Realtors have differing opinions and, as a group, their opinions have changed over time. In the past, most would often recommend portfolio lenders - because they almost always closed the deal. As time passed, mortgage bankers and mortgage brokers became more important, and agents switched along with the changing times.

Most often a Realtor will direct you to a specific loan officer who has demonstrated a track record of service and reliability -- or a loan officer who works for a lender affiliated with their real estate office.

It is often more important to choose a good loan officer, not the institution. Loan officers have two jobs. One is to be your advocate in getting the mortgage loan approved. The other is to deliver quality loans. You want someone who has proven dependable and ethical in the past -- someone you can trust.

As for lending institutions, each type of lender has strengths and weaknesses. Quality within each branch or office can vary, depending on the loan officer, the support staff, and a variety of other factors.

When preparing to buy a home, the first thing many homebuyers do is look at "homes for sale" ads in newspapers, magazines and listings on the internet. Some potential buyers read "how-to" articles like this one. The next thing you should do – before you call on an ad, before you talk to a Realtor, before you shop for interest rates – is look at your savings.

Why?

Because determining how much money you have available for down payment and closing costs affects almost every aspect of buying a home – including how you write your purchase offer, the loan programs you qualify for, and shopping for interest rates.

If you only have enough available for a minimum down payment, your choices of loan program will be limited to only a few types of mortgages. If someone is giving you a gift for all or part of the down payment, your options are also limited. If you have enough for the down payment, but need the lender or seller to cover all or part of your closing costs, this further limits your options. If you borrow all or a portion of the down payment from your 401K or retirement plan, different loan programs have different rules on how you qualify.

Of course, if you have enough for a large down payment, then you have lots of choices.

Your mortgage loan choices include such varied programs as conventional fixed rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages, buydowns, VA, FHA, graduated payment mortgages and all the varieties of each.

A very important reason you need to have at least some idea of your down payment is for shopping interest rates. Some loan programs charge a slightly higher interest rate for minimal down payments. Plus, the interest rates for different loan programs are not the same. For example, conventional, VA, and  FHA all offer fixed rate loans. However, the rates vary from one program to another.

If you shop lenders by phone, the loan officer will be able to tell which programs fit and quote you rates accordingly. However, if you are shopping on the internet, you have to have some idea of your loan program on your own.

Another reason you need to have a clue about your down payment is because it affects how you write your offer to purchase a home. Not only are you required to put your down payment information in the offer, but different loan programs have different rules which also affect how you write your offer. This is especially important when dealing with FHA and VA loans.

If you are asking the seller to pay all or part of your closing costs, you have to be certain your loan program allows what you are asking. For smaller down payments, lenders allow the seller to pay less closing costs than for larger down payments. Some loan programs will allow a seller to pay certain types of costs, but not others.

Finally, your down payment also affects your ability to qualify for a loan. When you make a small down payment, lenders are fairly strict about having you conform to their underwriting guidelines. For larger down payments, they will tend to make allowances or exceptions to the rules.

As you can see, the down payment affects every choice you make when you buy a home. Although you should look at ads, familiarize yourself with neighborhoods, learn about prices, and read as much as you can - when you get ready to take action – the first thing you should do is figure out how much money you have available for the purchase.

Once you have selected a lender, the next step will probably be a meeting with a loan officer or other lender representative, whose job is to begin the collection of information the lender needs to approve the loan. They will explain the types of mortgage loans available to you, interest rates, fees for each type and the qualification requirements. During the meeting, the loan officer will fill out, or assist you in filling out, the loan application.

By this time you should have a good idea of the general interest rates and fees being charged in the area. The total cost of a mortgage loan consists of the interest rate on the loan, origination fees, discount points, and miscellaneous other charges. One point is equal to one percent of the amount of the loan and is usually collected at the loan closing, or settlement. The interest rate affects the amount of the monthly payment, while points affect the amount of cash you must have at closing.

Most lenders will offer a range of interest rate/point combinations to meet the borrower needs. In general, the higher the interest rate, the lower the points. For example, if the current market provides for an 8.5 percent interest rate with 2 points, a nine percent rate may be offered at no points. If you are a first-time home buyer, the larger monthly payments on the 9 percent loan may be easier to handle than the 2 points that will require additional cash at settlement. If you are a corporate transferee, however, your company's relocation policy may pay all or part of origination costs and the lower rate will have more appeal. The loan officer is prepared to explain  options to you.

