Skip to main content
Back
Scroll to top

First Time Buyer?

Homebuying 3 min read

Ready to talk to an expert?

For most of us, buying a home is the largest purchase we’ll ever make. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you may be asking questions like, “What is a first home mortgage?”

What is a First Home Mortgage?

A first home mortgage is a loan you will use to purchase your first home. These loans can come in a variety of forms, from conventional home loans to FHA loans for first-time homebuyers.

First Bank offers the following mortgage loans* for first-time homebuyers:

  • Conventional Loans
  • Government loans
  • Professional loans
  • Construction loans
  • Jumbo loans

In addition to providing a selection of mortgage opportunities, First Bank also offers a wealth of information about what a first home mortgage is and what can be expected when shopping for your first home.

What is a First Home Mortgage

Tips for Buying Your First Home

Knowing what a first home mortgage is can go a long way toward easing the process of turning that key for the very first time. U.S. News and World Report highlighted some of the most common mistakes first-time home buyers make and how you can avoid them. Among them were:

  • Searching for your dream home before being pre-qualified for a loan. The reality of what a first home mortgage is can be vastly different than what you were hoping for. Take the time to seek out a mortgage loan specialist at a place like First Bank so you can find out what you can afford and what your expected monthly expenses will be.
  • Thinking short-term. First-time buyers are often so focused on moving in that they don’t ever consider moving out. Chances are, you’ll one day be ready to move into another home as you start a family or change jobs. Think about the factors that will affect how you’ll be able to sell your home in five years such as economic growth in the area or neighborhood expansion.
  • Making an emotional decision. It’s important to sign a mortgage paper with your head and not with your heart. You may be overlooking some serious red flags such as expensive repairs, structural damage, or mold simply because you’re in love with the open layout.

Find a First Bank Near You

Ready to get started? Check out First Bank’s guide for first-time homebuyers and find a First Bank near you to speak to one of our loan specialists.


*Loans subject to credit approval.

———

Sources:

U.S. News: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2013/09/04/5-first-time-homebuyer-mistakes-to-avoid

Ready to talk to an expert?

Share:

You may be interested in...

Avoid these homeowners insurance mistakes Homeowners insurance may not be the most exciting part of buying a home, but it’s one of the most important. Buying a home is probably your biggest investment, so use every tool to make sure that you’re covered. Homeowners insurance calculators are powerful tools toward that end, but they aren’t always tailored to you.  What You Need to Know About Homeowners Insurance Basic homeowners insurance only covers damage caused by “fire, theft and certain natural disasters,” meaning you may have to purchase additional coverage depending on where you live and what materials were used to construct your house. For example, you may want to consider a home warranty to cover repairs and replacements that home insurance won’t cover. According to Forbes, there are 4 Costly Homeowner’s Insurance Mistakes to Avoid: Under-insuring your house. Without enough insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding your house if destroyed, you may be left in a financial crisis following a disaster. You should calculate the cost of rebuilding your house and make sure your protection matches that cost. Additionally, you might consider coverage for your valuables. Assuming you have flood insurance. Depending on where you live, flood coverage could be essential. Many homeowners are unaware that basic coverage does not include flood insurance, but for those living in coastal or other flood-prone areas, that extra coverage is critical. Thinking you have one, flat deductible. It’s common to assume that your policy has a set deductible (usually between $500-$1,000), but that’s not necessarily true. Depending on the cause of damage — hurricane, windstorm, earthquake, and so on — your deductible could increase dramatically if your insurance has different deductibles. You might be able to switch to a policy with a flat-rate deductible, depending on your insurance provider; if not, you’ll need to maintain an emergency savings fund just in case. Believing you’re covered for mold or sewage backup. This is another kind of coverage that many basic policies don’t provide. Additional insurance for mold can run at a high price, so it’s important for you to evaluate the humidity levels where you live and find out if your home was built without mold-resistant materials (a common problem in older houses). *Investment and Insurance Products are 2 min read
Save Money with This Refinance Calculator for Home Mortgages When mortgage interest rates are low, homeowners should compare their current mortgage terms with the option of refinancing. By locking in the right rate, homeowners can take advantage of significant savings. Curious to see how much you could save with current rates? Use our refinance calculator for home mortgages to see how you can take advantage of major financial perks. Why Refinance Home Mortgages? Home mortgages are contracts. When the contract is signed, the interest rate selected by the homeowners is locked in until the terms of the contract have been satisfied or revised. The interest rates for home loans fluctuate daily. If interest rates are steadily dropping, homeowners can refinance to save money and improve their financial standing.   Benefits of Home Loan Refinancing Refinancing is a readjustment of your mortgage loan to benefit your finances in the following ways: Lower monthly payments Build home equity faster Improve credit Change to adjustable or fixed-rate plans When homeowners choose to refinance, they can generally expect to pay off their loan faster. 30-year mortgages can be refinanced to 12 or 10-year loans. Although it may sometimes increase the anticipated monthly payment, you can cash in on equity or sell for an increased value. When Is a Good Time to Refinance? When considering refinancing home mortgages, many homeowners weigh the closing costs with the savings achieved over time. It’s also important to think about the length of time you will live at the property. What to Do Next If You Want to Refinance After you’ve reviewed your savings on our refinance calculator for home mortgages, you may be interested in taking the next steps towards refinancing. Before making an appointment with your First Bank loan officer, make sure you have the following information updated: Current mortgage type Payment history Current credit report Outstanding debt Evidence of home renovations Evidence of home improvements/repairs Your loan officer will use this information to determine what kind of refinancing you may qualify for. There are plenty of options, and we can guide you in selecting the best package for your personal goals. Contact us today to apply for mortgage refinancing. *Loans are subject to credit approval ——— Sources: http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/helpful-advice/top-reasons-to-refinance.php http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/helpful-advice/top-reasons-to-refinance.php 2 min read
First Bank logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website are the most popular and useful.