Contact Kate - We Want To Buy Our First Home

by Australian Turned Texan
(Austin, TX)

Contact Kate - We Want To Buy Our First Home: I just moved here from Australia and have married a US Citizen. I have mortgage questions for Ask Kate! With the current housing market, we are very interested in buying our first home that will eventually become an investment property, something I am guessing a lot of people are doing now.

**Super Kate Tip: Know your credit score!
Free Credit Score - See yours at CreditReport.com!**

As I am new to the country, I don't have a credit score. My husband's credit is not that good as he fell behind on a lot of bill payments when he graduated college and was unemployed.

What would you suggest for us? He also has some college loans, about $15,000, but we both have enough income now to afford mortgage payments and want to buy soon before the housing prices start to go back up. What steps would you advise for us? Cheers.

Answer: Contact Kate - We Want To Buy Our First Home

Dear Australian Turned Texan, Great Idea! You want to buy your first home!

Greetings and welcome to the US! Here are a few mortgage tips for you and anyone buying a first home.

1- Establish US permanent residency to broaden your opportunity for available loan programs, if you haven't already.

2- Build up credit in your name with a few credit cards (pay them off each month).

3- To learn how to improve your husband's credit see how to fix your credit score fast.

4- Learn the secrets to how much mortgage you can afford.

5- Discover how mortgage preapproval turns home shoppers into preferred home buyers.

6- Consider a low down payment program such as a 3% down FHA or a low down 30 year fixed rate mortgage.

7- Build cash reserves and reduce debt.

Thanks for your questions. I believe this is a great time to become a home owner.

Best wishes and good luck,

Finding HELP You Need For Refinancing

Refinancing Advice - Your opportunity to get down to earth refinance nuts and bolts from a mortgage insider.

Announcing Kate's Mortgage Information Planner - To save money, get your ducks in a row first.

Are you a homeowner trying to decide if Mortgage Refi is worth the cost?

How To Compare Mortgages - Interest rate, loan amounts, closing costs, cash out, length of term, monthly payments, yes it is enough to make anyone want to toss up their hands.

Real Estate Investor Loans - Three options for investors sandwiched between negative cash flow and plummeting real estate values.

Surprise, it's a barn! Is a Certificate Of Occupancy necessary for your home mortgage refinance?

Refinance With Cash Out - Where is my loan approval?

Save Money Using My Special Refinance Formula "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work that the more of it I have." --Stephen Leacock

Fresh Refinance Ideas - There are reasons why and why not to refinance promoted by the media, mortgage lenders and financial gurus. The fact is, only you can decide.

What can you do when Refinancing With Bad Credit threatens to derail your dreams?

You don't know it yet but the secrets I am about to share with you have never been explained anywhere else. Don't miss Ask Kate's Secrets To Refinancing!

Low Mortgage Payments For Home Owners - Before you decide on a company, learn how to ask questions and qualify your lender.

Don't be distracted by refinancing lingo. You just need my 10 best kept secrets to Low Mortgage Payments.

Ask Kate About Refinancing - Ask a question to get an answer from Kate.

Refi Stories - A collection of refinancing stories told to Kate by current homeowners.

Refi Ask and Answers - A collection of refinancing questions, each with a individual answer from Kate.

P.S. Go to my Best Mortgage Rate Blog and subscribe to the RSS feed now.

Return from Homeowner Considers Refinancing to Get Your Best Mortgage Rate