When discussing the terms of the loan, make sure you understand how and when the rate and fees on the loan are going to be set. Most lenders will quote a rate and fee at the time the application is taken and then will guarantee, or "lock" the rate quote for a specified length of time. A rate lock protects you from rising interest rates while the loan is being processed, but it also typically commits you to close the loan at the rate and the fee even if rates decline prior to closing. Lock periods may run from 10 to 60 days, with longer periods available in some cases at an additional fee. The lock period must be long enough to get you through the estimated closing date. A 30-day lock affords you no protection if closing is at least 60 days away.

You may have the option to let the rate "float," getting the final rate and fees set nearer the settlement date. If you believe rates are declining and are willing to run the risk that interest rates could rise during the processing of your loan, you may select this alternative. Before you take a floating rate, make sure that the rise in interest rates will not create a problem for you because you have insufficient income to cover the higher mortgage payments. In either case, make sure you understand  the terms of the lock-in agreement.

The loan application asks for information on the property, terms of the purchase contract, employment and financial history of all loan applicants, including your spouse and/or other co-borrowers. The lender will verify or not, to approve the loan, so it is very important to submit a complete and accurate application.

You can complete the loan application process easier if you prepare for it ahead of time. A great amount of detail will be asked about your personal finances, including bank account numbers and balances, current loan amounts, payments, and credit card account numbers. You will want to be thorough and precise in your answers. It will be to your benefit to assemble it this kind of information before the meeting with the loan officer. The following is a summary of  information required on the loan application, documents you may need to provide and the questions you should be prepared to answer.

Because the property is security for the loan, the lender will have an appraisal made of the property, and you need to have the following information available:

• A complete copy of the sales contract, including addendums, signed by all parties, showing the full names of the sellers and buyers as they will appear on the new deed, the amount of earnest money deposit and who is responsible for closing costs, origination fees, etc.

• If the house is to be built, or is still under construction, a set of plans and specifications.

• The complete mailing address of the property, its age and its full legal description.

• Name, address and telephone number of the real estate agent and/or the seller of the property who will assist the appraiser in obtaining access to the property.

All of this information should be in the purchase contract. If not, consult the Realtor or the seller.

The loan officer will want the social security numbers of you and your spouse (or other CO-borrowers), age, number of years of schooling, your marital status, number and ages of dependents and your current address and telephone number. If you have lived at your current address less than 2 years, be prepared to furnish former addresses for up to seven years. You will also be asked to detail your current housing expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, real estate taxes and insurance (your mortgage payment may include tax and insurance funds). You will need the name and address of your landlord(s) or mortgage lender(s) for the past two years.

Your ability to make the regular payments on the mortgage and to afford the costs associated with owning a home are primary considerations is the lender's loan approval process and should be your primary concern. Required information includes:

• At least two years employment history with employer's name and address, your job title or position, length of time on the job, salary, bonuses, commissions and average overtime pay.

• Recent paycheck stubs and Federal W-2 forms for two years (some lenders may require full Federal tax returns).

• Records of dividends and interest received from investments.

• If you are self-employed, full tax returns and financial statements for 2 years, plus a profit and loss statement for the current year to date.

• A written explanation if there are gaps in your employment record, because of circumstances such as illness,  layoffs, or for any other reason.

The loan officer may have you sign a Verification of Employment (VOE) form. This will be sent to your employer to verify your employment and earnings. One will be sent to previous employers if you have been on the job less than two years. Many lenders now use a general authorization form which allows them to verify employment and other financial information on the application.

If you are relying on income from other sources, such as rental property, social security or disability payments, child support, etc., you must provide adequate proof of the source. Appropriate documents could include canceled checks, copies of leases, certification of benefits, divorce decrees and similar evidence.

A detailed listing of your personal assets is required on the loan application form. You will need to have the following information available to complete the form:

• All bank accounts, both checking and savings, and money market accounts, with the name and address of the institution, name(s) on the accounts, account numbers and current account balances.

• Recent bank statements for at least two months.

• Current market value of stocks, bonds, CDs and other investments.

• Vested interest in all retirement funds.

• Face amount and cash value of life insurance policies in force.

