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Fixed & Adjustable Rate Home Mortgage Loans in the Atlanta Area

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NOTHING MEANS MORE THAN HAVING YOUR OWN FRONT DOOR

Buying your first home can be stressful – we know! That’s why we’ve partnered with Credit Union Financial Services (CUFS) to give you the resources you need to make an informed decision.

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Convenient online application

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Flexible terms and competitive rates

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Free pre-approvals

Apply Online for a Home Mortgage

Already have a mortgage? No problem! Refinance with EXCEL and we may be able to:

  • reduce your monthly mortgage payment
  • reduce the amount of interest you pay over the life of your home loan
  • payoff your mortgage faster by reducing the home loan term length

WHY CHOOSE EXCEL FCU FOR YOUR MORTGAGE?

EXCEL works to provide excellent member service by anticipating, understanding and  meeting the needs of our members. Our size allows us to be nimble and agile – able to pivot quickly to adjust interest rates, terms or answer member questions.

 

  • Convenient  online application
    • Our online application offers many benefits such as quick updates and approval on loan status, the ability to fill it out at your own pace and the flexibility to complete it in the comfort of your own home.   
  • Flexible terms and competitive rates
    • Overall, credit unions are able to offer more reasonable, customer friendly interest rates and can save you money in closing costs, insurance, fees etc.  Contact EXCEL today to learn how we can work with you on your home loan interest rate. 
  • Free Pre-approval
    • One of the benefits of being a member at a credit union is  we are more likely to approve mortgage applications. Even if your credit score, income and assets are not in the greatest shape, credit unions are able  to customize mortgage options for members. Many times, if you are already a member of the credit union when you apply for the mortgage or home equity line of credit, you may be pre-approved based on your previous account history with us. 
  • Access to other banking resources
    • Having a single provider that can handle all your banking needs is convenient and less stressful than having to deal with multiple providers. EXCEL is a great way to consolidate all your banking needs  into one location. In addition, EXCEL is equipped to handle any investment or loan you need -including auto loan, mortgage loan and home equity loans. 
  •  Personalized service
    • A huge advantage of getting a mortgage from a credit union is being able to visit the branch in person if you have any issues with the mortgage process or questions. In addition,  we offer incentive-like rewards programs for qualifying members such as cash towards closing costs. Because the credit union caters to a specific geographic area , we’re able to access local mortgage options and services catering to residents of that community.

WHICH LOAN IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Fixed Rate and Adjustable Rate Mortgages are the two most common mortgage options available to home buyers. While you may want to start house hunting right away, it is also important to determine the type of loan that suits your needs.

Different Types of Home Mortgage Loans

Fixed-rate mortgages charge a set rate of interest for the entire lifespan of the loan. While the principal and interest paid may vary each month, the total payments made does not. Not only does this make budgeting easy for homeowners, but fixed monthly payments mean the borrower is also protected from significant increase in mortgage payments if interest rates rise. The total amount of interest you will pay, depends on the length of the mortgage. The most common fixed-rate mortgage terms are 30, 20 and 15 years. 

Adjustable rate mortgages (or ARM) have a variable interest rate, meaning that they will change over time. The initial interest rate is set below the market and will rise as time goes on. An adjustable-rate mortgage has a set period of time during which the initial rate is constant and then will adjust according to a pre-arranged frequency. This type of mortgage allows the borrower to qualify for a larger loan and benefit from lower interest rates and payments without needing to refinance. 

When deciding which mortgage options are the best fit for you, factors such as how large of a mortgage payment you can afford, length of time you intend to live in the property and current interest rates are among the factors to be considered.

Certain restrictions apply and all loans are subject to credit approval.

Minimum loan amount is $50,000 and all loans subject to credit approval.
CUFS NMLS #645585
EXCEL NMLS #571411

A home loan refers to a loan used to purchase a residential home. It is the most common way for someone to purchase personal property with a lived-in residence. Home loans are a type of mortgage loan. 

Mortgage loans can technically be used to purchase any type of property. While most people think of mortgages in reference to residential home purchases, they are often used by individuals or corporations to purchase industrial properties, rental properties, hotels, and other pieces of real estate.

