looks for areas that could be trouble, such as faulty wiring, bad plumbing, or a leaky roof. Most states require home inspectors to be licensed so only use one who has credentials that are up to date.

Getting a home loan to purchase a house is a huge investment of your time and money. Make sure you are getting the proper guidance from people who are qualified so you don’t run into problems later.