Mortgage 101: A Crash Course

What Is a Mortgage? (And Other Commonly Asked Questions)

You’re finally ready to buy your own home, but first you need a mortgage. At least, you think you do. But what is a mortgage, anyway? You probably have a rough idea, but you may not be sure exactly how they work to help you buy the home of your dreams. Here are the basics when it comes to mortgages.

The most important thing to understand is that a mortgage is essentially a loan. In this case, it’s a loan that helps you buy your home. A home is a large purchase and most people don’t have all the money they need to buy one up front, but they also don’t want to spend years without a home while they save up that money. A mortgage is the answer. Read on to learn the answers to other common mortgage-related questions now.

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How to Tell the Value of a Home Before You Buy

Before You Buy Your Home, Knowing the True Value Is Key

If you’re interested in buying a home, you will first want to know exactly what it’s worth – that much is obvious. After all, it’s perfectly reasonable to want to know a home’s value before you buy it, and this is true for a number of reasons.

For one, you want to know if you can afford that particular house. For another, you might want to have an idea of how much you could get for it if you sell it. Remember: once you buy a house, it usually becomes your most valuable asset. In addition, you want to make sure the seller is not overcharging you, offering the house for much greater than its actual value. Alternatively, if they are undervaluing the house, you might want to put in a bid, fast.

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