Mortgage loans are generally considered to be a wise financial investment. While debt is generally not encouraged, mortgage debt is looked upon more favorably by financial institutions. They allow the average person to invest in real estate without spending the upfront purchase price. Because they are secured by the collateral of the home or property itself, interest rates are usually relatively low. They can also be a great long-term financial choice for those who are currently renting. 

Rental payments go into the pocket of property owners who use that money to pay the mortgage on the property. In essence, you are paying your landlord or management company to pay their own montage. After years of payments, you still own nothing when you move out. With a mortgage loan, your monthly payments go right back into your own pocket with a final result of home ownership. As long as you aren’t planning to move in the near future, mortgage agreements are infinitely more financially beneficial than rental agreements. Since rent payments and mortgage payments are often roughly the same amount, renters are encouraged to look into mortgage loans if possible.

There are a wide variety of factors that determine whether you will qualify for a mortgage loan. Some of the most common included:

  • Down Payment
  • Credit Score
  • Debt-To-Income Ratio
  • Mortgage Insurance
  • Employment
  • Income

Optimizing each of these factors can help ensure you not only get approved but get the best possible loan terms. Before reaching out to a real estate agent, double-check the following essential items.

The average minimum down payment needed on a home is approximately 3% of the home’s total value. For instance, if your home is worth $500,000, the average minimum down payment would be $15,000. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, and different mortgage loan types have different requirements. In general, the more money you are able to put towards a down payment, the better. Larger down payments result in more favorable loan terms and can decrease borrowing rates or monthly payments.

Generally, mortgage lenders like to see at least a fair credit score in order to consider you for a mortgage loan. Certain factors can lower this requirement, but most borrowers should try to have a minimum of a 620 credit score when applying for a mortgage loan.

If you want to get the best loan terms possible and raise your approval chances, it can occasionally be beneficial to take some time and raise your credit score. Making regular payments on time and lowering the amount of debt you keep on high-interest accounts like credit cards can help boost your score before applying for a mortgage.

Your debt-to-income ratio is exactly what it sounds like - the amount of debt you have in comparison to the income you make. You want to have the lowest possible debt-to-income ratio in order to receive the most favorable loan terms. Anywhere from 30-45% is considered a baseline minimum requirement for a mortgage applicant’s debt-to-income ratio. Paying down debt and increasing your income can improve this ratio and ensure you get the best terms possible.

Mortgage loan borrowers are usually required to have mortgage insurance, especially if their down payment is less than 20%. Minimum mortgage insurance coverage varies, anywhere from .15% to 3.6%, depending on loan type and down payment. Private mortgage insurance is one option, and the federal housing administration also offers insurance for mortgage loans. We recommend investing in mortgage insurance when applying to give yourself the best likelihood of approval and great loan terms.

It is possible to be approved for a mortgage even if you are unemployed. However, most lenders prefer that you be able to show proof of employment. Without proof of employment, you will need to demonstrate alternative income sources, a very high down payment, or other factors to offset the risk of lending to an unemployed mortgage borrower.

The higher your income is, the more likely you are to be approved for a mortgage loan. That said, low-income borrowers or unemployed borrowers can still be approved for non-traditional mortgage loans or other financing options. A sizable down payment and a high credit score can both be helpful when applying for a mortgage with a lower income.

At the end of the day, even less-than-perfect borrowers can secure favorable mortgage rates. If you are curious about your likelihood of being approved for a home loan, our experienced loan officers are ready to help.

The mortgage loan qualification and application process can be confusing. Thankfully, our loan offers love helping future borrowers learn more about eligibility and requirements. If you have questions, reach out to us today. FCU is happy to help you determine if you will qualify for your own mortgage loan and make the mortgage process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

The mortgage approval process timeline can vary, but it generally takes several weeks to be finalized. To be conservative, budget approximately 6 to 8 weeks for the entire process. Your mortgage loan may be approved within a couple of weeks, but it is better to allow yourself plenty of time to complete the process.

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Found a loan that looks right for you? Let’s get started!