• Make, model, year and value of automobiles owned.

• Address and market value of all real estate owned along with the amount of rents collected, the mortgage on the property and the monthly mortgage payments (a profit and loss statement will be required for investment properties).

• Value of other personal property such as furniture.

As with the Verification of Employment, the loan officer will have you sign Verifications of Deposit (VOD) for each of the institutions (or a general authorization) where you have savings or checking accounts. Differences between  account balances reported by the institution and  balances you provided on the loan application have to be reconciled. Be sure you have  correct current balances.

The lender will look for the source of funds with which you will make the down payment and pay closing costs and fees. Gifts from a relative, church, municipality or non-profit organization may sometimes be used, but must be verified in writing. If you are providing less than 5 percent of the sales price, the donor must be a relative and must provide a letter stating the donor's relationship to you, the amount of the gift and the fact that no repayment is expected.

You will be asked to itemize all your current bills, loans and other debts, including current balances and monthly payments. Debts include automobile loans, credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and other retail store accounts, finance company, bank and credit union loans and existing mortgages, including home equity loans. You should be able to give the account or loan number, the monthly payment, the number of payments remaining and the outstanding balance.

The information you provide on the loan application will later be verified by a credit report requested by the lender. As with employment and deposit information, differences between your figures and those on the credit report will raise questions and may delay the approval of your loan. It is to your advantage to have data correct, right prior to filling out the loan application.

If you have had credit problems, you should inform the lender. Lenders recognize that unemployment, illness, marital problems or other financial difficulties can temporarily impair your credit rating. Provide a written explanation of the circumstances regarding the problem to be included with the loan application. The lender must consider such a written explanation as part of the underwriting analysis. If the problem has been corrected and your payments have been made on time for a year or more, your credit will probably be judged as satisfactory. Chronic late payments, judgments or loan defaults, however, severely damage your credit standing and may prevent you from obtaining the financing you need to complete the purchase.

If you have been through bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings within the past seven years, be prepared to give full details and copies of applicable documents regarding them.

You will also be asked to explain the details if you are obligated to pay alimony, child support or separate maintenance. Such obligations are treated like debt payments by most lenders and will be part of the underwriting analysis.

You will be asked to sign a section of the loan application which contains your certification that the information you have provided is correct to the best of your knowledge; your promise to advise the lender of any material changes in the information and your consent to (1) verification of the application data, (2) submission of account history to credit reporting agencies, and (3) transfer of the loan or loan servicing to successors to the original lender.

The last part of the application requests information on the race and gender of the applicants. The Federal Government uses this data to monitor lenders' compliance with fair housing and equal credit opportunity laws. Providing this information is strictly on your part and has no effect on your loan application. The lender, however, is required by federal law to request the information. Under Federal Regulations, this lender is required to note race and sex on the basis of physical observation or surname.

Because of the particular circumstances surrounding a loan application, the lender may require additional information or documentation regarding you or the property after the application has been submitted for approval. Loan officers make every effort to collect all data at the outset, but cannot foresee every eventuality. Requests for additional information are not necessarily bad omens and your primary concern should be in responding promptly with the information.

Based on the  application, the loan officer may be able to pre-qualify you, but cannot approve the loan. That is done by the lender's underwriters after all documents and information have been received and verified.

After the loan application has been completed, it will be forwarded to the lender's loan processing department and then to an underwriter, where the decision to approve or reject the loan will be made. Loan processors send out Verifications of Employment and Deposit and order the credit report, property appraisal and other documents. The time it takes to receive these documents affects the length of time required for approval of the loan. If you are transferring from out of the local community, it may take longer to receive the credit and employment information. Processing times vary from one lender to another, but the loan officer should be able to give an idea of the processing time for your application.

Within three business days after receiving  the application, the lender must provide you with a Good Faith Estimate of the anticipated closing costs. It will show costs associated with the loan settlement, such as origination fees, mortgage insurance, title insurance, escrow reserves and hazard insurance.

Within the same three days you will also receive a Truth-in-Lending Disclosure statement. This statement shows, among other things, the estimated monthly payment. The total cost of all finance charges on your loan is also shown, stated as an Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The APR represents the dollar amount of finance charges you pay either up front or over the life of the loan, converted to an annual interest rate. Since the APR includes origination fees and other charges as well as interest on the mortgage loan, the APR is usually higher than the interest rate on the loan.

