1. Understanding Mortgage Process www.VanguardLending.net

2. Table of Content Getting Started Applying for and Getting Your Mortgage Choosing the Right Mortgage Understanding Your Costs What to Expect at Closing

3. www.VanguardLending.net Getting Started Mortgage rates are at 50-year lows, making buying a home more affordable than ever for families with a stable income and good credit. Many eligible borrowers are not taking advantage of the opportunities because of misinformation about getting a mortgage today. It's important that you get the facts about buying a home in today’s market.

4. www.VanguardLending.net What You Will Need In order to qualify in today’s market you will need: A stable income A good credit history A down payment – Generally, between 5-20 percent of the purchase price for a conventional, conforming mortgage. Documentation – Responsible lenders today will want documentation verifying your income (W-2 forms, tax returns, employment), credit history and assets (such as bank statements to verify your savings). An impartial third-party appraisal – Your lender needs this to verify the value of the house you want to purchase.

5. www.VanguardLending.net First Steps to Take Before you start shopping for your new home, you will want to: Find out your current credit history and score. You don’t want to start out with any surprises. Start gathering all of your documentation as outlined above. Consult with your lender to review your income, expenses and financial goals to determine the type and amount of mortgage you qualify for. Talk to your lender about applying for a mortgage and getting a pre-approval letter. This letter provides an estimate of what you might be able to borrow – provided your financial status doesn’t change – and demonstrates to home sellers that you are a serious buyer.

6. www.VanguardLending.net Applying for and Getting Your Mortgage Once you have selected your lender and type of mortgage, it is time to submit your application and get your loan approved. An important step to becoming a homeowner is completing your mortgage loan application (officially referred to as the Uniform Residential Loan Application). This is a lengthy application that documents your personal information (Social Security Number, date of birth, etc.), employment information, assets and liabilities, mortgage terms and much more. You’ll want to work with your lender to complete all fields, especially as they relate to the type of mortgage and terms.

7. www.VanguardLending.net Once you and any co-borrowers have completed and signed the application, your lender will: Pull your credit report and score from all three major agencies to verify your credit history. Make sure you know what they find. Evaluate the four C’s to determine if you are creditworthy: Current and future ability to make payments Capacity Money, savings and investments you have that can be sold quickly for cash Capital The property that you will purchase Collateral Your history of paying bills and other debts on time Credit

8. www.VanguardLending.net Step 1 At this point, your lender can provide you with a pre- approval letter that outlines how much you qualify to borrow and the specific terms of the loan. Step 2 Now, you can begin looking for your new home with greater confidence. Step 3 Once you have found the home you want to buy and have signed a Purchase Agreement for the property, you are ready to complete the application process by providing your lender with the address and property details. Following the steps

9. www.VanguardLending.net Your lender will then: Get an appraisal to determine the market value of the property, because it will be used as collateral for your loan. You have a legal right to get a copy of this and will want a copy for your records. Issue a Commitment Letter detailing the terms of your loan approval. The Commitment Letter serves as final approval of your mortgage loan and states the terms of the approval. Once you receive and accept this, you are assured the financing needed to complete the purchase of your home and can now focus on completing the details required for closing.

10. www.VanguardLending.net Choosing the Right Mortgage A mortgage is a serious long-term financial commitment and a legally binding contract. Selecting the right mortgage may make a big difference in your monthly payments and the overall cost of your loan. Choosing the right mortgage means doing your homework about the different types and understanding how each one may change your monthly payments in the future. To ensure that you obtain the mortgage that is right for you and meets your financial goals, it is important that you understand the differences between types of mortgages by talking with reputable credit counselors and lenders. There are two main types of mortgages – fixed-rate and adjustable rate – that have their own set of features and benefits that need to be carefully considered. VS Fixed rate Adjustable rate

11. www.VanguardLending.net Fixed-Rate Mortgages Fixed-rate mortgages are the most common type of mortgage selected by homeowners today. With a fixed-rate mortgage, you are locked in to a set interest rate, resulting in monthly mortgage payments that remain the same for the entire term of the loan, whether it's a 15-, 20- or 30-year loan. The primary benefit of fixed-rate mortgages is inflation protection – meaning that if mortgage rates increase in the future, your mortgage rate will not change.

12. www.VanguardLending.net Things you may want to consider with a fixed-rate mortgage: Your rate is locked in and will remain the same for the duration of your term – even if rates decline. However, you can consider refinancing your mortgage if rates drop to a level where it makes financial sense to do so. Your interest rate won't go down, even if rates drop. Your mortgage payment is comprised of principal, interest, taxes and insurance. While your principal and interest payment (typically the bulk of the payment) will not change over the life of your loan, your taxes and insurance may increase, resulting in changes to your monthly payment. Your payment can increase based on changes to your taxes and insurance.

13. www.VanguardLending.net When selecting the term of a fixed-rate mortgage, it is important to understand the features and benefits of each. Most mortgage lenders offer at least two basic terms: 15 and 30 years, and many also offer 20-year fixed-rate mortgages. To determine the best term for your personal situation and one that aligns with your financial goals, talk with your lender or financial professional for guidance. Also, take a look at our calculators to see how changes to terms and interest rates can affect your monthly payment. This term has higher monthly payments because the loan term is significantly shorter; however, you can build equity much faster than with a 30- year fixed-rate mortgage, and pay less interest over the life of your loan. Interest rates are typically lower for this term. With this term, your monthly payment will be lower due to the extended period of the loan, but your interest rate is typically higher and you pay more interest over time. 15-Year Term 30-Year Term

14. www.VanguardLending.net Adjustable-Rate Mortgages An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is a loan with an interest rate that will change throughout the life of the loan. An ARM may start out with lower monthly payments than fixed-rate mortgages, but you should know that: Your monthly payments may go up over time and you will need to be financially prepared for the adjustments. Monthly payments can go up, even if interest rates do not increase. Your payments may not go down much, or at all, even if interest rates drop. You might incur a penalty if you try to pay off the loan early in the hope of avoiding higher payments.

