Let's talk about mortgages. Most first-time home buyers need one to finance their home (unless you happen to have hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting in the bank). There are a lot of loan options that vary greatly from lender to lender and from buyer to buyer. This means it's important to understand what you're looking for and talk to a number of different lenders in order to ensure you're getting the best deal possible. As you're searching for your first home in Charlotte or its suburbs, use this guide to learn about home loans, shop for the right product, and choose the right lender.
Feel free to give the Charlotte Home Links Team a call if you have any questions!
Key Components of Your Mortgage Payments
There are four main components to a mortgage payment: principle, interest, taxes, and insurance, often abbreviated as "PITI."
Each month, you're working to pay off your mortgage. At first, you'll mostly be paying interest, but as you make more mortgage payments, a larger portion goes toward the principal (The reason for this payment structure is due to a mortgage's amortization schedule). As you continue to make payments, you'll start building equity in your home.
This is the repayment of the initial amount you borrowed from your lender (in other words, the price of your home).
This is a payment to the lender for the money borrowed and based on a percentage (and is then added on to the initial price of your home).
Your annual city and county taxes assessed on your property are divided by the number of mortgage payments you make in a year and added into your mortgage.
Your monthly homeowner's insurance payment covers you against various hazards and is added to your mortgage payment.
Need Help You Buying Your First Home?
Buying a home in Charlotte is exciting, and it can be a breeze if you have the right resources and best experts on your side! Charlotte Home Links is here to help you every step of the way, whether it's understanding the home buying process, picking the right lender, looking at properties, or closing on your new home. Have questions about buying your first home in Charlotte or its suburbs? I'm more than happy to talk with you!