After the lender has approved the loan, you will usually receive an approval letter . If the loan does not close within the specified commitment period, the terms are subject to change.The approval may contain conditions you need to satisfy, so you should read it carefully.

In cases where closing is scheduled soon after approval, the lender may give you verbal approval instead of an approval letter. This is not unusual, but make sure you understand the terms of the approval.

Once the approval letter has been received, you are assured the financing you need to complete the purchase of your home and you need to turn your attention to completing the details required for settlement.

For many home buyers, the period of time between submission of the loan application and approval is one of uncertainty and concern. Requests for additional information, unexpected delays and lack of communication all serve to increase the tension. There are a number of things both you and the lender can do to reduce the stress.

Keep in mind the lender wants to make the loan. Loan underwriters are looking for ways to approve loans, not reject them. If you have come to the interview with the loan officer fully prepared and have provided good documentation, you have done a great deal to assure prompt processing of your application and approval of your loan.

You and the lender need to make sure that lines of communication are kept open. Your contact person may be the loan officer, but often it might be someone in the lender's loan processing department who can tell you the status of your application.

You should be accessible if the lender needs additional information or documents during processing. If you are from out of town, use your real estate agent as a contact, if necessary. Quick response to lender requests helps keep the process on schedule. In order to protect both you and the lender, mortgage loans require much more paperwork and legal documentation than an automobile or other installment loan, and lenders do not ask for more than is absolutely necessary.

Obtaining a mortgage loan need not be an ordeal that dampens the thrill of acquiring a new home. If you understand the lending process and are prepared to do your part, it simply becomes a key step in owning a home.

Because of income tax deductions, the government is subsidizing your purchase of a home. All of the interest and property taxes you pay in a given year can be deducted from your gross income to reduce your taxable income.

For example, assume your initial loan balance is $150,000 with an interest rate of eight percent. During the first year you would pay $9969.27 in interest. If your first payment is January 1st, your taxable income would be almost $10,000 less – due to the IRS interest rate deduction.

Property taxes are deductible, too. Whatever property taxes you pay in a given year may also be deducted from your gross income, lowering your tax obligation.

2. Stable Monthly Housing Costs

When you rent a place to live, you can certainly expect your rent to increase each year – or even more often. If you get a fixed rate mortgage when you buy a home, you have the same monthly payment amount for thirty years. Even if you get an adjustable rate mortgage, your payment will stay within a certain range for the entire life of the mortgage – and interest rates aren’t as volatile now as they were in the late seventies and early eighties.

Imagine how much rent might be ten, fifteen, or even thirty years from now? Which makes more sense?

3. Forced Savings

Some people are just lousy at saving money, and a house is an automatic savings account. You accumulate savings in two ways. Every month, a portion of your payment goes toward the principal. Admittedly, in the early years of the mortgage, this is not much. Over time, however, it accelerates.

Second, your home appreciates. Average appreciation on a home is approximately five percent, though it will vary from year to year, and in some years may even depreciate.. Over time, history has shown that owning a home is one of the very best financial investments.

As a fairly general rule, homes appreciate about four or five percent a year. Some years will be more, some less. The figure will vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, and region to region.

Five percent may not seem like that much at first. Stocks (at times) appreciate much more, and you could easily earn over the same return with a very safe investment in treasury bills or bonds.

But take a second look…

Presumably, if you bought a $200,000 house, you did not pay cash for the home. You got a mortgage, too. Suppose you put as much as twenty percent down – that would be an investment of $40,000.

At an appreciation rate of 5% annually, a $200,000 home would increase in value $10,000 during the first year. That means you earned $10,000 with an investment of $40,000. Your annual "return on investment" would be a whopping twenty-five percent.

Of course, you are making mortgage payments and paying property taxes, along with a couple of other costs. However, since the interest on your mortgage and your property taxes are both tax deductible, the government is essentially subsidizing your home purchase.

Your rate of return when buying a home is higher than most any other investment you could make.

4. Freedom & Individualism

When you rent, you are normally limited on what you can do to improve your home. You have to get permission to make certain types of improvements. Nor does it make sense to spend thousand of dollars painting, putting in carpet, tile or window coverings when the main person who benefits is the landlord and not you.

