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Mortgage Comparison

Mark Cappel
UpdatedMar 11, 2024

I am looking into buying my first home and I'm wondering what the best way to get better interest rates is.

I am interested in buying my first home within the next year. I'm wondering which will have the better effect on obtaining a better interest rate: a bigger down-payment or paying off more or all of my credit card debt. For example, which would afford a lower interest rate (given everything else the same): a 3% down payment with $5,000 in credit card debt or a 10% down payment with no credit card debt.

You are looking for a simple answer, but your question contains many variables so my answer will be a complex. First, let us look at a constant in the equation: 35%. That is the ratio that banks look for as the maximum percentage of debt a household should have as a percentage of income.

Let us compare you, with zero debt, and a neighbor. Let us say your neighbor earns $500 more per month than you do, but also pays $500 each month in credit card debt. Assuming equal down-payments, the bank will see you as a more attractive risk than your neighbor. You can handle a larger mortgage than your neighbor because your debt ratio is lower. You merit a more attractive rate because you present a better risk than your neighbor, all other things being equal.

Now let us add the down-payment variable. A 20% down payment reduces your principal as compared to a no-down or 3% down payment. It also buys you a lower interest rate, makes it easier to qualify for a loan, and removes the requirement to buy private mortgage insurance. Weigh the benefits of waiting to buy a house with a 20% down payment verses buying sooner with a smaller down payment.

Regarding your question, the difference between 3% down and $5,000 existing debt verses 10% down and no debt is huge. Again, the rule of thumb is that your debt load should be no greater than 35% of your monthly household income. For the sake of argument, let us say for the sake of argument that your household income is $4,000 per month. That means that you can afford a $1,400 debt load. If you pay $300 each month to pay down the existing debt, that means the bank will figure you can afford a $1,100 mortgage payment. On the other hand, if you have zero credit card debt, the bank will figure you can afford a $1,400 monthly payment.

What is the difference between a $1,100 per month house and a $1,400 per month house? Assuming a 5.5% interest on 30-year loans and $2,000 in annual property taxes, a $1,100 payment buys a $165,000 mortgage, and $1,400 payment buys a $230,000 mortgage. Granted, the more expensive house will have higher property taxes, so this illustration is somewhat exaggerated. I am trying to make the point that driving down your other debts frees you for a larger mortgage and a pricier house in a nicer neighborhood.

To learn more about mortgages, read the Bills.com article about mortgage basics information.

I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.

Best,

Bill

www.bills.com/

The mortgage market: what's new?

Mortgage rate fluctuations should come as no surprise. If you are buying a home or refinancing your existing mortgage, it is important to stay informed about the current mortgage rates.

Mortgage rates February 21, 2024
According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year mortgage rate for the week of February 21, 2024 stands at 6.9%. This 13 basis points increase from the previous week's rate.
Additionally, Freddie Mac reports that the 15-year mortgage rate for February 21, 2024 is 6.29%, indicating a 17 basis points increase from previous week’s rates.
Note: A basis point is equal to one-hundredth of one percent (0.01%). In numerical terms, if the mortgage rate changes by 20 basis points, it means the rate has changed by 0.20%.

What does the mortgage rate mean for you?
Mortgage rates play a vital role in determining your monthly payment. Let's take a look at the avergage interest rates (APR) for February 25, 2024 based on Zillow data for borrowers with a high credit score (680-740) in the United States:

  • For a 30-year conventional loan, the interest rate is 6.88%.
  • If you opt for a 15-year conventional loan, the interest rate stands at 6.08%.
    Using the rates mentioned above, a $279,082 30-year-year mortgage would result in a monthly payment of $1,834. On the other hand, a 15-year mortgage would require a monthly payment of approximately $2,367.

Explore your options and secure pre-approval today!
To make your life easier, we highly recommend shopping around for mortgages and getting pre-approved. This will streamline the home-buying or refinancing process and make it a breeze. Ready to get started? Check Out mortgage rates now for the best options available.

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