Monday, November 12, 2012

Helena Talbot's blog - The In's And Out's Of Locking In An Interest Rate


Congratulations on your decision to buy a new home!  Buying a new home can be a very exciting time; however, there are many things to consider and many things to get done.   One of the most important things - if not the most important thing - when buying a new home is your choice of lenders and the interest rates they charge.   Get this wrong and it could cost you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. 

Whether you are buying a new home or just re-financing your current one, it is a good idea to do some comparison shopping for the best lender with the best rates.  A low interest rate isn't the only thing you should consider when shopping for a loan.  You will also want to consider the terms of the mortgage, what the closing costs will be and you will want to check the reputation of your lender.  Remember, this is going to be your lender for quite possibly 30 years, so you want to make sure they are reputable.

Your real estate agent will be a huge help when it comes to lenders and loans.  They will be able to provide you with a list of lenders that have the best loan packages available and will be able to tell you what their qualifying requirements are.   Your realtor can also tell you which lenders are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty  to provide you with excellent service and the ones that will make sure everything goes smoothly from start to finish. 

The first thing your lender and realtor will tell you is that you need to "Lock In" your interest rate.  What that means is that the lender will guarantee you the current interest rate with specific predetermined points and fees for a specific amount of time, usually 30 days. 

So after you have applied for your mortgage loan, the rates will more than likely fluctuate from day to day and week to week.  Therefore, if you don't want to risk losing that great current interest rate, you will need to ask for a rate lock from the lender.   This will lock in your interest rate.

Don't worry, your real estate agent will be there to help you.   So don't hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call.  They are professionals with years of experience just waiting to help you through the home buying process and will be there for you every step of the way.

I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia. 
I have over 25 years experience in the real estate industry.  As a Broker/Owner with Exit Realty Talbot and Company, I bring special tools and solutions that enable me to exceed the expectations of my clientele.  If you are considering listing your property in Loudoun County or the nearby areas, ask me about our latest internet marketing systems.  I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.  I am experienced in listing and selling short sales.  For information on the short sale process, please visit  www.LoudounShortSaleSolutions.com.
My past awards and designations include – 2003 President of the Dulles Association of Realtors, 2003 Dulles Area Assoc Realtor of the Year, Salesperson of the year 2000 Dulles Area Assoc of Realtors,  Top Producer awards from both the Dulles Area Association and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.  I am a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network.
I have lived in Loudoun County since 1979.  I am married with two grown children and two grandchildren.  My son in law is my business partner in real estate.  I love to jog in the mornings and spend time relaxing on my Trawler during the summer months.
Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales and Solutions – Helena Talbot, Broker. I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in the Northern Virginia area to include Loudoun County and surrounding areas including Fairfax, Clarke, Fauquier, Prince William  Counties.  Our local neighborhoods include Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Potomac Falls, Brambleton, Broadlands, Lansdowne, River Creek, Belmont Country Club, Beacon Hill, Shenstone, Waterford, Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Round Hill and Bluemont.                        Cell 703.727.9885    Office 703.574.3800   www.facebook.com/LoudounCountyConnect  www.twitter.com/ExitAshburn  www.Linkedin.com/in/HelenaTalbot

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