15. www.VanguardLending.net All ARMs have adjustment periods that determine when and how often the interest rate can change. There is an initial period during which the interest rate doesn't change – this period can range from as little as 6 months to as long as 10 years. After the initial period, most ARMs adjust. The most common ARMs are To help you understand how ARMs work, consider the following example: A 3/1 ARM has a fixed interest rate for the first three years. After three years, the rate can change once every year for the remaining life of the loan. The same principle applies for a 5/1 and 7/1 ARM. If the rates increase, your monthly payments will increase; however, if rates go down, your payments may not decrease, depending upon your initial interest rate.

16. www.VanguardLending.net Most ARMs also typically feature an adjustment “cap” which limits how much the interest rate can go up or down at each adjustment period. For instance: A 7/1 ARM with a 5/2/5 cap structure means that for the first seven years the rate is unchanged, but on the eighth year your rate can increase by a maximum of 5 percentage points (the first "5") above the initial interest rate. Every year thereafter, your rate can adjust a maximum of 2 percentage points (the second number, "2"), but your interest rate can never increase more than 5 percentage points (the last number, "5") throughout the life of the loan.

17. www.VanguardLending.net When considering an ARM, ask yourself: You may also want to look at mortgage rate trends by following Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS). While no one knows for certain what mortgage rates are likely to do in the future, it is worth understanding why they move and how they have moved recently when considering an ARM. To determine the best type and structure ARM for your situation, talk to your lender or financial professional for guidance. Be sure you know the details of how and when this type of loan may change your monthly payments. Use our calculator to estimate how a higher mortgage rate can impact your mortgage payment. If the mortgage rate increases, can I afford a higher mortgage payment? If yes, this mortgage may be right for you. Do I plan to live in my home for less than five to seven years – or less than the adjustment period?

18. www.VanguardLending.net Understanding Your Costs Your lender is required by law to provide you with several important documents that help you determine – and understand – costs associated with obtaining your mortgage. Make sure you know your overall costs and rights upfront Within three business days after you have completed the mortgage loan application process, your loan officer will provide you with a variety of documents outlining the costs associated with your loan. The most important of these include the Good Faith Estimate and the Truth-in- Lending Disclosure Statement.

19. www.VanguardLending.net The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) provides you with an estimate of your mortgage loan terms and settlement charges if you are approved for the loan. These include: A summary of your loan defining the initial loan amount, loan term, interest rate and initial monthly payment. Your escrow account information, such as your property tax and homeowner’s insurance that your lender may require you to include in your monthly payments. Your estimated settlement charges, such as application fee, origination fees, discount points, title charges, etc. Good Faith Estimate It is important that you read the GFE very carefully and review all fees with your loan officer. At this time, you can evaluate your mortgage application and even explore a few other possibilities before accepting it. You have 10 business days to accept the terms disclosed in your GFE.

20. www.VanguardLending.net Truth-in-Lending Disclosure You will also receive the Truth-in-Lending disclosure statement, one of the most important forms in the entire mortgage process, three days after completing your loan application. This document allows you to see the total cost of your mortgage under the terms of your mortgage loan, including: 1 Your annual percentage rate, which combines your interest rate and closing costs into a single percentage. 2 Your finance charges, which are the total of the closing costs and the interest that you will pay over the life of your loan stated in a dollar amount. 3 Your monthly payment schedule showing the amount you will have to pay each month and any possible changes to your payment amount. You will also receive other forms and disclosures after being approved, but these are the most important documents concerning your related costs.

21. www.VanguardLending.net What to Expect at Closing You will sign many important documents at closing, the final step in the home buying process when the property is legally transferred to your name. Make sure to read each document thoroughly and ask questions so you understand legal implications of each one. Closing or “settlement” is when you will sign the final mortgage documents and the property will be legally transferred to you. It typically involves you and any co-borrowers, a closing agent and your real estate agent, although closing practices may vary in your local area. When preparing for the loan closing, you should contact your closing agent to determine how much money you will need to bring to closing and any other steps for completing the purchase of your home.

22. www.VanguardLending.net Questions You will sign many documents at closing and it is important that you read the documents carefully and ask as many questions as necessary. These documents include: The security instrument that you give to the lender that protects the lender’s interest in your property. When you sign the deed of trust, you are giving the lender the right to take the property back by foreclosure if you fail to pay the mortgage according to the set terms. The Mortgage or Deed of Trust. Discloses the final details of your mortgage loan including: The actual settlement charges you will be paying A comparison of the costs disclosed on your GFE to the costs being charged at closing Your final loan terms The HUD-1 Statement. This document reflects any changes to the terms of your mortgage loan since your application date. The Final Truth- in-Lending Disclosure. Statements declaring something to be true, such as the property will be your principal place of residence. Affidavits and Declarations. A legal document that provides evidence of your debt and your formal promise to repay the mortgage loan. The Mortgage Note.

23. www.VanguardLending.net Tips for Closing Avoid feeling rushed by reading all the documents that will be sent to you prior to closing. Oftentimes, real estate agents will review your documents in detail with you before the closing date to ensure you are comfortable. Don’t hesitate to ask your agent for this. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the legal terminology in closing documents. It is important that you understand everything you are signing; most homebuyers ask a lot of questions and it is expected. The documents in the mortgage process are the same for everyone, regardless of race or ethnic origin. Consider having an attorney look at the documents or attend the closing with you. Closing on a home involves a number of important steps. Make sure to pay the same level of attention to these steps as you did when you were house hunting.

24. The End www.VanguardLending.net