Since your landlord wants to keep his expenses to a minimum, he or she will probably not be spending much to improve the place, either.

When you own a home, however, you can do pretty much whatever you want. You get the benefits of any improvements you make, plus you get to live in an environment you have created, not some faceless landlord.

5. More Space

Both indoors and outdoors, you will probably have more space if you own your own home. Even moving to a condominium from an apartment, you are likely to find you have much more room available – your own laundry and storage area, and bigger rooms. Apartment complexes are more interested in creating the maximum number of income-producing units than they are in creating space for each of the tenants.

If you are moving to a home for the first time, you are going to be very pleased with all the new space you have available. You may have to even buy more "stuff."

The Business Cycle and Buying a Home

There are times when the economy is brisk and everyone feels confident about his or her prospects for the future. As a result, they spend money. People eat out more, buy new cars, and….

…They buy houses.

T hen, for one reason or another, the economy slows down. Companies lay off employees and consumers are more careful about where they spend money, perhaps saving more than usual. As a result, the economy decelerates even further. If it slows enough, we have a recession.

During such a time, fewer people are buying homes. Even so, some homeowners find themselves in a situation where they must sell. Families grow beyond the capacity of the home, employees get relocated, and some may even find themselves unable to make their mortgage payment - perhaps because of a layoff in the family.

Supply and Demand

When the supply of available houses is greater than the supply of buyers, appreciation may slow and prices may even fall, as happened in the early eighties and the early to mid-nineties.

If you are lucky enough to purchase a home during a slow period, you can be reasonably certain the economy will begin to show strength again. At times, real estate values may even surge drastically. In many regions of the country, this is precisely what occurred in the late eighties and nineties.

Market Timing is Difficult

One problem with attempting to time your purchase to the business cycle is that no one can accurately predict the future. Another challenge is that interest rates are generally higher during a depressed market and income may not be keeping up because less overtime is available and bonuses or commissions are down. With higher interest rates and lower earnings, fewer people can qualify for a home purchase than in more prosperous times.

Why You Should Not Wait

Plus, "timing the market" generally works best for first-time buyers. People who already have a home usually need to sell it in order to buy their next one. If a "move-up" buyer wants to buy a home during a depressed market, that means they usually have to sell one during the slow market, too. If a seller wants to sell his home to take advantage of a "hot" market when prices are fairly high, they generally have to buy their next home during that same hot market.

It tends to equal out.

Finally, the business cycle can change over time. Since 1983, we have had two fairly long expansions with only a slight recession in between each. You would not want to wait nine years to buy a home, would you? You could miss out on a substantial amount of appreciation by waiting, and end up paying much higher prices.

Find out what the interest rate will be on the loan as well as the annual percentage rate (APR). The APR is a combination of the interest rate, points and other charges divided by the loan’s term to give an annualized rate. It is the best way to properly compare loan costs.

2. How Many Points Will Be Charged?

A point is one percent of the loan amount. Points charged are additional to the interest rate that is charged on the loan. A loan with a low interest rate and high points may cost you thousands more than one with a higher interest rate but low points. This is important because the number of points charged varies from lender to lender.

3. What will be the Total Closing Cost Fees Charged?

Lenders charge fees for the services incurred to process and close your mortgage. By law, closing costs must be disclosed within 3 days of the loan application, however, there are different approaches to calculating them. Some brokers will initially disclose closing cost figures which are very appealing, only to provide much higher costs as your closing date approaches.

4. Is There a "Lock-In" Policy?

Is There an Additional Charge to Lock-In an Interest Rate and Discount Points? Many lenders offer a lock-in policy that guarantees you a certain interest rate and points for a specified number of days. The alternative to this is accepting the prevailing rate and points on your closing day. Since rates can change daily, the one time lock-in fee may be able to save you thousands.

5. How Long Does it Take to Process My Mortgage?

Processing is the means by which your loan is prepared for underwriting, or approval. The time it takes to process a loan varies by the type of loan and even among lenders. Loans can usually be funded within 7 to 10 working days. If time is of the essence, a lender with quick processing, underwriting and funding capabilities can prove to be a very valuable asset.

