Dianne Drinkwater, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Florida Network RealtyPhone:
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Getting a mortgage is a major part of the homebuying journey, but many first-time borrowers wonder: “how does a mortgage work?” While the basic concept of a loan might be simple, mortgages come with an entire process consisting of multiple stages.
Most borrowers begin by comparing mortgage lenders and getting preapproval for a specific amount of money. But what happens after approval? What about monthly payments, amortization and interest? How do you know the amount of money you need?
To help answer these questions and more, here are some important nuances of mortgages every prospective homebuyer should know.
Amortization is a term for paying back a loan in equal, scheduled payments. For home mortgages, this comprises your monthly mortgage payments over the entire life of the loan.
An amortization schedule for a mortgage has some part of each payment going toward paying interest and another part toward paying the principal. To start, the amount paid toward the principal is less than the interest, but will grow over time.
The beginning of the repayment schedule is another important aspect of mortgages to be aware of. Unlike rent payable the first day of the month, a mortgage payment must be made in advance. When the home sale is final, your very first payment will typically be due one month after that date.
For example, if closing occurs on January 25, your first payment will be due February 25. Each payment covers principal and interest for the prior month. However, there are some instances in which you can prepay interest. You can discuss these details with your lender.
Before you apply for a mortgage, you’ll want to know how much money you actually need to borrow - and how much you can afford to pay back. The best way to do this is by using a mortgage calculator to figure out the amount of your mortgage payments (M), including principal (P) and interest (I).
There are plenty of calculators available online you can use, or you can use the following equation:
M = P [ I ( 1 + I )^N ] / [ ( 1 + I )^N – 1 ]
In this equation, P equals the total principal amount borrowed, I equals the interest rate and N equals the number of payments (usually months). You can solve for M to find the amount of your monthly payment and the total cost of the loan.
While these are only a few of the important things to know about how mortgages work, they will help you navigate the process of borrowing money to buy your dream home.
Dianne is a full time, full service, state licensed Realtor®, member of Northeast Florida Regional Association of Realtors® (NEFAR), St. Augustine/ St.Johns County Board of Realtors, National Association of Realtors® (NAR), Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), and Northeast Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service And St. Augustine/St. Johns (MLS), Shearwater Certified, and Military on the Move Designation.
She provides a unique blend of leadership, sales acumen, project management, technology, and world class customer relation skills to enhance Watson Realty Corporation's values in the real estate sales and mortgage marketplace. She is a decisive take action solution-oriented professional with 25+ years of progressive business experience who efficiently utilizes technology to improve results. She has lived in the St. Augustine/Jacksonville area since 2005 and has seen the area continue to flourish and stays well informed of future growth plans within Northeast Florida.
Let's take a look at the lighter side of Dianne. She loves life is artistic loves music, the arts, yoga and genealogy! She loves to explore and hates to be bored. She loves the outdoors, especially plant life and wildlife. She has been a Master Gardener in Florida and Maine; as a photography enthusiast she has the eye to spot the perfect shot, which spills over to the photos she makes of the properties she markets AND frequently hires the best specialized real estate photographers/drone and videographers who make the difference in the sale. And, she loves to share her knowledge of the local real estate market and all aspects of the process to guide you through each step as a coach rather than a salesperson.
So, let's sum it up. Buying or selling your home is an important life decision. Reasons can vary greatly from change of lifestyle, to relocation or life challenges. You need someone you can trust, count on, respect and help shoulder the stress, anxiety and time commitment involved. Doesn't this sound like someone you want working for you?
So, what's the next step? Contacting Dianne of course. It is all about YOUR needs, goals, timeline and DREAMS! She's here to help you achieve them and she looks forward to hearing from you.
What are you looking for in a Realtor? - Someone who will really listen to your wants and needs? Someone who will expertly market your home until the SOLD sign adorns your front lawn or if you are a buyer tirelessly researches your wish list to find that perfect home? - How about someone who will always be honest, holds ethics in high regard as a realtor, who works aggressively to get you the best price for your home and someone who knows the market?
Selling or buying a home is a partnership with your trusted advisor- Dianne Drinkwater