For 2022, the maximum conforming loan limit for single-family homes in most of the U.S. is $647,200, and $970,800 in more expensive locales, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Jumbo loans are more common in higher-cost areas and generally require more in-depth documentation to qualify. Jumbo loans are also a bit more expensive than conforming loans.
Both prequalification and preapproval indicate how likely you are to get a loan, but a preapproval is better because it requires submitting a formal loan application and providing extensive documentation regarding your income, savings and debt, such as credit cards and student loans. Your mortgage lender uses this information to determine whether to offer you a loan, and at what maximum amount and interest rate.
Meanwhile, a prequalification is more streamlined, but only gives a general online payday loans Virginia indication that you could be approved for a mortgage if you were to formally apply. It will not suffice as evidence you have financing if you make an offer on a home.
Your credit score is the most important driver of your mortgage rate. Lenders have settled on this three-digit score as the most reliable predictor of whether you’ll make prompt payments. The higher your score, the less risk you pose in the lender’s view – and the lower rate you’ll pay.
Lenders also consider how much you’re putting down. The greater share of the home’s total value you pay upfront, the more favorably they view your application. The kind of mortgage you choose can affect your rate, too, with shorter-term loans like 15-year mortgages typically having lower rates compared to 30-year ones.
Lenders reserve their most competitive rates to borrowers with excellent credit scores – usually 740 or higher. However, you don’t need spotless credit to qualify for a mortgage. Loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, have a minimum credit score requirement of 580, although you’ll probably need a score of 620 or higher to qualify with most lenders. (While FHA loans offer competitive rates, the fees are steep.)
To score the best deal, work to boost your credit score above 740. While you can get a mortgage with poor or bad credit, your interest rate and terms may not be as favorable.
The difference between APR and interest rate is that the APR (annual percentage rate) is the total cost of the loan including interest rate and all fees. The interest rate is just the amount of interest the lender will charge you for the loan, not including any of the administrative costs. By capturing points and fees, the APR is a more accurate picture of how much the loan will cost you, and allows you to compare loan offers with differing interest rates and fees.