6. Are You a VA Automatic or FHA Direct endorsement Lender?

VA automatic and FHA direct endorsement means that a lender has met all the government requirements for FHA/VA and the lender’s underwriter has completed mandatory education requirements. An automatic or direct endorsement lender can approve or disapprove a loan just as if the loan had been sent directly to the regional FHA or VA office.

7. Can I Finance the Upfront Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Premium into the Loan Amount? If your down payment is less than twenty percent of the sale price, to qualify, you will be charged PMI, an insurance premium to protect the lender in case you or someone else who assumes your loan defaults on the loan. Some lenders allow you to include the first years premium into the amount of the loan. Including this premium may be the difference when getting a mortgage by reducing your cash outlay.

8. Is There a Pre-Payment Penalty?

Normally you can prepay a loan without penalty if you notify the lender in writing that you are either selling or refinancing. There are however, exceptions. Make sure to ask about your mortgage, and have it configured for your unique situation.

9. What is the Lender’s Track Record?

It’s important to rate your lenders reputation for speedy processing, knowledgeable loan service and meeting contract deadlines. You want to hire a mortgage broker who will treat you the way you want to be treated and has respect for your purchase. Your lender will be dealing with your hard earned money and home purchase, so you want to be confident that you have made the correct decisions.

10. What Do You Offer to the First Time Buyer? (If applicable)

Purchasing a home is among the most significant financial commitments most people will ever make. First time buyers often have special needs and concerns. If this is you, make sure your mortgage broker provides services especially tailored for the first time buyer.

The Zero Cash Down payment Program offers you a way to buy a home with no down payment. That's right zero down payment. You may have owned a home before and are presently renting, or are a first time homebuyer and need a way to break into the housing market but held back because you thought you required a substantial down payment. Or you may be in the position where you do not want to liquidate your financial assets to use as a down payment on a home. Regardless of your present situation, you want a way to get into or to re-enter the housing market without having to make a cash down payment. The Zero Cash Down payment Program may be just the answer you need. Here's what is required to qualify for the Zero Cash Down payment Program.

Program Qualifications

1. An excellent credit history

No recent history of bad debts consistent and timely payment of current liabilities

2. Limited liabilities

You will be required to disclose all current liabilities you have in order to determine how much more debt you can carry. (ie. present car loan, credit cards, etc.)

3. At least 3 years of employment stability

You will be required to show proof of employment for the past 3 years, ie. a letter of employment from your employer or financial statements for the past 3 years if self-employed.

4. The financial ability to carry larger monthly payments

Without a down payment you will be required to meet the obligation of larger mortgage payments. Your monthly payments could vary from a few to several hundred dollars more per month.

Under the Terms of the Program You Can Purchase Many Types of Properties

They include:

detached or semi-detached homes

free-hold town homes

condominium town homes

It is important to note that not all properties qualify for the Zero Cash Down payment Program. To ensure that you get an accurate picture of what properties may or may not be included in this pro-gram in your particular area, it is advisable to review the terms of the program with your Realtor ® .

Benefits of the Zero Cash Down payment Program

1. No Down payment

If you are renting, why pay your landlord's mortgage? Why not reap the benefit of building your own equity? Are you renting because you are held back from owning your own home because you think you need a substantial down payment? The general perception of many would-be-homebuyers and even that of some Realtors ® is that a substantial down payment is required in order to purchase a home. This is simply not true. Because of this perception many would-be-home-buyers feel they have to save for years before they have enough money for a down payment so that they can finally enter the housing market. In the meantime they are lining someone else's pockets, while waiting a long time before they can start building their own equity. Well, with the Zero Cash Down payment Program you don't need a down payment to buy a home.

2. Buy a Home Now!

If needing a down payment is keeping you from owning your own home, this new program offers you an immediate way to get into the housing market. With the Zero Cash Down payment Program you don't have to wait to purchase a home.

3. Approved Bank Program

It is important to know that the Zero Cash Down payment Program is an approved bank program. Review this program with your lender or Realtor ® who has specialized knowledge in financing and can assist you with the Zero Cash Down payment Program.

With interest rates at all-time lows and a booming real estate market, now's a good time to purchase real estate. However with the prospect of making one of the largest investments you'll ever make in your life, you can easily become overwhelmed. Some of the questions you may be asking are: Will I be able to afford the home of my dreams? Do I have enough money for a down payment? Will I make smart home buying decisions? If you go into the process prepared, your first purchase can be a good experience.

