Frequently Asked Questions

The pre-approval process is much more complete than pre-qualification. For pre-qualification, the loan officer asks you a few questions and provides you with a pre-qual letter. Pre-approval includes all the steps of a full approval, except for the appraisal and title search. Pre-approval can put you in a better negotiating position, much like a cash buyer.

A rate lock is a contractual agreement between the lender and buyer. There are four components to a rate lock: loan program, interest rate, points, and the length of the lock.

Yes. Keep in mind that lenders don’t just look at your credit history, but also at your ability and willingness to pay in the future. At Chase, we may be able to help you buy a home, even if your credit isn’t perfect.

If you plan to be in your home for more than seven years, you may want to consider a fixed-rate mortgage, which offers predictable payments and long-term protection against rising mortgage interest rates. If you plan to be in your home for seven years or less, an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) could be attractive. Keep in mind that with an ARM, your monthly payments have the potential to go up each time your interest rate adjusts.

When you pay a discount point, you are essentially paying part of your interest to the lender up front. This will lower your interest rate—as well as your monthly payment—over the life of the loan. One discount point is always equal to 1% of the loan amount. For example, one point on a $100,000 loan would require payment of $1,000 at closing. Generally speaking, the longer you plan to remain in a property or hold your mortgage, the more advantageous it is to pay points. There is no requirement to pay discount points; whether or not you decide to pay points is completely up to you.

Traditional loans usually require documents that verify your employment, income and assets, and may include:

• Your Social Security number
• Pay stubs for the last two months
• W-2 forms for the past two years
• Bank statements for the past two or three months
• One to two years of federal tax returns
• A signed contract of sale (if you’ve already chosen your new home)
• Information on current debt, including car loans, student loans and credit cards

There is no set amount. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that many first-time homebuyer programs require as little as 3.5% down. Today, there are many loan programs that can be tailored to fit your needs and financial resources. Keep in mind that for down payments of less than 20% on conventional loans, private mortgage insurance (PMI) will be required.

Three types of mortgage and homeowners costs may be tax-deductible: discount points, interest paid on a home loan or home equity loan and property taxes. After the year that you buy your house, only your mortgage interest and annual property taxes are deductible. For a refinanced loan, points must be deducted over time. Consult your tax advisor for advice about your situation.