When you apply for a loan, your mortgage lender informs you of the maximum amount you can borrow, and this will help you get an idea of how much house you can afford. The question most buyers ask is how they reach this amount and what factors influence their decision?

Read on to understand the most common factors that lenders look at to know how much you can borrow.

1.) Gross Income

Most lenders prefer monthly mortgage payments don’t exceed 28% of your gross monthly income. At this percentage, they estimate a borrower will not stretch their budget too far and pay the loan without missing any payments.

Your gross monthly income is the amount you earn before deductions and other obligations, including social security, taxes, child support,

Home renovations can be expensive, and saving up for extensive improvements could take years. Fortunately, you can fast-track your goals with a home improvement loan. 

Home improvement loans allow you to use the equity in your home to fund your home renovation. 

Benefits of a Home Renovation Project

1.) Increased Home Value

Prospective home buyers are willing to spend more if they see a kitchen or bathroom that has been updated or upgraded for convenience and functionality. 

2.) More Space

If your home feels cramped due to your growing family, extra bedrooms or living space can make living in your home comfortable once more. 

3.) Maintenance

Putting off home repairs can result in more considerable expenses down the road.

If you own an investment property, you already know that getting a mortgage for this type of property is different than a refi of a primary home. If you recall, the qualifying requirements for getting an investment loan are more stringent than a primary home loan. 

Let's take a look at everything you need to know about refinancing an investment property.

Why Refinance Your Investment Property?

Owning a second property comes with costs, and some may feel that these additional costs tie up too much of their free cash flow. Others choose to refi to free up some money for repairs or improvements to the property. 

If this sounds like you, it could make sense to refinance into a better rate --possibly lowering your mortgage payment --and

Have you been asked to cosign by someone looking to get a home loan approval? You may be wondering why they would ask or how this affects you. This article will help you to understand both of these points. 

Why Were You Asked To Cosign? 

These are the top reasons that home loan applicants seek a co-borrower:

• Income: People may ask for a cosigner to include more income on their mortgage application. Higher income on the application can make it easier to get approved or borrow more from the lender.
• Credit score: Having someone with a higher credit score may help to secure a lower rate. 
• Employment: Little or poor employment history can prevent mortgage approval. Having a cosigner with better employment history can aid in getting

One of the perks of a mortgage is the "mortgage interest deduction." Read on to learn what a mortgage deduction is, how much you can reduce from your taxable income, and how you can take advantage of this tax incentive.

About Mortgage Interest Deduction

The mortgage interest deduction is part of your itemized tax deductions, and it subtracts any interest you've paid on loans used to build, purchase or renovate a property. This means that you can subtract a portion of the mortgage interest for primary and secondary homes every year when you do your taxes. This, in turn, reduces the amount you owe Uncle Sam. 

To be clear, this perk does not include payments you've made to your homeowner's and private mortgage insurance (PMI). Here's a list of

A condo refi is similar to refinancing any other home. The lender will look at your income, assets, and credit to ascertain your qualification. Plus, the condo will also be appraised to determine the property value.

However, since there are more variables when refinancing a condo, such as shared amenities, lenders usually conduct a condo review. 

It's worth noting that not every condo will require a review. A conventional loan refi of a detached condo typically won't need one since they're considered a single-family residence. The same goes for condo projects with four units or less.

Otherwise, it's safe to assume that you will need a review to refi your condo. Here's what that might look like. 

Condo Review For Government-Backed Loans

Mortgage rates have been relatively consistent, but don't let that get you too comfortable. Rates are changing all the time --by how much, and whether it will be in your favor, we cannot say. We can make intelligent guesses, but we can't predict with any certainty.

However, that doesn't mean that you are entirely powerless when it comes to taking charge of the mortgage rate you qualify for. You hold a lot of power, including the ability to qualify for a lower rate by improving your credit score, buying points, and exploring the rates of various home loan options.

And here is another idea for getting a low mortgage rate in an uncertain market: get a floating mortgage rate.

Locked and Floating Mortgage Rate Compared

Mortgage Rate Lock