Resources--Before starting out, educate yourself on the process. Check your library or local newspaper to find a homebuyer seminar that you can attend. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has an entire section on its website (www.hud.gov) devoted to homebuyers. It has a list of common questions of first-time homebuyers, information on mortgage and home-buying programs, access to housing counselors, downloadable tools such as a wish list and home-shopping checklist, tips on selecting a real estate professional, etc. Other informative sites to check out are www.ginniemae.gov, www.realtor.com and prudential.com.

Your real estate professional is also a great resource. Don't hesitate to let him or her know that you are new to the process. They will expect you to have questions at each step-from house hunting, to making an offer to the closing.

The costs involved in the purchase of a home can be overwhelming to first-time homebuyers. There are mortgage costs, the down payment, and closing costs to think about.

Affordability--By looking at your income and debt ratio, your sales professional can help you calculate how much you can afford each month in mortgage payments. But before determining your price range, you should also take into consideration other factors that will affect your monthly budget once you are a homeowner, such as property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance. And if your down payment is less than 20 percent of the cost of the home, you will be responsible for private mortgage insurance, more commonly referred to as PMI.

Mortgage payment--Fear of being rejected for a home loan is one of the main concerns for first-time homebuyers. To lessen the stress, you may want to get pre-approved for a loan before looking at prospective homes. This will not only help you feel more confident, it will also give you an advantage where there are multiple offers for a specific property. In addition, the fact that your loan has already been approved is of great value to the seller because it shortens the purchase process, and there is less of a chance that the buyer will back out of the sale. If you don't have a specific mortgage lender in mind, ask your sales professional for a recommendation.

Down payment--The down payment amount varies depending on the value of the home you choose and your mortgage lender. And in some cases, first-time homebuyers can purchase a home with no money down. Although it varies from state to state, most offer government-funded programs for first-time buyers that help people buy a home with no down payment. Your real estate professional will be able to explain the different options available to you.

Making offers--Don't feel pressured into making an offer on the first home you see. This is a common mistake of many first-time homebuyers. Make sure you view different homes to get a feel for the marketplace. When you decide on a home to make a bid on, work with your real estate professional to get all of your questions answered before making an offer. But don't wait too long to make an offer. The longer you wait, the greater the chance other prospective buyers may place offers, making it harder for you to negotiate a good deal.

Above all, remember there are no silly questions. Make sure you understand and are comfortable with every aspect of the transaction. Your real estate professional can be an invaluable asset in helping you make educated decisions so that your first home purchase is a rewarding experience.

These people often opt for refinancing. With one debt consolidation refinance, they can wipe those credit card balances clean. However, the easy way out is not always the smartest financial move, especially over the long haul.

If you're carrying heavy debt and can't make your minimum monthly payments, a debt consolidation loan might make sense. Lumping all your credit card balances into one home mortgage with a lower interest rate will lower your overall monthly payments. As an added bonus, the interest on a home mortgage is tax deductible.

However, those lower monthly payments are not solely the result of a better rate. Your refinance generally includes an extended repayment term. It will decrease your monthly payments, but you'll pay more in long-term interest costs. Some people are so cash-strapped, that this is their only alternative. For others, a change in spending behavior may be a more prudent solution.

Refinancing to a debt consolidation loan is a solution that really doesn't address the core problem: Living beyond your means. If you've taken the bait offered by credit card companies and shelled out money like there's no tomorrow, wiping your credit card balances clean won't change your habits today. Instead, you'll probably repeat your past mistakes, and run up even more debt in the future. Unfortunately, you won't have the debt consolidation option to bail you out, because you've probably tapped all your home equity with your first refinance.

A better long-term option involves changing your spending habits. Instead of caving in to impulse buys, start budgeting your money and living within your means. Analyze your past expenditures, and find out where you can spend less and save more. As you set up your budget, allocate a certain amount to paying off your credit cards on a monthly basis. Start by paying off the plastic with the highest interest rate first.

The term "easy come, easy go" doesn't apply to debt. It's easy to acquire, thanks to credit cards, but it's not so easy to make it go away. If at all possible, don't take the easy way out by choosing a debt consolidation refinance. Try to pay off your debts with a disciplined budget plan. You've got a long, hard road ahead of you, but the debt-free destination will be worth the journey.